Hills people in bushfire safety call

By Tania Martin
HILLS residents are being urged to voice their top five bushfire safety concerns in a recently released survey.
A group of concerned parents have joined together to address growing issues over fire safety in the Dandenongs.
Belgrave’s Claire Blissenden and Melanie Gajdek of Ferny Creek formed the Dandenong Ranges Community Bushfire Group two weeks ago.
This comes after residents were left on tenterhooks following a number of close calls last month.
Fires in Upper Ferntree Gully, Belgrave and Upwey recently left residents fearing the worst.
Group spokeswoman, Melanie Gajdek said the group was now calling on others to complete a survey on their top five concerns.
She said at the moment it was vital to just gauge the communities’ concerns.
Ms Gajdek said the group would be working with emergency services and the local council to find a solution to everyone’s worries.
Some of the issues already raised include the lack of fire refuges in the Shire of Yarra Ranges, and the need for an early warning system or special fire siren.
The surveys are now available from post offices and general stores across the hills from Emerald to The Basin and Monbulk. Residents can also download it from the group’s website at www.groups.yahoo.com/group/drcbg.