Mail - Ferntree Gully Star Mail - 22nd February 2022

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Ferntree Gully Belgrave

Yarra Ranges Kinders celebrate 25 years

Youth mentorship program service launches locally

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Tuesday, 22 February, 2022

Mail SPOTLIGHT: Selby to host botanical art exhibit PAGE 11

PROPERTY GUIDE

A Star News Group Publication

Phone: 5957 3700 Trades and Classifieds: 1300 666 808

12496493-NG22-21

Remembering Ash Wednesday

Emerald Road during Ash Wednesday, 1983.

Picture: KEITH PAKENHAM CFA COLLECTION

Wednesday 16 February marked the 39th anniversary of the Ash Wednesday bushfires. In Victoria, 47 people died, including 12 CFA firefighters from Narre Warren and Panton Hill at Critchley Parker Junior Reserve in Beaconsfield Upper. On 16 February 1983, at 3.24pm, a bushfire started on Birds Land near Mount Morton Road at Belgrave Heights. Fighterfighters from Kallista, Ferntree Gully, Olinda and Gembrook spent the day fighting to keep the fire under control and from spreading further than it already had.

The bushfire eventually stopped by the southern shore of Cardinia reservoir and extended nearly as far as Gembrook, and by about 4.30 am on Thursday the fire front had all but stopped. Over its 13 hour rampage a total of 9200 hectares was burnt, 21 people died and 230 homes were lost. Peter McHugh was working for worked for the Forests Commission in 1983 and was in upper Beaconsfield during Ash Wednesday and recounted his and other peoples experiences on the day of one of Australia’s worst ever bushfires. Read more on page 6

Duck discovery By Parker McKenzie The discovery of a second hatchling of the vulnerable blue-billed duck at a site earmarked for development has sparked further calls to protect a naturalised man-made lake just outside Ferntree Gully. “Lake Knox” - as people who want the area protected refer to it - is located on the corner of Burwood Highway and Scoresby Road, Knoxfield.

The land is owned by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning. It was rezoned in 2018 for Development Victoria to develop the land for residential housing and community space. President of the First Friends of Dandenong Creek Anthony Bigelow said Development Victoria’s plan had no guarantees to deliver a better habitat for the endangered blue-billed duck. “You’ve got to realize that breeding is the pinnacle for any species,” he said.

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“For an animal to breed successfully, everything has to be right.” In Victoria, there are 27 known sites where breeding of the blue-billed duck has occurred. The blue-billed duck was was considered endangered from 2013, however, DELWP changed the classification to vulnerable in 2020. Development Victoria Head of Property Development Penny Forrest responded to questions regarding the development by stating the development would provide a better

habitat to the blue-billed duck, an argument challenged by a study produced by community opposition to the plans. “By extending the wetlands, we’re creating a much safer and better long-term ecologically appropriate environment for the ducks,” she said. “The deteriorating man-made dam is unsafe, needs urgent rectification works and is not fit for purpose.” Read more on page 5

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