Place of last resort decommissioned

ROSS Creek’s neighbourhood safer place – bushfire place of last resort, or NSP-BPLR, has been decommissioned by the CFA.

The Ross Creek location has been marked as non-compliant with guidelines.

Golden Plains Shire’s five remaining places of last resort are Cape Clear Recreation Reserve, Haddon Recreation Reserve, Linton Recreation Reserve, Smythesdale Recreation Reserve and Council Reserve, Dereel.

“CFA does fire protection assessments across the state and provides advice to councils on places of last resort and their suitability,” a CFA spokesperson said.

“In Ross Creek, CFA advised the council that the site no longer met the safety requirements of a place of last resort due to the growth of vegetation.”

A NSP-BPLR is an open area where residents can go if their own fire plans have failed and there are no other options.

They do not guarantee safety and are not an alternative to planning to leave early.

“The requirements for a place of last resort are stringent to ensure people are not being sent to unsafe areas in the event of a bushfire,” the spokesperson said.

“Places of last resort can be found in surrounding areas of Ross Creek including in Smythesdale, Buninyong, and Mount Clear.

“Leaving early is always the greatest protection in a bushfire.”