Group names safer places

By Melissa Meehan
A LOCAL bushfire group, tired of waiting for the Cardinia Shire to identify Neighbourhood Safer Places (NSP) in fire-prone areas has submitted a list of potential sites in five towns.
While the council recently revealed its NSP in Gembrook, it has yet to identify other sites throughout the shire.
At last week’s council meeting, ‘resident of the Cardinia Hills Branch of the Dandenong Ranges Community Bushfire Group Naomi Manson submitted a list of potential sites in Clematis, Emerald, Cockatoo, Upper Beaconsfield and Upper Pakenham.
Along with the list, Ms Manson requested the shire to nominate the list for CFA assessment as to whether the sites met NSP criteria.
The list which includes the Paradise Valley Hotel, Clematis Hall, Emerald Primary School, Gemco Theatre, Emerald Park Lake, Cockatoo’s main street, Mountain Road Recreational Reserve and the Beaconhills Country Golf Club to name a few, have car parking, water, some shelter and toilet facilities.
Ms Mason, in her submission, said the group fully supported all CFA messages to leave early but in reality although residents were warned to leave early, many hundreds of people were reported as fleeing at the last minute in recent bushfires.
“These were residents and visitors whose bushfire plans may have failed or could not be implemented for whatever reason,” she said.
“They found themselves caught out.”
She said that was a reason why alternative options must be made available.
“Prevention is always better than consequence,” she said.