Alarm calls

By Tania Martin
RESIDENTS’ calls for an emergency early warning system could soon be answered following a $15 million cash injection.
The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) announced the funding on Thursday 30 April at a meeting in Hobart.
Under the proposed system emergency alerts would be sent by recorded voice and text to landline and mobile telephones based on the owner’s billing address.
This announcement came as residents gathered on Sunday to discuss their top five fire safety concerns.
For months the Dandenong Ranges Community Bushfire Group (DRCBG) has been collecting information for the meeting.
A survey of more than 800 households across the hills showed the lack of an early warning system was on the top of most residents’ list of concerns.
Spokeswoman for DRCBG Melanie Gajdek said the need for an early warning had been recorded as the number one concern for locals.
She said the meeting had been an outstanding success with more than 100 people turning up to have their say.
Ms Gajdek said one of the issues raised around the need for the warning system was the use of mobile and landline phones and the internet.
“A lot of people are saying we need an audible system because we don’t have very good mobile coverage,” she said.
“We need something loud enough that’s going to wake us up to in the middle of the night.”
Ms Gajdek said one of the issues with the proposed system was that many elderly residents didn’t have access to mobiles and internet.
She also said that many residents were faced with power outages especially in the middle of emergencies. Emergency Services Commissioner Bruce Esplin has welcomed the announcement.
Mr Esplin said Victoria had been passionately championing the need for this system for a long time.
“The time for talking is done, the time for action and hard work is here,” he said.
Shadow Bushfire Response Minister Peter Ryan said although this announcement was a step forward for some, it was too little too late.
“This decision is welcome but for Victorian bushfire-devastated communities it is a case of locking the stable door well and truly after the horse has bolted,” Mr Ryan said.
The DRCBG are now working on their submission to the Royal Commission but need the help of either a barrister or Senior Counsel.
Anyone wanting to help the group can contact Ms Gajdek on 9755 2313.