Fire refuge plan under fire
Fire refuge plan under fire
22 September 2009
published by www.starnewsgroup.com.au
Australia —
Shire of Yarra Ranges Mayor Len Cox has hit out at a State Government plan to chop down trees and vegetation for school fire refuge upgrades.
More than 18 hills schools are set for upgrades under the plan, including Belgrave South, Birmingham, Cockatoo, Emerald, Ferny Creek, Kallista, Macclesfield, Menzies Creek, Monbulk, Mount Dandenong, Mount Evelyn, Olinda, Sassafras, Selby, Tecoma, The Patch, and Upwey South primary schools.
Emerald College has also been named on the list.
Minister for Education Bronwyn Pike said the move followed the Royal Commission interim report, which recommended the need to upgrade fire refuges for schools in high-fire risk areas.
Ms Pike said fire-risk engineering experts had recommended that in order to make refuges safer and comply with building standards, a clear perimeter must be created around them.
This includes cutting down a number of trees near the refuges and any vegetation that may be a fire risk.
The task for all levels of government, for communities and for individuals is to make the state and individuals as fire-safe as possible, Ms Pike said.
The bushfire season is just 42 days away and the safety of students and staff in our schools is paramount.
Cr Cox said there should have been consultation with the council over the plan.
In a letter to Ms Pike, Cr Cox said many of the trees on the affected school sites were isolated from each other.
He said science dictated that these trees were unlikely to provide any additional radiant heat or ember attack in the event of a fire.
But a State Government spokesman said the government would not compromise on child safety.
We will work with schools to make sure they have an opportunity to review the expert advice recommended by the Royal Bushfire Commission Report, he said.
If a school decides against the removal of vegetation, then the refuge will need to be decommissioned.
Sassafras Primary School principal Alex McDonald said the upgrade would include replacing a wooden door, providing sliding shutters and cutting down one tree.
He hopes the upgrade will be finished in time for the fire season.
Belgrave South Primary Schools Fran Luke said seven trees would face the chop under the plan to upgrade the refuge.
She said the upgrade would be a good step towards making the refuge safer.
All work was expected to start this week.
