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The News Headlines
Wednesday Aug 30, 2010 |
Letters to the Editor
Promaccom
Fine Accommodation
From The Mirror, Aug 29 , 1990 |
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Preparations stepped up for bushfire season |
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SPRING burns could be on the agenda for Department of Sustainability and
Environment and Parks Victoria staff, weather permitting.
“We tend to not get much spring burning done in this district – it’s
generally too wet or windy – but if the weather conditions are right we
might do some fuel reduction burns around Foster, finish one off at
Grantville and burn a few debris heaps,” said Foster-based DSE fire
management officer David Gallacher.
Spring burns are becoming more necessary than ever as a supplement to the
far more common autumn burns, with the government, in the wake of the Black
Saturday fires, significantly increasing its fuel reduction burn target.
The government announced last week that it would accept in full or in part
66 of the 67 recommendations of the Royal Commission inquiring into the
fires of February 2009.
A non-compulsory acquisition by the State of land in bushfire prone areas is
the only recommendation which the government has totally rejected, basing
its decision on expert advice and feedback from the community.
A doubling, and eventually a tripling, of fuel reduction burns, is one of
the key measures that the government is taking in its bid to make Victoria
safer from the bushfire threat.
The government is also promising:
Hundreds more firefighters;
A significant Increase in support for volunteer firefighters;
New fire mapping technology for faster and more accurate community warnings;
More funding to accelerate the roll-out of more Neighbourhood Safer Places;
A tougher maintenance regime for electricity businesses and high visibility
arson operations;
Replacement of the Fire Services Levy with a progressive property-based levy
and improvements to planning controls in bushfire-prone areas; and
A major boost to community education and information about preparing for
bushfires, including the introduction of bushfire education in the school
curriculum.
The Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, Gavin Jennings, said
that the government would be investing $382.4 million in additional funding
to a staged increase in the amount of planned burning from 130,000 to
275,000 hectares or five per cent of treatable public land, by 2013-14.
Following a review of the effectiveness of this program, the government will
grow the program to achieve 385,000 hectares by 2015-16. This will include
employing 170 new permanent DSE firefighting staff and 231 seasonal
firefighters to assist in the fire preparation and fire suppression effort;
“We have listened to communities, fire experts and key stakeholders before
making this decision and we believe committing to the rolling 385,000
hectare target is one of the keys to making Victoria safer from bushfires,”
said Mr Jennings.
“All the experts agree it is impossible to simply jump from the current
level of planned burning to 385,000 hectares and that a progressive approach
needs to be taken that includes careful planning and research.
“This fire season we will move to 200,000 hectares, the following year
225,000, with 250,000 achieved the year after that and in 2014 we will reach
275,000 hectares. This will amount to five per cent of treatable public
land.”
Mr Jennings said that while increasing the target was important, the
government would also focus on producing better science and modelling to
ensure the burning is the most effective in protecting human life as well as
preserving the ecological values of our environment.
“We know we have to burn bigger, but we also know we have to burn better and
more effectively by taking a strategic approach,” he said.
“New measures, such as monitoring and assessment programs, will be
introduced to show the direct benefit of the burning program in the areas
that need the most protection.
“This will include biodiversity monitoring, assessing the effectiveness of
the burning program on the bushfire risk to communities and impacts on
industry and work that will show how targeted smaller burning in high risk
areas can be more beneficial than large-scale burns where there is no direct
protection to lives and properties.”
The Premier, John Brumby, said the Victorian Government would prepare a full
implementation plan for these reforms in coming weeks and be guided by
emergency services agencies and departments about what steps could
practically be taken ahead of the next bushfire season.
“Over 1500 people have attended more than 20 public meetings held across
Victoria since the Royal Commission report was released. I thank members of
the public who took the time to put forward their views on future directions
to make Victoria as fire-safe and fire-ready as possible,” he said.
SOUTH GIPPSLAND FIRE DISTRICT
DSE has advertised in local papers in recent weeks for seasonal firefighters
to work this spring and summer. Applications close this Sunday, September 5,
with prospective employees invited to apply online.
Mr Gallacher said that the South Gippsland district is likely to employ
about 25 project firefighters this year. This is similar to the number
employed last year (when more were employed than in previous years).
The firefighters will be based at DSE or Parks Victoria offices at Foster,
Tidal River and Wonthaggi.
In recent years DSE has employed a small number of firefighters (a
proportion of the total 25) as seasonal workers, working for six to nine
months of the year on three-year contracts. A few more of these seasonal
workers will be employed this year. Some will start work this month and more
will take up duties in the ensuing weeks, with all expected to be on board
by early November.
“Depending on how the season pans out, we will be building up numbers of
project firefighters during October and November, with all of them hopefully
starting by early December,” said Mr Gallacher.
There will be plenty for the project firefighters to do even before they
start fighting fires. Many will have to undertake training. They will also
carry out equipment maintenance and field work in the form of fire break
construction and track maintenance.
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New Deputy Mayor |
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COUNCILLOR Mimmie Jackson was elected without opposition or debate as South
Gippsland Shire Council’s new Deputy Mayor at a short special meeting held
just prior last Wednesday’s Ordinary Council meeting.
She will hold the position until the end of the current Council term in
November.
Her election fills the vacancy left after Cr Kieran Kennedy resigned from
the job over Council’s majority decision to transfer budgeted funds from
Councillor Discretionary Funds to the Community Grants Fund.
Mayor Cr Jim Fawcett acknowledged Cr Kennedy’s contribution as South
Gippsland’s inaugural Deputy Mayor as being “very able, capable and
cooperative” and “demonstrated that the role was of real use in assisting
the Mayor.”
Outside the meeting, Cr Fawcett explained that the Deputy Mayor was an
“effective sounding board on matters that are quite rightly the province of
the Mayor as the bridge between councillors and operational side of
council”.
He added that the Deputy was supportive to the Mayor in many ways and was
also the nominal head of Council in the Mayor’s absence but was not a formal
“second-in-charge”.
Cr Jackson lives in Leongatha, is a Tarwin Valley Ward representative, and
is a Councillor representative on Gippsland Regional Waste Management Group,
the Education Steering Committee, South Gippsland Youth Council, SG SPLASH
Advisory Committee and Leongatha Memorial Hall Advisory Committee.
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Huge thanks to Meals volunteers
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HUGE thanks are given to the hundreds of volunteers across South Gippsland
Shire who cumulatively deliver approximately 350 meals each week through
Council’s Meals on Wheels service, which is critical in supporting many
frail and aged citizens to maintain their independence in their own homes.
The volunteers are drawn from all parts of the community and include school
children, young mums, church groups, service club members, staff from local
businesses and retirees.
Council’s Aged and Disability Coordinator Louise Brydon explained, “It is an
extremely important service in our community that keeps people connected and
nutritionally supported.
“The three course meals are prepared to meet the special dietary needs of
our clients and where possible, their likes and dislikes.
“After an initial eligibility assessment is carried out, the Meals on Wheels
service is available to frail, aged people, people with a disability and
their carers, and those who are nutritionally at risk.
Ms Bryson continued, “Often this is the only contact the client has for the
day and it is an occasion they look forward to.
“It is also an opportunity to assist in monitoring the health and well being
of each client on a regular basis.”
Hot meals are delivered daily on Mondays to Fridays while weekend meals are
supplied cold and delivered on the Friday.
Food options include soup, main hot meal, salads, puddings, fresh fruit
and/or fruit juices.
Meals recipients in township areas of Foster, Toora and Meeniyan all have
hot meal deliveries, while people in other areas receive delivery – by
various means - of a week’s worth of frozen meals for reheating.
To mark National Meals on Wheels Week, Mayor Cr Jim Fawcett and Cr Mimmie
Jackson delivered Meals on Wheels together last Wednesday in Leongatha.
Anyone interested in volunteering a few hours on a regular basis to deliver
meals is asked to contact Council’s Community Programs Team Leaders, either
Virginia Hall on 5662 9363 or Bernadette Hulls on 5662 9359.
Ms Hulls advised that the service is “desperate” for volunteers to assist
with meals delivery in Foster.
“Whether you can help one week a month or one week every six months, or many
months excepting winter, please give us a call,” she urged.
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Daffodil yellow symbolises
bright future |
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SYMBOLISING a brighter, cancer-free future possible through cancer research
discoveries and community education, bunches of sunny yellow daffodils were
sold ‘on the street’ in Foster and Fish Creek last Friday, and Ambulance
Team Manager Brian Mellor and Radiographer Francis Sullivan had their hair
dyed yellow.
Daffodil Day organiser Jenny Mountford reported that $2,331.35 was raised
cumulatively at the Foster and Fish Creek street stalls, of which $1,610 was
sourced in Foster and $721.35 in Fish Creek.
She said the amount was a little less than that raised last year but that
the street in Foster seemed quieter generally.
Brian and Francis thanked the generosity of the Hair Hut staff who dyed the
men’s hair free of charge so that the equivalent cost could be donated to
the Cancer Council and their stunt could raise community awareness of cancer
issues.
Brian mentioned that conversations as to why the men had dyed their hair had
prompted many donations – passed on via the donation tin at South Gippsland
Hospital’s Daffodil Day stall – to the Cancer Council’s Daffodil event.
Anyone who missed the Daffodil Day stalls but would still like to donate can
do so via www.daffodilday.com.au.
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Police Report |
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COURT FOR DRINK DRIVER
SO HIGH was his blood alcohol reading when he was intercepted driving on the
South Gippsland Highway at Hedley last Thursday evening, a 40-year-old
Alberton West man will be summonsed to face court at a later date.
FINED FOR SPEEDING
A 51-YEAR-OLD Agnes man received a penalty notice for exceeding the speed
limit on the South Gippsland Highway at Toora last Sunday night. He was
fined $149 and one demerit point.
FOUND
A PAIR of glasses and some Rosary beads were found on the corner of Station
Road in Foster last Friday and are at the police station in Foster waiting
to be claimed by their owner.
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AFL PREVIEW |
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Winners into grand final
The winners of Saturday’s preliminary finals will move into the grand final
the following week, while it will be curtains for the losers.
Minor premiers Foster will face up to Phillip Island this week at Fish Creek
and it should be another close contest.
The Tigers won narrowly in their round 19 clash by two points and the way
both sides are playing it indicates another close tussle.
Foster will be better prepared for this week’s clash after experiencing
first hand the riggers of final’s football last week against Stony Creek.
They struggled on a number of fronts last week, but will no doubt have
learnt lots and will be eager to make amends and have another crack at Stony
Creek in the grand final.
Phillip Island showed on Sunday that they are capable of playing fast, play
on football, similar to what the Tigers play so it could be a real shoot out
this week.
The Mirror expects Foster to come out firing this week and win a game that
will certainly be a tough contest from start to finish.
IK reserves will play Fish Creek on their home ground.
Home ground advantage will help the Creek who are playing a good brand of
football at the right end of the season.
They have a great blend of experienced players in Smith, Brown and Mitchell
in attack and some good young legs who can run all day.
IK have been the top team all season in the reserves, so you would expect
them to bounce back with leading forward Justin Jackson capable of kicking a
winning score off his own boot.
The Mirror believes Fish Creek are on a roll and will pinch the match at
home and move into the grand final.
Phillip Island thirds will tackle Yarram.
The Demons have played two very good final’s matches, but whether they are
capable of keeping going will be the key this week.
Phillip Island played a shocker last week and will be out to make amends
this week to get another crack at Korumburra-Bena in the grand final.
The Islanders are tipped to bounce back.
Two talented fourths sides will play with Dalyston tipped to topple Phillip
Island in a close match.
SELECTIONS
Seniors, Foster v. PI.
IK v. Fish Creek.
PI v. Yarram.
Dalyston v. PI.
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