Fire restrictions in force next Monday

Fire restrictions will be introduced in Baw Baw Shire at 1am on Monday.

A date for fire restrictions is not yet set in Cardinia Shire. However, a declaration is expected in the coming weeks.

CFA district nine operations officer Bill Alards said grasslands were drying out – especially in South Gippsland - but it was the bush causing most concern.

“The grasslands are still looking very green but there’s no underlying moisture,” he said. “The grass is starting to turn and go to seed. The bushland is very dry. That’s probably our main concern at the moment, the bush.”

This was reflected in a 28 hectare blaze in the Bunyip State Park near Gembrook on Wednesday. There was also a seven hectare blaze 8km from Noojee, six hectare fire 11km west of Erica and a nine hectare blaze in the Mt Baw Baw National Park. All have been declared under control or safe. Mr Alards said rural property owners could light burn offs right up until December 4 at 1am but urged care as well as common sense in not leaving it until the last days. This specifically relates to burning of large logs which could take several days.

“We’ve had that before and other districts this year,” he said. “For larger piles, light them earlier than later.”

He said it was also important that residents monitor large burn off sites for several weeks. He said sticks and logs underground could reignite in warm and windy conditions.

“We encourage all households to look at roofs and gutters to clean out leaves and tidy up against houses and sheds.”

Forest Fire Management Victoria’s assistant chief fire officer Chris Stephenson urged residents to make preparation for fire a habit to ensure people were not caught unprepared in the event of a bushfire.

“It’s up to you to check Fire Danger Ratings every day in summer – these help you know when the conditions are dangerous enough to enact your fire plan,” said Mr Stephenson. “Remember that if you can see smoke, you’re leaving it too late. A fire that is miles away could be at your door in minutes.”

CFA assistant chief officer Trevor Owen said no fires could be lit on private land without a permit during the restriction period.

“To protect community safety, permits are subject to stringent conditions and can be obtained from your CFA district office,” said Mr Owen. “Fire restrictions are in place for a reason – to help prevent fires from starting.”

Mr Alards warned ignorance was no longer an excuse if locals were caught lighting fires after restrictions began.

He said authorities were moving towards zero tolerance.

“There’s quite a hefty fine should they be caught lighting a fire once the Fire Danger Period starts,” he said.

A fire lit during the Fire Danger Period can attract a fine up to $19,028 or 12 months imprisonment whilst a fire lit on a Total Fire Ban day can attract a $38,056 fine or 24 months imprisonment.

If in doubt, Mr Alards urged locals to download the “Can I or Can’t I” brochure from cfa.vic.gov.au or call the CFA district nine office in Warragul on 5624 1900.

Optimism that $500,000 could be raised for the community to buy the Old Drouin Butter Factory, now a mix of café/restaurant, theatres, art galleries and meeting rooms, was boosted when more than 150 people attended an open day.

Rhona Hendrick, a member of an interim committee of management running the facility, said a number of those that visited came up with suggestions

Two junior netballers and Drouin’s freestyle BMX competition are the latest recipients of Baw Baw Shire sponsorship grants.

Council approved $500 grants to cousins Amity and Holly Stephens to represent Victoria at the Australian indoor netball junior national championships, being held in Queensland this week.

The girls play for Longwarry and were both successful in their state selection.

Council determined they were both eligible for level one sponsorship of $500 each.

Cr Mikaela Power said it was great the two girls had been successful in their selection but attendance at these events often proved very costly.

“I am glad we can support them through this,” she said.

Cr Jessica O’Donnell said the Stephens girls were an example of the incredible talent to come out of Baw Baw.

Council also approved a $500 sponsorship request from the Committee for Drouin for the Drouin Freestyle BMX competition.

The competition is held at the Drouin skate park as a feature of the annual Ficifolia Festival.

The competition caters for BMX, scooters and skateboards. about possible community uses. There were also some indications of a willingness to donate to an appeal to raise the money.

Some of the new ideas put forward for the building use were development of an extensive outdoor are as a community garden, the staging of drama and a venue for dance classes.

The owner of the building Ken O’Donnell has offered the community first chance to buy the premises that he and two now deceased other family members bought about 30 years ago and have progressively redeveloped it.

Ms Hendrick said the $500,000 price asked of the community was well below the property’s market value.

She said an incorporated body would be formed to manage fund-raising with a target of reaching the price by about the middle of next year.

Mr O’Donnell said he preferred that the premises to be a community asset.

Cr Power said the skate park was in the centre of Drouin and she was confident this would be very successful.