Tinder dry

By Melissa Meehan
THE blackened remains of tree trunks scorched by fire during the Ash Wednesday fires are a constant reminder of the devastation that was unleashed on Upper Beaconsfield in 1983.
And Lynette and Harry Lameris say it could happen again if the Cardinia Shire Council doesn’t take action to clear land behind their property.
But the council says the property in question has been cleared in previous years and they are working with all fire authorities to ensure the safety of all residents.
“We are tired of the council making empty promises,” Mrs Lameris said.
“Our main concern is the council-owned Brennan Reserve which is right at our back fence – it hasn’t been burnt or cleared since 1983.”
Mrs Lameris said she and her husband had done everything they could to prepare their home for the fire season, but were worried if the reserve wasn’t properly prepared their hard work could mean nothing.
“We’ve only been six years, but in those six years we have taken a lot of precautions,” she said.
“We’ve made sure we always keep the block clean and even installed a sprinkler system on the roof.
“And when we built our garage we encased the whole house in the sprinkler system.”
But their hard work could all be in vain if the reserve behind them goes up.
“Last year when the Police Paddocks caught fire in Endeavour Hills we could see it coming towards us,” she said.
“We were lucky the winds changed because if they didn’t this whole place could have gone up.”
Mrs Lameris said she and her husband had planned to stay and fight if fires were to sweep through the area, and without the land prepared the fight could be more difficult.
“We have already bought fire retardant overalls, face masks and breathing apparatus and we have done as much as we possibly can,” she said.
“We just want the council to take some responsibility for the area – especially since we are on the list of the 52 towns most at danger.”
Cardinia Shire spokesperson Paul Dunlop said the shire took its responsibilities in regard to fire prevention extremely seriously and said they were working in partnership with the CFA, police and other agencies to reduce the threat of bushfire across Cardinia Shire.
“A fire management plan exists for the environmentally significant Brennan Reserve, which includes a fire break of between 10 and 20 metres, providing a buffer between the reserve and private property in Brennan Avenue, Fraser Avenue, Knapton Avenue and some sections of St Georges Road,” he said.
“This fire-break is regularly maintained by clearing and slashing works and offers protection to residents.”
He said fuel reduction burns had been undertaken at the end of Brennan Avenue and St Georges Road in previous years and a 22,500 litre static water supply has been installed at the end of Brennan Avenue.
“Fire prevention staff recently inspected the reserve and private properties in the areas to assess potential fuel loads,” he said.
“They will ensure any necessary reduction works are undertaken.”
He said active Community Fireguard groups existed in Brennan Avenue East, Brennan Avenue West, Fraser Avenue and Knapton Avenue in Upper Beaconsfield and while the council understood residents being anxious about the upcoming fire season, council officers were doing everything they could.
If residents have queries they can contact council on 1300 787 624 or find out more via council’s website www.cardinia.vic.gov.au or the CFA website www.cfa.vic.gov.au.