By EMMA SUN
THERE is no doubt fire danger is one of the biggest issues in the Dandenongs.
And La Trobe Liberal candidate Jason Wood has pledged to reduce the bushfire risk with $2.4 million towards a Bushfire and Rehabilitation Program.
The program will involve wildlife recovery, weed management and fuel reduction, which will be developed under the guidance of the Community Advisory Group (CAG) for the Dandenong Ranges Landscape.
Mr Wood made the announcement last Friday, along with Shadow Minister for Climate Action, Environment and Heritage Greg Hunt.
“For communities living in the Dandenong Ranges, the threat of bushfires is something that locals have to deal with every year,” he said.
“The area is one of the world’s most fire sensitive locations – I know because I am a part of this community.
“This initiative will make the Dandenong Ranges less susceptible to bushfire and allow native flora and fauna to grow and flourish.”
Dandenong Ranges Community Bushfire Group’s Jo Hirst said it was a fantastic step towards reducing fuel loads in the Dandenong Ranges, on not only public land, but private land as well.
“There is a huge amount of private land in the hills that is adjacent to public land and they’re the properties where fuel loads can be higher,” she said.
CAG’s Peter Brennan said about 60 per cent of land in the hills was privately owned, with 24 per cent being national park and 16 per cent belonging to other authorities.
He said the funding would go a long way into supporting the various agencies working towards making the hills a safer place.
“The community advisory group has recognised from a long time ago the criticality of bringing all land managers together to oversee the plan for the Dandenongs,” he said.
“There are so many agencies and so many people, and everybody really wants to do the right thing by the environment but we haven’t had the tools or the knowledge to do that.
“The principle behind our group is to look at ways to develop and manage the landscape and this pledge is a fabulous recognition of that.”
The commitment comes hand in hand with another $150,000, to go towards the Bullen Bullen Bush Tours at Grants Picnic Ground.
The project is the brainchild of teachers from Kallista Primary School, which will facilitate Wurundjeri cultural demonstrations, language lessons and local bush tucker and medicine tours in Sherbrooke forest.
The tours, named after the superb lyrebird in the language of the Wurundjeri people, will be provided to school groups and tourists, to teach more people about the significant Indigenous heritage in the area.
Mr Wood commended the work of those involved in setting up the bush tours.
“This program will educate the community about the importance of caring for the local environment,” he said.
