samantha in the press - bushfire

Bushfire buy-back draws Yarra Valley flak
Yarra Ranges Weekly
by Melissa Cunningham
08 Nov 2011

in the press – bushfire royal commission, 10/30 rule

Dandenongs groups, council welcome proposed chopping of 10/30 laws

Free Press Leader

by Kimberley Seedy

4 Aug 2010

in the press – bushfires royal commission, fuel reduction

Burn more roadside: call

Mail Newspapers

By Kath Gannaway

3 Aug 2010

in the press – bushfire royal commission, refuges

More hope for refuges

Mail Newspapers
by Tania Martin

03 Aug 2010

In the press – bushfire royal commission, fuel reduction burning

Fuel burn concerns

Mail Newspapers

by Tania Martin

03 Aug 2010

in the press – bushfire royal commission buy back plan

Call for action

Mail Newspapers

by Tania Martin

03 Aug 2010

royal commission hands down its findings

It has been an important weekend for those communities in fire affected areas as well as the broader community in high fire risk areas as we waited for the report of the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission.

Staff from Yarra Ranges made sure that hard copies of the report were available for community members at both the Healesville and Lilydale libraries over the weekend.

The report spans some 4 volumes which will take some time to work through but I have had a chance to look at the 67 recommendations from the Royal Commission.

I certainly welcome the recommendations of the Royal Commission. At this stage we don't know whether the government will take up all the recommendations, however it is clear that bushfire policies need to change.

Late last year I had the opportunity to speak as a witness at the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission. I was there to give evidence about the process of designating Neighbourhood Safer Places (NSPs) in the Shire of Yarra Ranges.

I followed the process of NSPs very closely and was directly involved with the development of the Neighbourhood Safer Places Plan and onsite inspections of potential NSPs. Commissioners were interested to hear how designation was progressing from the perspective of a councillor and a resident in a high fire danger area.

I look forward to more clarity on vital community safeguards such as the Prepare Act Survive policy, early evacuation, bushfire shelters/neighbourhood safer places and other options for high fire risk communities.

We know from CSIRO predictions that the likelihood of these extreme events under a climate change scenario is greater and we need to ensure preparedness for what will be more frequent and severe events.

I think that the outcome for any action we undertake must be that we make communities safer. Without that as the main focus our efforts will be in vain. With that in mind I was pleased to see the emphasis the Royal Commission has put on the need to gather data and establish a national centre for bushfire research.

It is only with comprehensive scientific understanding that we can truly take actions with some surety that it will protect communities and make them safer places to be.

Council will be examining the recommendations in some detail over the coming weeks, I will be focusing particularly on those recommendations that affect the Dandenong Ranges and other high fire risk areas in the Shire.

nsp’s under scrutiny at the royal commission

On Monday I was a witness at the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission. I was there to give evidence about the process of designating Neighbourhood Safer Places in the Shire of Yarra Ranges.

I have followed the process of NSPs very closely and been directly involved with the development of the Neighbourhood Safer Places Plan and onsite inspections of potential NSPs.

I was pleased to be able to provide the Commissioners with a perspective as a local Dandenong Ranges resident as well as a shire councillor. I felt it was important for Commissioners to understand the on the ground workings and efforts being undertaken by the Shire of Yarra Ranges. I would be more than happy to speak to the commission again.

The Shire of Yarra Ranges is currently in the process of assessing additional sites to designate as NSPs and will hold a special meeting of council to discuss those sites on Tuesday 22nd Dec.

If you’re interested in reading what I said to the Commission click here, my statement starts on page 114.

royal commission, coming up 14th dec

On Monday I will speaking at the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission about the process around the establishment of Neighbourhood Safer Places in the Shire of Yarra Ranges and Township Protection Plans for the Dandenongs.

I look forward to speaking to the commission from the perspective of not only a Yarra Ranges councillor but as a resident of the Dandenong Ranges too.

community comes out

Today I went to a public meeting of the Dandenong Ranges Community Bushfire Group at Burrinja, which has come about due to the extraordinary efforts of two local women, Jo Hirst and Mel Gajdek.

Jo, me and Mel at Burrinja.

Mel and Jo felt very strongly about the need for a Dandenong Ranges community response to feed into the Royal Commission into the Victoria Bushfires. They initially started with a survey to gather the key issues of concern from the community, from the survey came some key areas of focus which were broadly grouped into the following categories: Early Warning Systems, Fuel Reduction, Refuges, Communication and Education.

All participants had the opportunity to have their say on all of the areas of concern with the room divided into 'stations'. Groups circulated to each station which ensured there was extensive dialogue on all of the issues raised through the survey.

Mel and Jo have done this off their own bats, they have had the help of many, however their efforts are a credit to them and their passion to see this project through. Today's public meeting was a facilitated community consultation, further exploring the key concerns in each of the categories mentioned earlier from the survey results.

The day was very well attended with around 100 locals ready to input their thoughts on the various issues. Well done Mel and Jo, your community passion is outstanding and your efforts were well rewarded with a great turn out on the day.