More time to respond

By Mara Pattison-Sowden
SEVERAL members of the community are concerned about a new Yarra Ranges Council strategy that they say places the importance of flora and fauna above human life.
The draft Flora and Fauna Management Strategy was put out to public consultation at the 14 December council meeting, just before the summer holidays, but community members are concerned that the public has not been given enough time to respond.
The draft policy has also been criticised for ignoring the recommendations by the Bushfire Royal Commission and the State Government’s 10/30 Right.
Since the community backlash, the council has now extended the submission date from mid-January until 4 March.
The draft policy states that the Royal Commission’s final report shows a strong recognition that while greater consideration needs to be given to fuel reduction there must also be increased investment in locating and protecting biodiversity.
The 98-page document states that council want to “avoid or limit the removal of indigenous vegetation”, and “advocate for practices that result in minimal ecological impact in fire prevention and response activities” including avoiding the construction of new roads, tracks and firebreaks.
It suggests that “some vegetation, should not be removed under any circumstances due to its value”.
It also talks about excluding cattle from grazing near remnant vegetation, discouraging the harvesting of dead standing trees on private land and buying back private land to maximise high conservation value ecosystems. Healesville’s Val Owen said a policy to remove all exotic trees before indigenous ones could prove hazardous after stories from Black Saturday where exotic trees helped properties avoid fire damage.
Another Healesville resident, Cait Hoogenbosch, claimed that “private land ownership” was not recognised in the policy, and that residents would to be recognised only as stewards of the land.
Upper Yarra’s Jim Child said the council should not be encouraging a fire-dependent eco-system within the urban and rural environments that could endanger human life in a bushfire situation.
“The strategy must recognise that the shire has a government responsibility to protect human life.
“The strategy has far too much control over people’s rights and will create a costly permit regime,” he said. “And ultimately, prosecution of landowners.”
Evelyn MP Christine Fyffe said she was concerned the draft policy did not appear to take into account the recommendations by the Bushfire Royal Commission or the State Government’s 10/30 Right.
“I support the protection of our native flora and fauna.
“However, uncontrolled vegetation growth, whether weeds or native vegetation alongside our roads can act as a ‘wick’ and carry bushfires at great speed endangering lives and property,” she said.
“While acknowledging that council has extended the period for submissions, concerns have been expressed to me that the time for submissions is too short bearing in mind the Christmas holiday period. Many groups do not meet in January and would miss the deadline.”
O’Shannassy Ward councillor Chris Templer said the strategy was being developed to deal with the enhancement, survival and biodiversity of flora and fauna in the Yarra Ranges.
Cr Templer said the document 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.
“Yarra Ranges Council has considered the Bushfire Royal Commission recommendations as evident through a number of responses including a review of its Municipal Emergency Management Plan, a fire slash program review, Fire Management Plan review, the designation of nine Neighbourhood Safer Places, additional fuel management funding and the appointment of a Fuel Management Officer,” he said.