Fires ignite impassioned response from regional communities

The Legislative Council Environment and Planning Committee surveyed the damage and heard firsthand accounts of survivors during a series of public hearings and site visits around the state.

The Otway Ranges, Wimmera, Goulburn Valley and Central Highlands were some of the worst affected areas when bush and grass blazes broke out in January, with some burning for weeks.

In Alexandra the committee heard how survivors and relief centre volunteers are still seeking the essentials, such as mental health support, animal feed, access to water, fallen tree clearing and new fencing.

‘Until those trees are removed we can't get fences up so we can't get stock back in,’ Fawcett Hall President Sam Hicks said.

The Longwood fire claimed one life, destroyed hundreds of properties and burned through more than 136,000 hectares.

In the state’s south-west resourcing of the CFA was raised as an ongoing issue.

“ ‘I hope that at the end of the inquiry we can be better prepared.’ ”

CFA Deputy Group Officer (Corangamite) Lachlan Sutherland

‘We deal with an ageing fleet… At times it worries me to send volunteers into fires and fire areas on the back of trucks,' Mr Sutherland said.

‘It’d be great to have more self-contained units that firefighters are protected going in to fight fires, because they’re volunteers. They deserve the best.’

The committee went on a tour of the Carlisle River fireground and spoke to the Gellibrand CFA captain during their visit to the Otway Ranges.

In the Wimmera the return to normalcy following the fast-moving Natimuk fire was front of mind.

 ‘The recovery has been quite slow. I think everyone wants everything to happen straight away,’ Natimuk and District Gymnastics Club Head Coach Lynette Morrow said.

The gym club was saved, but damaged by efforts to protect it from the flames, meaning it’s been unable to hold proper classes for months.

‘Where possible, we're travelling for some training… so we're only providing for about 80, 85 students a week compared to the 300 that we had prior to the fires,’ Ms Morrow said.

Natimuk’s aged care home and hospital were also saved as clients, staff and a local resident and his two dogs who ultimately lost his home down the road took refuge at the facility.

‘So we had nearly 60 people in the building and the fire arrived here within 15 minutes of starting out at Grass Flat,’ Natimuk Aged Care Director of Nursing David Shultz said.

‘Thankfully the firefighters prioritised this building and were able to stop the fire from encroaching on the building, which gave our staff and the residents confidence to shelter on site and stay safe.’

Members of the communities appreciated the outreach by the parliamentary committee.

“ ‘I think it's great that they've come out to the region and provided an inquiry like this.’ ”

Natimuk & District Gymnastics Club Head Coach Lynette Morrow

The inquiry has received upwards of 460 public submissions with more being progressively published on the committee’s website.

A final report with findings and recommendations is due to be tabled in parliament on Tuesday the 28th of July.