Margaret Cousin is calling on the Cardinia Shire Council to improve maintenance at Bunyip’s Holgate Park. 27469
By Melissa Grant
RESIDENTS have labelled A’Beckett Road and Holgate Park in Bunyip as fire hazards, while a blaze in a nearby State Park continues to burn.
They say thick trees either side of the road are creating a fire path and that Cardinia Shire Council has failed in its duty to maintain the pubic park.
Margaret Cousin, who will soon move into a house near Holgate Park, said the council had neglected the reserve for months.
“Trees have grown over and they don’t mow it – it’s a disgrace,” she said. “We built there knowing that there’s trees next door… but it’s the undergrowth and fallen trees. They expect landowners to tidy places up but they haven’t done anything.”
Roman Kulkewycz, a lifestyle assistant at Bunyip’s Hillview Hostel, said the Black Saturday fires came within 1.5km of the A’Beckett Road and Princes Highway intersection and residents feared what would happen if fire came closer.
He said heavy timber along A’Beckett Road was like “a wick to a bomb”.
“It’s definitely a fire hazard it could turn into a death trap,” Mr Kulkewycz said. “It’s so heavily wooded and there’s so much dead wood. Something needs to be done before it’s too late – Hillview (hostel) is right in its path and there are houses near it.”
Cardinia Shire Council spokeswoman Liz Roberts said tree maintenance was carried out regularly on A’Beckett Road as part of the council’s vehicle clearance program to ensure driver safety.
She said Holgate park had significant environmental values and maintenance was carried out in a way to maintain these natural values for the community whilst taking into account the severity of fire risk.
Ms Roberts said the council would assess the park in the coming week and remove selected understorey and do slashing, if necessary.
Residents who see fallen trees which have potential to create a road hazard are encouraged to call the council’s customer service team on 1300 787 624.
