Green light for alarm system

By Tania Martin
HILLS 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 last 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 hills 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.
Spokeswoman for DRCGB Melanie Gajdek said the need for an early warning had been recorded as the number one concern for locals.
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.”
The DRCBG are now working on their submission to the Royal Commission but are need the help of either a barrister or Queens Council. Anyone wanting to help the group can contact Ms Gajdek on 9755 2313.