Nillumbik residents turn on their representatives

From the Age

ANGRY residents last night accused local authorities of contributing to the bushfire toll by failing to let residents chop down trees and clear up bushland that posed a fire risk.

During question time at a packed community meeting in Arthurs Creek on Melbourne's northern fringe, Warwick Spooner — whose mother Marilyn and brother Damien perished along with their home in the Strathewen blaze — criticised the Nillumbik council for the limitations it placed on residents wanting the council's help or permission to clean up around their properties in preparation for the bushfire season. "We've lost two people in my family because you dickheads won't cut trees down," he said.

"We wanted trees cut down on the side of the road ... and you can't even cut the grass for God's sake."

Comments

[Jeff Wood]

I believe something of the same has been seen in California. "Environmental" objections to keeping forests clean have resulted in fire spreading faster, reaching higher temperatures, and making access for firefighting more difficult.

Of course, just as if you build a house on a flood plain you must expect to get your feet wet; if you put up a seaside home where hurricanes make landfall you will, from time to time, have your house blown down; if you live in the bush, and don't clear the ground round about, then once in a while you will cook.

[Bishop Hill]

There's a really excellent book called Nature's Keepers by Stephen Budiansky which covers issues around land management in wild places. Wildfire is one big issue, the other is restrictions on culling wild animals.

[Jeff Wood]

Apologies. I posted my comment, then scrolled on and found the point made several times already.