Neighbours Bill Peeler, left, and Malcolm Hourigan who live either side of Waldorf Creek are unhappy about the tinderdry branches left in the creek.By Jim Mynard
HARKAWAY residents say their fire risk has been increased because of tree felling along Waldorf Creek near King Road.
They said an existing wildlife corridor was being converted to a bushfire corridor, exposing properties along King Road, St Forts Court and Mark’s Court to unnecessary and unacceptable fire risk.
Casey director of infrastructure Ray Butler said he would look at the fire risk aspect of the complaint.
King Road resident Bill Peeler said the timing chosen to destroy the native habitat of flora and fauna during the worst drought in Australia’s recorded history was deplorable.
He said a stand of pittosporum had been cut down and dropped into the creek.
His neighbour across the creek, Malcolm Hourigan, said he was first advised by a letter from the council in May last year that surveyors would be working along the creek to establish title boundaries.
Mr Hourigan said future works would include fencing, weed control and revegetation and would be done in conjunction with an unknown Landcare group.
“Little information was volunteered, but I was told the work was to prevent stock polluting the creek,” he said.
Mr Peeler said Waldorf Creek was once a pristine waterway, but was now polluted to the extent that its water was unfit for stock and its aquatic life had become extinct.
He said, however, that the immediate problem was the serious fire risk.
“This tinderdry tree foliage has been left in the creek area from the clearing operation that started before Christmas,” Mr Peeler said.
“This is a waste of ratepayers’ money on a nonviable, nonessential works of no community benefit.”
Mr Peeler said this extra fire risk was created because of a subjective view on the value of a desirable species, the pittosporum.
“Apart from blackberries there are no noxious weeds in the area, but council contractors felled the (pittosporum) trees and left invasive pampas grass,” he said.
“This is destruction of one of the last remaining stands of natural unspoilt bushland and of shade, nesting sites and a protective environment.”
Mr Butler said the sweet pittosporum needed to be removed because it was considered a weed that did more harm than benefit in the bush.
“The council has a program to eradicate the tree because it overrides other species,” he said.
“We need to plant appropriate trees.”
Mr Butler said the fuel buildup was caused because of a delay in the removal program.
“We were faced with security of animals and held up the work, but we will look at the situation in regard to the fire risk,” he said.
