Thursday, 2 May 2024

Petitions

Blue Rock Lake

Wayne FARNHAM (Narracan) presented a petition bearing 191 signatures:

The petition of residents of Victoria draws to the attention of the House the decision by Southern Rural Water (SRW) to undertake significant reforestation planting along the south western area of Blue Rock Lake.

Residents are concerned the reforestation will create signifcant bushfire risk for the town and result in the loss of access to these leased allotments for land owners who currently rely on them for their livelihoods.

Willow Grove is already surrounded by forest, and these open areas have provided potential safe haven and direct access to Blue Rock Lake should a significant bushfire occur.

Reforestation will mean residents and surrounding land owners will be unable to manage these properties, and put at risk the lives of locals should a catastrophic event occur.

This decision to reforest these parcels has been taken with limited consultation and SRW has not provided any signficant detail about how this decision will impact the safety of the town, or BAL ratings of properties into the future.

This could have a significant impact on Bushfire Management Overlays and result in increases in insurance premiums for locals.

The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Assembly of Victoria review this action being taken and keep these allotments as leased open areas, maintained by local farmers with grazing stock.

Ordered that petition be considered tomorrow.