2022
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Wednesday, August 23, 2023
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ENVIRONMENTALLY AWARE TREE Planting Day had St Mary’s prep students digging deep, replanting a bank along Fords Creek near the Botanic Park, with 135 native trees, plants and shrubs. Toby Ragg and Spencer Hall worked together to get the job done. Turn to page 7 for more photos.
Page 9
STIRLING LOGGING UNDER FIRE
Sport
EAGLES CAN’T SHAKE SIXTH
Aerial support FIRE authorities have assured the state’s aerial firefighting capabilities offered to protect Mansfield and district communities will be at full capacity this summer. A report in The Age newspaper last week raised concerns Victoria’s total aerial firefighting capability had fallen about 40,000 litres below last summer’s level and aircraft services
Fleet firefighting capabilities to be on par with last season BY PAM ZIERK-MAHONEY pzierk-mahoney@ nemedia.com.au
could be cut back this season. However, Emergency Management Victoria (EMV) told the Mansfield Courier that the state remains well prepared for the high-risk
period for fires and that “procurement of the fleet is still under way and will be finalised shortly”. “There is no reduction in the number of firebombing aircraft in Victoria this year compared to last year, and no reduction in waterbombing capacity,” the spokesperson said.
“Our aircraft will continue to play a vital role in supporting emergency services on the ground, to protect Victorians before, during and after emergencies.” Maindample CFA captain, and member of the Mansfield CFA Group, Vaughan Semler said aerial firefighting support
was a critical element, with Mansfield normally having a minimum of one helicopter and one smaller plane based locally, as part of the statewide fleet. “We hope here in the High Country we would still have something in the way of aircraft to cover a huge North East area,” Mr Semler said.
“Without the water bombing we are left with even small fires opening up to massive bushfires – they would be out of control before tankers could get near it.” Member for Eildon, Cindy McLeish said with predictions of drier weather and heavy fuel loads, the need for aerial firefighting support was never greater.
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