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Monday March 22, 2010

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PHOTOS: 'The state we're in'

Posted by: 3AW Radio | 19 November, 2009 - 8:50 AM

Photos

ABOVE: For explanation of this photo - scroll down. Email your pictures to nmitchell@3aw.com.au and we will publish them to highlight the issue.

Neil Mitchell wants to get an idea of just how dangerous the fire season ahead will be.

With another sweltering summer on the way, it is becoming clear that despite the Victorian Government releasing its 'Bushfire Hot Spots' list, there are some concerning signs not all is being done by the powers that be and local government to reduce the fire risk.

Neil wants you to send in photos of overgown areas - particularly council-controlled areas - which could create an unnecessary fire hazard.

We will add the images to a photo gallery above. To be taken to 3AW's Fire Ready directory - click the below link.


"Hi Neil,

As per most days, I was listening to your show this morning of the callers from the Shire of Yarra Rangers.  You mentioned that you wanted us to take pictures and send them to you, so here is is!

While I was listening to you, I was on Wellington Road, Belgrave South. As I turned at the roundabout, into Belgrave-Hallam Road, towards the school, I pulled over, to take the pictures as you reqested.  My daughter (nearly 11) was home sick from school , so I have a picture of her standing on the corner of Belgrave-Hallam and Engelke roads, with her hand up to the height of the grass.

I then noticed that just beyond where she was standing, the grass was even higher, so you then see a picture of me, with the grass higher than my head - now, before anyone coments, I am actually 176cms, or 5.5" so I am not exactly a short lady! Which goes to prove just how high the grass really is.

Last night we attended our local bushfire meeting, we took the three children as we wanted them to be aware of what plans we need to put into place, and how if we all work together we will survive. Obviously, this must have made an impact on my daughter who is turning 11 next week, because when I took her picture next to the grass, she said to me "mum, that fireman last night said that however high the grass is, the flames would be 4 or more times higher - I can't even imagine how high that this grass will burn".

Neil, lastly I will mention that i then continued to drive up this road towards home, but which also leads to the school (there are only 2 roads leading in and out of Belgrave South by the way). I measured how far from where I took the picture - to the school where my three children attend. IT IS JUST SHORT OF 1.1 KILOMETRES, with plenty more uncut grass in between.

Thanks for listening, I hope that you can use this information and pictures along with everyone else's to prove how unrelieable THe shire of Yarra Ranges is.

Kind Regards,
Stacey Domanski"

Blog comments Your Say

  • Hi Neil, grass is one thing, but remember, the black Saturday fires were spreading from the tree-tops. I have taken photos along Wellingtion Road from the Hallam/Belgrave Round about Eastbound towards Emerald of what I feel is a bigger threat to us hill residents. If you look at the pictures you will notice spreed out along Wellington road for just on 10-15 km trees which lean on a 60 to 45 degree angle over both sides of Wellington Rd. To me I see this being a major exit/escape road for the residents & a major entry Road for emergancy vehicles & crew, a lot of more effort should have being focused this season on Wellington Rd for clearing. As we are yet to be burned out & fear if fire does come through this area the trees will not stand the force of a black Saturday inferno and will fall pretty fast a block most of the area :(
    Hope you can mention this somewhere for the power to be to act 7 clear this area please.
    Kind regards
    David

    David Henry Sunday 29 November, 2009 - 8:16 PM

  • I had to ring the council and ask who was responsible for the long grass at the roundabout at the Westernport Hwy and the Frankston Cranbourne Rd intersection, they put me on to Vic Roads.I couldn't see who was approaching the intersection from the Frankston side and had to come to a complete stop before l proceeded. I did get action as it was a safety issue but what is going on, every where l travel the grass is getting out of control, if they can't keep up with the mowing plant low growing native shrubs and ground covers instead!

    Barbara Batten Sunday 22 November, 2009 - 2:40 PM

  • This just shows the rediculous green laws from the radicals are one of the main causes ,whatever happened to common sense?One has to ask how is it that its much hotter in the northern territory and wa nth qld yet we dont have anywhere near the amount of fires as we do where the arsonists light them here ,i can remeber yrs and yrs ago where areas were very dry and didnt even have fires .

    melanie Friday 20 November, 2009 - 12:52 PM

  • Hello Neil,I'm sorry I cant post a photo at this stage but hope to shortly.the photo will be of a 7square mt of tinder dry vegetation located at 19 MERNDA ST RYE which is a MORINGTON PENINSULA SHIRE DRAINAGE RESERVE. Residence of Mernda st have rang the shire on a weekly basis for the past 5 weeks demanding it be removed asap.however it still remains a constant fire threat in our street. thank you Neil.

    Lori Friday 20 November, 2009 - 11:51 AM

  • I am concerned by the government's head-in-the-sand approach to fire prevention throughout Victoria! We have the same problem up here in Bendigo with long grass on the roadsides, to the point where you can't even see the top of the white poles, let alone their reflective dots! There are also reserves up here where the grass is really long now and this is supposedly council property. It's a joke because the council blame DSE and vice-versa. Yet the public are told to clean up their own properties, it doesn't make sense. I'm starting to think it's a case of double standards!! The Premier commented on the TV the other night that Victoria is in the best position that it's ever been, is he for real?

    Liz

    Liz Friday 20 November, 2009 - 11:48 AM

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