Concern over safer criteria

By Tania Martin
HILLS residents last week took their calls for transparency surrounding neighbourhood safer places (NSPs) straight to Spring Street.
More than 40 Dandenong Ranges Community Bushfire Group (DRCBG) members rallied on the steps of Parliament last Tuesday (8 December).
Group president Jo Hirst said the process for assessing NSPs needed to be more open.
“We need to know why the sites pass or fail.
“We also need leadership from our Government to provide liability cover, financial support and other resources to local councils to ensure this happens now,” she said.
The State Government has allocated councils $7000 to identify possible NSP locations but Ms Hirst said this would not be nearly enough to fund what was needed.
The DRCBF group is questioning why it has taken so long for Victoria to act.
“If formal NSPs exist in other states – NSW has 300 plus already designated – why has this not happened here in Victoria in one of the highest bushfire risk areas in the world – the Dandenong Ranges?”
Group secretary Mel Gajdek congratulated those who stood up at the rally for their community’s safety.
Opposition Liberal leader Ted Baillieu, Evelyn MP Christine Fyffe, Nationals Leader Peter Ryan and a spokesman from the United Firefighters Union spoke at the rally. “They are about giving people in dire straits a chance at survival – it’s the only humane thing to do,” Ms Fyffe said.
“We must ensure that the NSPs that have been assessed as compliant have the money available should any upgrades to equipment and resources be required.
Ms Gajdek said the rally also caught the attention of the Premier’s chief adviser Yorick Piper.
“He wanted to meet us prior to the rally to make sure we had the right information,” she said.
Ms Gajdek said the rally called for the State Government to look at making sure there was a last resort option in all the 52 townships identified earlier this year as high risk.
She said it also called for resourcing, funding, commitment and leadership from the Government to provide NSPs.
“Our councils need help in implementing the last resort options.
“For the concept to be effective, last resort options need to be close to where the people are,” she said. “If people have to travel as far as it takes to exit the mounting, they (NSPs) are pointless.”
Ms Gajdek said the group had a meeting with Mr Piper following the rally. They called for the Government to reassess sites in high risk areas in the Dandenongs and outline what needs to be done to meet the radiant head and vegetation criteria.