Former Holcombe ward councillor Bill McClenaghan has raised the alarm on what he claims are major fire hazard sites across the shire ahead of the summer season.
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Mr McClenaghan said four major council-managed sites had unacceptable levels of risk, with general overgrowth, grass, scrub and noxious weeds such as gorse and blackberry potential fuel for major blazes.
He said the sites of concern were the Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve, Lake Daylesford Mineral Springs Reserve, the Daylesford Transfer Station and the Basin Reserve, or speedway, in Basin Road.
Mr McClenaghan said council had a legislated requirement under the CFA Act to minimise fire hazard on land it maintained.
“Fire danger is greater on steep slopes containing such overgrowth and fire hazard fuel with homes and businesses nearby or at the top of the overgrown slopes,” he said.
“If any of these reserves catch fire in summer, particularly with a hot north wind, ember attack will cause rapid wildfire spread within Daylesford and Hepburn Springs, two of the Bushfire Royal Commission’s identified most fire-prone towns.”
Mr McClenaghan said he was concerned that council was not attending its fire management duty, but issuing fire hazard notices and fines to landowners with hazards that “are really small by comparison”.
“Council has done very little to discharge its duty yet issues Fire Hazard Notices to private property owners requiring them to remove their fire hazards that are small by comparison to council’s,” he said.
“Those who fail to comply are fined. I and other residents have raised these matters before. Regarding the Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve, one resident’s complaints were effectively stonewalled while another was accused of harassing staff and banned from council’s offices.”
New deputy mayor John Cottrell said council took its fire hazard management responsibilities seriously, and dealt with emergency services in its annual planning.
He also said council engaged properties to undertake cleanups to prevent potential fires.
“Council has been working with the CFA over a period of time. Council is continuing to work with the CFA...and takes all practical steps to prevent the spread of fire,” he said.
He said a number of works reducing fuel and creating fire breaks were expected to be complete by the end of December. He also said properties larger than one acre had specific fuel reduction strategies in place.
The Advocate reported in March this year a number of residents were angry about being issued fire hazard fines for minor issues.
