Council ‘wheelies’ blasted

By Paul Pickering
A HILLS environmentalist has lashed out at the Shire of Yarra Ranges’ environmental management procedures, citing a ‘bushland massacre’ at a Selby reserve as the trigger for his frustration.
Upper Yarra and Dandenongs Environment Council (UYDEC) member Darcy Duggan last week said that he was appalled by the slashing works conducted at Hermon’s Corner Reserve – off Belgrave-Gembrook Road – in Selby.
Mr Duggan said the roadside strip of bushland had been mowed dangerously low, while reckless manoeuvring from the driver of the vehicle had carved lengthy gouges in the soil.
“The mower has cut right into the base of trees and there’s six-foot wide sections of bare earth where it looks like (the operator) has dropped wheelies,” he said.
While Mr Duggan noted that he supports the slashing of vegetation to create fire-breaks, he warned that over-zealous mowing would threaten native bushland and encourage weeds.
Mr Duggan, who has been working with the shire to improve its bushland management practices during the past three years, said he has become ‘frustrated and disillusioned’ by the council’s inability to ‘walk the talk’.
Shire of Yarra Ranges community relations officer David Ashton confirmed that the mowing had been carried out by shire staff as part of the annual fire-slashing program.
Mr Ashton said that bushland management procedures were governed by the shire’s Code of Environmental Practice for Works on Council Managed Land.
“The code contains practical guidance for council staff, contractors and residents in protecting vegetation on council land,” he said, adding that the shire was happy to discuss the issue with Mr Duggan.
For Mr Duggan, though, the issue lies in the implementation of the code.
“If they actually apply the code it will offset some of the problems they already have – which are leading to my concerns as to the incompetence of management being displayed,” he said.
“We’ve been talking about this for almost three years and despite their best intentions the pace of change is excruciatingly slow.”
Mr Duggan is urging the shire to become more accountable for the actions of its bushland workers by improving training and assessment procedures.
Mr Ashton said the shire would launch an investigation into Mr Duggan’s concerns.