Plea for new NSP

By Russell Bennett
OLINDA residents fear for their lives if a local shelter isn’t recognised as a Neighbourhood Safer Place (NSP) in time for the bushfire season.
Locals gathered at Olinda Community House last Tuesday night to air their concerns about what may happen during a fire.
“We need at least one place where everyone throws their resources at to make safe,” Olinda Fire and Emergency Assembly Area Association’s (OFEAAA) Janice Gasking said.
Ms Gasking called for “at least one place where an elderly couple could go during a fire if they couldn’t get off the mountain”.
“We need a refuge, an assembly,” she said.
“We need somewhere to escape the radiant heat.
“And we’re calling on the State Government for genuine support on something that will translate into action.”
The government recently released a list of eight “potential” NSPs in the ranges.
Only two contained shelter and one doubled as a CFA staging area.
More than one hundred people at the Olinda meeting voted to make their community house an NSP instead of the nearby golf club.
“We want to be empowered to take responsibility for our lives in emergencies like fires,” Ms Gasking said.
OFEAAA acting chair Peter Brennan said the main reason the community hub wasn’t included in the government’s recent list was the density of surrounding vegetation.
“But we would replace vegetation that would need to be removed if ecologically appropriate,” he said. “We’re approaching our second summer post the traumatic events of 2009 and we live in one of the most fire dangerous areas in Victoria.
“There’s no better time for us to stand up and say: ‘Time’s up, we want action’.”
Monbulk MP James Merlino acknowledged excess vegetation was an issue.
“If the shire was to remove the necessary vegetation it (the community house) would probably be ticked off,” he said.
Streeton Ward councillor Noel Cliff responded by saying Yarra Ranges Council doesn’t control the land which needs clearing.
Local CFA member John Faull said: “I’m actually building up the courage to go out there one night and cut the trees down.”
“I’ll probably go to jail … but I’m prepared to do that.”
Liberal candidate for Monbulk Matt Mills could not understand why locals had not been consulted in the NSP process.
“Why has nobody come here and asked the experts, like the local CFA, their opinion?” he said.
“They’ve had to use the word ‘demand’ to get the government’s attention.
“It’s just too little, too late.”
Olinda brigade captain Steve Donner said: “If there’s a fire up here, the potential for loss is massive.”
“Our little red trucks are not going to save your arse.”
Mr Donner said there was some angst between the local fire brigade and region headquarters over the designated NSPs, “but we all want the best for the community.”