Plan for bushfires is essential, experts tell Caveside meeting
By Sharon Webb
A PUBLIC meeting has created a steering committee to work on a plan for bushfire-ready neighbourhood groups in Western Creek, Caveside and Dairy Plains. Around 30 people attended the meeting at the Caveside Hall in January, advised by Tasmanian Fire Service group officer Errol Gleeson; TFS brigade chiefs from Chudleigh and Meander, Julie McGregor and Grant Flowers; Beth Williams from the Meander Valley Council’s Emergency Management and Social Recovery Committee; and Cllr Rodney Synfield from Meander Valley Council.
The advice from Mr Gleeson and Cllr Synfield was straightforward. Individuals should formulate their own bushfire plans and communities should work out their community-wide plan. ‘Individual property owners need to plan so that if a fire is coming they already know whether they will leave or stay and fight the fire. If they’re leaving they must leave early,’ Mr Gleeson said. ‘They should not just consider the situation of a direct attack by fire but also that on the mainland embers are travelling 20 kilometres.
‘The first thing people with a lot of trees should do is to clean up underneath them. And they need to make sure their property has a prominent number for identification. ‘Local brigade members can assess your property for bushfire readiness.’ Grant Flowers also advised property owners to get equipment in case of power failure and to plan what to do with pets and livestock. All animals should be moved early because the TFS does not do this. ‘Never rely solely on phones and computers,’ Grant said. ‘Be prepared with a solar power pack and a battery-operated radio so that you can get fire news from the ABC.’ Communities such as Jackeys Marsh and Meander have already established community fire plans where locals can be notified of fires via phone trees earlier than the TFC is able to contact people. Cllr Synfield said, ‘The critical thing to do is set up a group, make a plan and get guest speakers from the TFS to advise you on how to be ready for a fire.’
A community-wide effort was only effective with groups, and each group should have a manager who communicates with the TFS, Mr Gleeson said. ‘That group needs to look at local risks and assets and decide what needs to be done. ‘Start with an informal community barbecue, get ideas on paper and then divide into smaller community groups to organise activities. ‘The Jackeys Marsh group grew from a couple of people to a group of 20. They established a phone tree and bought a small fire truck.’ People who volunteered to be on the steering committee after the public meeting included Ann Crowden, Gary Taylor, Peter Barr and Sam Munroe from Western Creek, and Deb Hunter and Johanne LangDavis from Caveside. Identified bushfire-safe locations include Deloraine Rotary Pavilion, Meander Recreation Ground and Golden Valley caravan park, depending on where fires happen.
