Human safety a priority over flora

YARRA Ranges councillor Chris Templer has moved to clarify what he said in the Mail last week, acknowledging that human life is more important than flora and added that “balance” was the wrong word to express that.
Councillor Templer had said the Yarra Ranges Council draft Flora and Fauna strategy “would be used in line with other council strategies that dealt specifically with emergency management issues, including bushfire, in an effort to balance the impact on human life and that of flora and fauna”.
This week, Cr Templer told the Mail he was not a representative of the strategy, and had his own reservations with the document.
“I grew up in the bush, farming and clearing, so I don’t agree with a number of the points,” he said.
“As you go through it, you see various statements to do with limiting or preventing clearing and I don’t believe they’re appropriate in our area.”
Cr Templer said the strategy was primarily for documenting the goals of council staff in managing flora and fauna within the shire.
“Since the 2009 fires, we have a whole new set of documents related to human safety and we need to protect those, but we also need a management plan for the staff who are looking after the environment,” he said.
“I see the final draft having references to the Royal Commission, but the number of other strategies the council has undertaken is relevant for that.”
Cr Templer said a further $350,000 had been put towards identifying the roadside fuel reduction that needed to be done, as well as the appointment of a fuel reduction identification officer.
“His appointment is a new position and hopefully he’ll be making some good recommendations,” Cr Templer said.
Cr Templer said he didn’t want residents to think he was “going green”.
“I already know a lot of people are addressing these points in public submissions,” he said.
Cr Templer encouraged any residents who felt strongly about the draft policy to make a submission.
“Opinions can be sent in from a petition-style objection through to a full description on their thoughts, line by line,” he said.
“Those are all taken into consideration, as they have to be, in a transparent way, and once all the points have been taken, we bring out another document.”
The draft strategy can be viewed online at www.yarraranges.vic.gov. au/florafaunastrategy or at the Yarra Ranges Community Links in Healesville, Yarra Junction, Monbulk, Upwey and Lilydale.
Written submissions should be directed to the Biodiversity Conservation co-ordinator, Environment Department, PO Box 105, Lilydale 3140 or alternatively email mail@yarraranges.vic.gov.au.