La Trobe MP Jason Wood last week joined Sassafras residents Sara Lacey, Angeline Jackson, Peter Jackson, Heather Downe, Leigh and Judy Matthews and Andrew Kayser’s calls for a prescribe burn-off to be brought forward. 36840Picture: Nigel Clements
By Tania Martin
SASSAFRAS residents are calling for the State Government to step up its burning off plan, fearing 2011 will be too late.
Monbulk MP James Merlino said the government had already pushed forward the date to autumn 2010.
He said it was a priority, but that was the earliest the burn-off could take place.
This comes as La Trobe MP Jason Wood last week backed the residents’ call for action.
Mr Wood called for the prescribed burn earmarked for Old Coach Road, Sassafras in 2011 to be brought forward.
He said residents in the area needed to be made a top priority before the next fire season.
“My greatest concern is that this area in Sassafras is right at the top of the mountain,” Mr Wood said.
“It’s like a buffer zone for the Sassafras community… if a bushfire roared up the mountain before a controlled burn was undertaken, it could be an absolute disaster.
Resident Heather Downe fears her life could be in danger if a fire goes through the area this summer.
She said a burn in 2010 or 2011 did not help residents this year.
“We need something before then,” Ms Downe said.
“If there is a fire as severe as in Marysville I don’t think you would be able to stop it.”
Mr Merlino said the State Government had increased prescribed burns in the area over the past three years.
He said DSE and Parks Victoria had two planned for this spring, at the end of Hilton Road and Wannawong Crescent.
Mr Merlino said a 21-hectare burn for Old Coach Road had already been brought forward following consultation with the local community.
“The Old Coach Road burn was one highlighted during the fire operations plan community engagement process, however the burn area is quite large with areas of wet forest that are not conducive to burning in spring,” he said.
Mr Merlino said the area was a top priority but the burn had been brought forward as far as it could.
“We will continue to meet with the community,” he said.
