Duty of care

THERE are two issues that are causing deep concerns at Harkaway.
The first relates to the ridge in Baker Road. I support the content, but cannot agree with the conclusions in the My View article (Gazette, 6 December).
The maintenance of Baker and Old Coach roads is the responsibility of Casey Council and it has failed in their duty of care to residents, both in maintenance of the roadway and direct written advice by registered mail to each resident advising of any proposed changes.
The road is not the escape route of choice but it must be open during the fire season and maintained for emergency evacuation.
The second issue relates to the destruction of wildlife habitat along the banks of Walsdorf Creek, which runs along the west boundary of our property. It feeds the Grasmere Creek, which in turn runs into the Cardinia Reservoir and Western Port.
On Wednesday contractors employed by the council began to clear vegetation from the banks of the creek.
This has occurred without notification to me as adjoining landowner. However, I understand that our next door landowners, Keith and Beth Moxham, were advised and are not at all happy with events.
The intention is to remove nonnative species but it is clear that their activities are indiscriminate. An unnamed Landcare group, the likely initiators, is invited by council to plant vegetation of its choosing.
Immediate concerns are as follows:
1. It has removed the historic natural barrier that has kept my livestock contained and left the boundary unfenced.
2. By written arrangement with the City of Berwick, livestock were able to graze along the creek, in return for which I sprayed blackberries and other noxious weeds.
3. Most importantly, this destruction of one of the last remaining stands of natural unspoilt bushland is devastating the habitat, shade, nesting sites and protective environment of many species of protected and endangered flora and fauna including our small local echidna population. An employee of the contractor told me that it is to continue this destruction for at least 400 metres.
4. The area is inaccessible except on foot, and then only in part by entering my property on the east side, permission for which will not be forthcoming.
When the area is fenced off, grass will grow unchecked, and the fire risk will be horrific. Instead of nurturing and maintaining a wildlife corridor, council and its cohorts will have created a bushfire corridor.
These two council actions have left me sick in the stomach. I have managed to have the works halted while further investigation takes place and a fence is installed.
I am in the process of making formal complaint to the council, the EPA, DSE, and Melbourne Water (who have provided a grant), and will enlist the support of any interested wildlife protection organisations.
The best and most helpful action for the protection of wildlife and their habitat is to minimise human intrusion, and limit it to the control of invasive plants like the pampas grass, which the contractors have ignored.
Bill Peeler,
Harkaway.