Hansard debates

Mrs McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (19:12): My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change. The build-up of fuel loads in the Worm Bay area in Warrnambool is of great concern to many of my constituents. The relevant site is at the rear of Barbro Terrace and the Deep Blue and Lady Bay resorts. It is Crown land and therefore under the management of the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP). It is overgrown with out-of-control vegetation which has not undergone fuel load reduction for over a decade. It is a significant fire hazard. Highly combustible tea-tree, as high as 15 metres, abuts the rear fences of residential properties and two hotels accommodating up to 400 people. It also surrounds caravan parks.

In the event of a fire the large population of campers, tourists, residents and locals who go for walks in the area would struggle to escape. Despite wanting to reduce the overgrowth, the Warrnambool City Council are only able to create a small firebreak of a metre due to DELWP guidelines. This clearly would be totally ineffective in halting a fire. There is no remnant vegetation in this area. This area was reclaimed land, and anything existing has been planted. It is a breeding ground for rats and mice, which are creating a major health issue for the residents, tourists and especially the hotel and their guests that use the area. The safety of human beings must come before planted vegetation which has not in any way been maintained properly and is consequently putting lives at risk. The whole area needs to be made safe, which may involve in fact removing the vegetation. So the action I seek from the minister is to put lives ahead of vegetation and instruct DELWP to clear the vegetation and make the area safe.