RESIDENTS from Inverleigh and Teesdale are petitioning to allow for levels of deadwood to be reduced in a nearby reserve.<\/p>\n
Forest Fire Management Victoria, the firefighters for the state’s parks, encouraged residents to contact them about fuel management.<\/p>\n
More than 1700 people have shown support for a proposal to clear fallen trees and branches from the Inverleigh Flora and Fauna Reserve.<\/p>\n
Inverleigh’s Rachel Anderson and Stan Nangle from Teesdale began work in January over a proposal for residents to be able to remove wood during scheduled, monitored periods.<\/p>\n
A petition addressed to Parks Victoria asked for safe and organised clean-up activities to reduce the potential for fire outbreaks, the implementation of fire mitigation strategies, and to collaborate with local authorities, fire management experts and the communities to develop a comprehensive safety plan.<\/p>\n
They are concerned about the accumulation of deadwood being potential fuel for fire.<\/p>\n
“During summer you get a notification from the Vic Emergency app and it’s like, where is [the fire]?” Nangle said. “It’s really nerve-racking for people.<\/p>\n
“It’s all pieces of timber or trees that have fallen down. We’re not trying to cut any trees down and we’re not trying to decimate any of the fauna.”<\/p>\n
Nangle said he started voicing his concerns online because he got angry looking at the reserve every time he drove through it.<\/p>\n
The pair have presented their petition to Golden Plains Shire and were hoping to meet with Parks Victoria on their proposal.<\/p>\n
Scott Turner, Forest Fire Management Victoria’s deputy chief fire officer for Barwon South West, said his organisation appreciated the reserve was a cherished part of Inverleigh.<\/p>\n
“We welcome and encourage members of the community to talk to us about the timing and scheduling of fuel management via our Joint Fuel Management Program,” he said. “This is a program that we run jointly with CFA.<\/p>\n
“Forest Fire Management Victoria crews use every opportunity possible to reduce the risk and impact of bushfires through planned burning and non-burn works such as mulching, mowing, spraying, constructing fuel breaks and maintaining road access for firefighting.”<\/p>\n
Turner said reducing bushfire risk occurred throughout the year.<\/p>\n
145 hectares was targeted for mulching from 2021 to 2025 to help manage hedge wattle, improve forest health and increasing fire protection for nearby residents.<\/p>\n
There is also annual slashing of the perimeter along Commons Road, Link Track, Fire Management Track and Eastern Track.<\/p>\n
The Joint Fuel Management Program involved an annual review of bushfire risk and determines effective locations across the landscape for the delivery of planned burns.<\/p>\n
It is not legal to collect firewood from the reserve.<\/p>\n
Member for Eureka Michaela Settle said: “My priority is always the safety of the local community and I encourage locals to share their concerns with our local forest fire teams to help inform bushfire management practices.<\/p>\n
“Our dedicated Forest Fire Management Victoria crews are always looking for opportunities to do planned burning and other bushfire management work in the Inverleigh Flora and Fauna reserve.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
RESIDENTS from Inverleigh and Teesdale are petitioning to allow for levels of deadwood to be reduced in a nearby reserve. Forest Fire Management Victoria, the firefighters for the state’s parks, encouraged residents to contact them about fuel management. More than 1700 people have shown support for a proposal to clear fallen trees and branches from […]<\/p>\n