Push for last resorts

By Tania Martin
A YARRA RANGES councillor has welcomed a campaign reinforcing that neighbourhood safer places (NSPs) should not be considered a part of a fire plan.
Lyster Ward’s councillor Samantha Dunn said the message wasn’t getting through to more than quarter of people living in high risk areas such as the Dandenongs and Yarra Valley.
This comes as the CFA last week launched a new advertising campaign to remind communities in bushfire prone areas that NSPs were only to be used as a last resort when all other plans of escape had failed.
It also follows the release of an Office of Emergency Services Commissioner report that show 20 per cent of people in high risk areas still viewed NSPs as a first choice place to relocate to.
Cr Dunn said this latest research showed the message wasn’t getting through.
“They (NSPs) are really that last resort, that last ditch effort to survive and there could be serious consequences for people someone’s first choice,” she said.
To drive the message home, fire agencies, the State Government and Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) have joined forces to develop advertising, supporting local education efforts by councils and the CFA.
CFA CEO Mick Bourke said NSPs were not an alternative to leaving early.
“They will only offer limited protection against radiant heat and embers and will not guarantee safety or survival,” he said.
“People who choose to go to an NSP need to understand they are likely to experience frightening and extreme conditions such as heat, noise, high winds, exposure to embers and radiant heat and may experience breathing difficulties due to heavy smoke and ash.”
Mr Bourke said the safest option was to leave early on Code Red days.