Hunt for more bushfire safety

By Casey Neill
A NEW State Government taskforce has scoured the hills for more neighbourhood safer places.
A crew, dubbed Taskforce One, visited the Dandenongs last week and met with Yarra Ranges Council to investigate potential sites for the places of last resort.
Lyster Ward councillor Samantha Dunn said the group and meeting “came out of the blue”.
“It was very sudden,” she said.
“What they’re doing is a CFA check of the sites and investigate what money is needed to bring them up to standard.”
Cr Dunn said the council assisted with costing estimates, and the taskforce would now report to the Cabinet. She said the council had final responsibility for designating neighbourhood safer places (NSPs).
“So they would have to come back to us for assessing, and consultation with police and VicRoads,” she said.
Cr Dunn said some of the sites looked at were community suggestions, while others were new ideas.
The taskforce and council looked at aerial photographs of different townships to investigate possible locations.
Dandenong Ranges Community Bushfire Group president Jo Hirst welcomed the move.
“I think it’s fantastic,” she said.
But Ms Hirst said any NSPs must meet safety standards. “There’s no point in having them if they don’t meet the criteria and they’re not safe,” she said.
“As last resorts, people need places to go.”
Ms Hirst said it was difficult to find locations in the hills because of the terrain and vegetation.
“I’m not the expert,” she said.
“But there certainly needs to be an option.
“Obviously it’s best not to be up here, but it’s a very complex issue.”
The Mail contacted the State Government for comment but did not receive a response before deadline.