Friends
of Nillumbik asked Council: The Government has decided to change its notorious 10/30 rule to a new 10/50 rule which applies to Wildfire Management Overlay (WMO) areas. Parkifying the bush by the removal of native vegetation dries out the ground and encourages the growth of grass. Fire authorities are predicting that grass fire events will predominate this season and it is known that grass fires travel up to three times faster than other fires. We ask, does the Council believe that this ruling will make a difference in protecting people from significant bushfire? If not why not and what measures would Council like to be put in place instead? Will this rule result in more damage to biodiversity in these areas? Conal Creedon, General Manager Infrastructure Services, responded: The Victorian Government has gazetted changes to the State Planning Scheme to create a new Bushfire Management Overlay and to grant an exemption from requiring a planning permit to property owners covered by this overlay to remove trees within 10 metres of a dwelling and native vegetation (other than trees) between 10-50 metres of a dwelling (where the dwelling was constructed prior to 10 September 2009). However, this just simplifies the options open to a landowner under this overlay and makes provision for what may have been permissible under the former WMO albeit as a permit condition. Council supports landowners to actively manage their land to minimise the risk from fire and notes that this provision assists in this but does not mandate any particular land treatment. Council would still encourage landowners to develop an appropriate management plan that considers all risk factors – surrounding land use, aspect, topography, etc. and to use the advice and tools available from the CFA to assist in preparing and implementing this plan. Friends of Nillumbik asked Council: Following Cr Clarkson’s recent letter (published in the Herald Sun) maligning the values of the Nillumbik Green Wedge, Friends of Nillumbik ask whether this anti Green Wedge campaigner should declare a conflict of interest when issues pertaining to the Green Wedge and the Urban Growth Boundary come before Council? Conal Creedon, General Manager Infrastructure Services, responded: The Local Government Act 1989 places the onus and responsibility on the individual Councillor to determine if they have a conflict of interest, as defined in the Local Government Act 1989. |