Fire input sought

By Mara Pattison-Sowden
YARRA Valley residents are being urged to contribute to Township Protection Plans (TPPs) for their communities.
Despite being left off the previous State Government’s list of 52 towns most at risk of bushfires, residents are being asked to have their say at a series of consultation meetings over the next few weeks.
There was widespread disbelief among Yarra Valley residents when the TPPs were named in August 2009 that places such as Warburton and Healesville were not included.
The CFA has received State Government funding of $6.1 million over two years to support the TPPs, to develop localised fire preparation and plans for high bushfire risk communities. The meetings will take place across the Yarra Valley for communities to discuss the local risk and to contribute to information that will be included in their Community Preparedness Guide. CFA Eastern Metropolitan Region operations manager Dave Renkin urged all residents to get involved.
“Bushfire is an ever present danger in the Yarra Valley region, and managing the risk is everyone’s responsibility,” he said.
Each TPP has three elements designed to help residents and visitors prepare and plan for the risk, including the Community Preparedness Guide, for residents and visitors identifying primary roads to exit the area, leave early destinations and important emergency contact information.
The Emergency Services Response Plan includes details such as water supplies, traffic management and important buildings and infrastructure, and a Fire Prevention Plan outlines fire prevention measures such as fuel reduction burns and roadside slashing works. Healesville and Chum Creek had a meeting last night (Monday), but are invited to attend the Badger Creek/Mt Toolebewong meeting at 7.30pm on Wednesday 18 May at Badger Creek Hall.
There will be a meeting in Reefton at 10am on Sunday 22 May at Reefton CFA, Warburton Woods Point Road, Powelltown/Three Bridges at 2.30pm on Sunday 22 May at Powelltown Hall, Blake Street, Wesburn/Millgrove at 7.30pm on Tuesday 24 May at Milgrove Baptist Church, 4 Cavanagh Road, and Warburton/Warburton East at 7.30pm on Wednesday 25 May at the Upper Yarra Arts Centre, 3409 Warburton Highway.