Warning call

By Casey Neill
THE State Government needs to fund an early fire warning system for the hills, Yarra Ranges councillor and Greens upper house candidate Samantha Dunn said last week.
Cr Dunn’s calls followed a meeting with Dandenong Ranges Community Bushfire Group, who demonstrated their proposed system.
The $3.6 million project would include 66 separate alert units throughout the hills capable of live voice streaming and text-to-voice conversion.
It would be compatible with the Federal Government’s National Fire Warning System but has no need to rely on mobile phone reception.
The boxes can receive text messages and broadcast them as voice messages in multiple languages.
“The technology is great technology,” Cr Dunn said.
“I think it has incredible applications in local emergency management.”
“The Greens support the introduction of early warnings systems and recognise the important part they play in assisting our communities.”
She said the State Government needed to “work swiftly”.
“We need to give fire-prone communities as many options as we can to respond to bushfire,” she said.
“And early warning systems are one of the tools available in response to an emergency.”
DRCBG president Jo Hirst said the group had asked to meet with Premier John Brumby.
“But that request has been denied,” she said.
“We’re still hopeful. We have to be.”
The Mail contacted the State Government but did not receive a response before deadline.