Next door to a fire hazard
‘Everyone’s passing the buck’
FUSTRATED Teesdale resident Ivon Ferry says he has been campaigning for months to get local authorities to slash the almost 2m high grass on a neighbouring property.
He says the grass is a serious fire hazard coming into the summer season.
Mr Ferry believes the vacant property, which sits on the corner of Tolson Rd and Russell St, hasn’t been touched in more than a year.
“I’ve been on to all of the authorities for months and each one will just pass the buck to the other one,” he said.
“The council people, local fire brigade, the fire protection people in Ballarat, no one has done anything.”
Mr Ferry has always been a country boy, and has seen first hand the devastating effect fire can have on people and communities.
“Properties behind the block I feel are at a greater risk than I, the grass has gotten so thick now you could barely walk through it,” Mr Ferry said yesterday, the region’s hottest day of the year so far..
“I’d hate to see what would happen if a fire swept through the area on a day like today.”
Golden Plains Shire CEO Eric Braslis said a fire issue notice had been issued for the property in question.
“The notice required remedial work to be undertaken by December 3,” he said. “Unfortunately the region experienced a lot of wet weather at the start of the month and an extension until December 17 was issued for that property.”
The CFA announced fire restrictions for the Golden Plains shire are set to begin on Monday.