By MELISSA MEEHAN
EMERALD’S Place of Last Resort at Worrell Reserve has divided the community, with some residents claiming they weren’t consulted over the removal of 50 Monterey Cypress trees.
But the Cardinia Shire Council says that over a six-week period , in March and April, they conducted a thorough community engagement and communications campaign.
Emerald resident Lisa Bullock, said she was disappointed that she hadn’t heard about the plans until reading a story in the Mail about the plan last month.
“I was surprised that it was the first time I’d heard of it,” she said.
“I’m not part of any community group, but I would’ve thought that I would have found out before then.”
Ms Bullock said she was concerned that the trees had been earmarked for removal for mid-October, and that many other residents had also felt like they had been kept in the dark.
“I attended a meeting with the EmFSus environmental group where the council employees and mayor attended in an effort to address community concern,” she said.
“But there was a lot of political speak and a focus on “fire plans” – but when forced to address the central issue had trouble answering simple questions.”
Cardinia Shire’s community, risk, emergency management manager Myles O’Reilly said throughout the campaign the council made it “abundantly clear” that a potential Place of Last Resort would mean some vegetation deemed a fire risk would be removed.
He said claims that that oval would be used as a designated staging area for emergency services in case of a fire were incorrect, and said that Worrell Reserve would be available to the community specifically as a Place of Last Resort.
What do you think of the Place of Last Resort at Emerald? Email editor@yvnews.com.au with your thoughts.
