Ted goes green

By Russell Bennett
Mr Ryan announced the Coalition’s Fire Safe Communities program alongside Liberal candidate for Monbulk Matt Mills.
Mr Baillieu, also alongside the local Liberal candidate, announced a $4 million plan to plant 1.5 million trees across metropolitan Melbourne and half a million trees in regional Victoria.
Mr Ryan said the Coalition’s fire safety program would “improve the bushfire preparedness of Victoria’s 52 high-risk communities by funding local initiatives to improve fire awareness and education”.
The $5 million program will be open to applications from community groups and councils with $2 million immediately available during the Coalition’s first term, should they be elected.
Mr Mills said the program would help better prepare Monbulk residents ahead of the fire season.
“After the 1997 fires, the community at Ferny Creek established its own alert system.
“Under a Coalition Government, groups like the Ferny Creek Bushfire Alert Committee would be able to apply for funding to keep local residents informed.”
Mr Baillieu’s revegetation plan would see trees planted across Melbourne’s parks, reserves and open spaces in consultation with local environment groups.