PUT LIVES FIRST
Member for Western Victoria Region, Bev McArthur used an adjournment debate in Parliament this week to ask the Minister for Environment to instruct DELWP to clear overgrown vegetation in the Worm Bay area in Warrnambool.
The site which is at the rear of Barbro Terrace, the Deep Blue and Lady Bay resorts, is crown land. It has not undergone fuel load reduction for over 10 years and has subsequently caused residents significant concern over a potential fire hazard.
Having recently inspected the site with many concerned residents, Mrs McArthur said she saw for herself the highly combustible tea-tree, as high as 15 meters, which abuts the rear fences of residential properties and two hotels accommodating up to 400 people. It also surrounds caravan parks.
Bev McArthur said “In the event of a fire the large population of campers, tourists, residents and locals who go for walks in the area would struggle to escape.”
“Despite wanting to reduce the overgrowth, the Warrnambool City Council are only able to create a small firebreak due to DELWP guidelines. This clearly would be totally ineffective in halting a fire.”
“There is no remnant vegetation in this area. This area was reclaimed land, and anything existing has been planted.”
“The safety of human beings must come before planted vegetation which has quite clearly not been maintained properly and is consequently putting lives at risk. The whole area needs to be made safe, which may involve removing the existing vegetation and replanting safer plant varieties which can be better managed.”
Bev McArthur asked the Minister for Environment to “put lives ahead of vegetation and instruct DELWP to clear the vegetation and make the area safe.”
8 February 2020
See the full speech here.