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Fire season safety warning By Laura Michell Whittlesea and Hume residents are being warned about the risk of grassfires this summer as dry conditions increase the likelihood of fires. Fire restrictions came into place in Whittlesea and Hume yesterday, meaning a permit is now required to burn-off grass, undergrowth, weeds or other vegetation, and to light a fire in the open. The restrictions cover suburbs in the CFA district, such as Craigieburn, Greenvale, Mickleham, Mernda, South Morang, Epping, Wollert and Whittlesea.
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above average maximum temperatures places Victoria in a vulnerable position
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- Bushfire Co-Operative Research Centre A seasonal outlook released by the Bushfire Co-Operative Research Centre late last month predicts an above average fire season for Victoria. “The background conditions of dryness and
the likelihood of above average maximum temperatures this summer places Victoria in a vulnerable position,” the outlook stated. CFA district 14 operations manager Trevor Roberts said now was the time for Whittlesea and Hume residents to prepare for the fire season. “It is important to undertake mitigation work, including slashing, grading and general property clean-ups before the fire danger ratings increase,” he said. “Any burning-off requires thorough planning, ensuring there are enough people to monitor, contain and extinguish the burn safely and effectively.”
Mr Roberts said the CFA had zero tolerance to any unauthorised fire or fires resulting from negligent behaviour. “A fire started at any time of the year which damages someone else’s property is a crime,” he said. Whittlesea council has begun its annual fire inspection program to ensure properties in the urban area are prepared for the fire season. The council requires grass and weeds on all properties, including those that are vacant, to be no more than 10 centimetres high. Mayor Kris Pavlidis said it was important everyone did their part.
(Mark Wilson)
Forum aims at youth, crime
Push to give young drivers on-road skills Whittlesea’s youngest councillor is on a mission to improve the driving skills of young drivers. Cr Emilia-Lisa Sterjova (pictured) has asked the council to investigate the establishment of a driving skills program for young people. The program, which would be run in partnership with a local driving school, would address high risk issues such as driving on gravel roads and texting while driving. Cr Sterjova also wants the council to consider starting a road safety education program in secondary schools. Both programs would be cost neutral to the council and would become part of the council’s Road Safety Strategy.
Cr Sterjova said the programs would be beneficial, given that crash data showed that young people between 18-25 years-old were most likely to be involved in road accidents. Between 2012-16, 18-25 year-olds accounted for 19 per cent of the fatalities and serious injury crashes in Whittlesea – more than any other age group. “The statistics around road accidents in the City of Whittlesea are still startling,” Cr Sterjova said. She said she was particularly passionate about educating young people about the dangers of driving on dirt roads. Earlier this year, she was
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involved in an accident on a dirt road, in which she lost control of her car after slamming on her brakes. Cr Sterjova said her inexperience driving on dirt roads had put her in a dangerous situation. “If I knew not to slam on my brakes on gravel roads it would have been a different outcome,” she said. “As a volunteer with Whittlesea SES, I have since had to learn to drive on dirt roads and it is a whole new skill-set. I thought that if I can benefit from learning about driving on dirt roads then other young people can too.”
Whittlesea police will hold a community safety forum next week to help address youth-related issues. The forum will be part of the Community Safety Networks – a partnership between police, the state government, Crime Stoppers and Neighbourhood Watch – that aims for better connections between police and the community. Mernda Senior Sergeant Peter Koger said the forum would help police increase their understanding of youth-related issues causing concern for residents. He said information gathered at the forum would inform local policing priorities. “We are always looking to increase our connections with the local community.” Senior Sergeant Koger said. “It’s an opportunity for the community to have a say on the key issues within their area. “We know that people have great insight into their local community and ideas about other ways to prevent crime.” The forum will also feature a performance by the Thomastown West Primary School band, as well as an appearance by writer and comedian George McEncroe. The Whittlesea community safety forum is one of six forums planned by police for this year, with another six scheduled to begin in July, 2018. The Whittlesea forum will be on Tuesday, December 12, at Uni Hill Conference Centre, 30 Graduate Road, Bundoora, from 6-9pm. Register: bit.ly/2AIAfPI Laura Michell
Laura Michell
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