A foothills resident has raised concerns over the council’s
lack of power to clear roadside
vegetation.
Barry Murray, who has lived in Nelshaby for more than 25 years, fears that “one spark” from a car could set off a raging inferno.
He is “fed up” that not enough was done by the council to prepare for the fire season.
“My fear is I have got my place as good as I can get to survive a fire, but when you go out on to the roads there are trees and
vegetation built up that the council will not remove,” he said. “We have had a slasher out here twice now in the past two weeks, but it is not enough.”
Mr Murray said he had been “crying out for something to be done” and threatened to take action against the Port Pirie Regional Council if things do not improve.
“I am sick of the current format and in the new year will take some action against the council,” he said.
Mr Murray has prepared his home for the fire season by installing power generators and clearing land around the house.
He said because of a lack of clearance from the roadside, he would ask his wife to stay inside in the event of a fire.
“We are definitely not going to survive a fire out on the roads in the state they are in,” he said.
“I will instruct my wife to stay put, because if she cannot survive a fire in the house, there is no chance she will survive out on the roads.”
Council is restricted by the Native Vegetation Council regarding removal of native trees and growth protected under the 1991 Native Vegetation Act.
From front page
The council’s Roadside Vegetation Management Plan says staff may only remove introduced weeds and grasses from roadsides.
This means any native trees or bushes are not to be disturbed without consulting the Native Vegetation Council.
Mr Murray raised concerns about overgrown weeds in Nelshaby Reserve.
“At the last long weekend we had eight carloads of people camping in the reserve which is council property up to the pipeline,” he said.
“All it would take is for the right conditions and one spark from a car and a fire would start.
“It is too late now, the fire season is nearly upon us and slashing a bit of grass will not stop a fire from reaching the Napperby Primary School in 10 minutes flat.”
Technical services manager Len Wilton says that council is responsible under the Local Government Act for clearing roadside growth.
“Roadside vegetation is in some areas the only original native vegetation in the area and it needs to be protected and managed,” he said.
“Council is reviewing its Roadside Vegetation Management Plan and Fire Prevention Plan, both of which must be in accord with the requirements of the Native Vegetation Act and regulations.
“All clearance, be it within private property or on roadsides or public areas, must be undertaken in accordance with the Act.
“In terms of current works, the late rains have necessitated increased effort in slashing to reduce fuel load.”
Despite some major progress in roadside slashing, the work was not expected to be
finished by the start of the fire season on last Sunday.
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