Ferntree Gully
Belgrave
Mail Covering the Dandenongs in the Yarra Ranges & Cardinia Shires
21 Tuesday, 6 October, 2015
Classic giveaway
3
Electoral review
A Mail News Group publication
27
Souvenir Hawks poster
Phone: 5957 3700 Trades and Classifieds: 1300 666 808
Stellar set of wheels THE Running Rabbits Military Museum has cranked up its incredible collection, this time with the addition of a Sunbeam S7 motorcycle. The motorcycle is renowned for its unique mechanical design and the important part it played in Australia’s World War II history. The motorcycle is on loan and available for the community to come and view. Pictured is the Sunbeam S7 with Phil Garland. See full story on page 6. 145023 Picture: ROB CAREW
Burns ban ‘a threat’
Auto Service Centres
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summer driven by a Godzilla El Nino.” In providing a reason for the bans, the AWU has cited a four-month wait for negotiating an enterprise bargaining agreement with the Victorian Government. The AWU is also applying for an indefinite stop on falling trees for firewood and a ban on cleaning toilets and collecting rubbish in picnic areas. DELWP has provided assurances the action will not result in scaled-back or cancellation of burns. However, Gembrook MP, Brad Battin, believes the actions endanger the community. “Volunteer firefighters with the CFA rely on the efforts of planned burning to improve bushfire safety,” he said. “Victorians are now facing bans
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on critical works to reduce the risk of catastrophic bushfires.” Emerald CFA Captain, Paul Yandle, did not want to comment on the strike action specifically, but was monitoring the goings on. Instead, Captain Yandle said he would focus on the preparations of his team, which includes new members, many of whom had not experienced a fire season before. Healesville Captain, Graeme Bates, questioned the logic behind the action. “It does reduce the window of opportunity around when burns can be conducted,” he said. “And you’ve got to go back the next day, it doesn’t matter what day you burn on - there’s that duty of care. “I would be more concerned if the action was post fire season, but there
are usually pockets of burns in the preseason.” Captain Bates said he was closely watching the predicted El Nino. He said predictions were for a drier west of the state, while the east coast would be wetter. But he said there was never a time for complacency. “The fire season can creep up quickly,” he said. “Before you know it, the warmer temperatures are here, you get a hot day and high winds and conditions change.” Both captains said now was the time for the community to start preparing. They encouraged residents to start cleaning around their homes and checking items like barbecue connections.
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PREPARATIONS for the upcoming fire season in the Yarra Ranges may be interrupted, with the Australian Workers Union launching extraordinary industrial action involving spring planned burns. The action involves the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) forest fighting staff, which will only be permitted to conduct planned burns on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The move will greatly reduce the windows of opportunity during which staff can undertake planned burns, which are aimed at reducing bushfire fuel loads in forests and public lands areas. Intensifying this scenario is the
fact many experts are bracing for a “Godzilla El Nino”, which could bring with it much drier than usual weather patterns. This is in addition to rainfall over the past few months, which will encourage natural spring growth. Local politicians have hit out at the action, while CFA captains are closely watching the events. In particular, Member for Evelyn, Christin Fyffe, has slammed the AWU bans. “The AWU is playing with the safety of our communities by banning planned burns,” she said. “I call on the AWU to remove the ban on planned burns immediately. “Spring is the last chance for carrying out planned burns in preparation for what promises to be a very hot
1161391-HM44-14
By PETER DOUGLAS
32 years.
5 Fitzgerald Street, Ferntree Gully
9758 4245