Implemention time for the Protection Plan

Around 45 locals gathered in the Community Hall this morning (Saturday 18 April) to hear Ian Cook, our Community Protection Planning Officer, speak on the Community Protection Plan. Ian first began meeting with community groups back in mid-August 2014 although his work on the Plan began well before that.

What was clear from Ian's presentation was the enormous amount of effort Ian has put into preparing the plan. As a result he has acquired good grasp of the threats and risks that bushfires present to the Cove community and how those risks might best be mitigated.

The recent work undertaken by Council on the main access road to the Cove has helped with this. Ian is encouraging Council to undertake similar work on Woolbrook Avenue (the back road to Carrington) which will help protect the village and improve access to Tahlee which is an alternative Neighbourbood Safer Place. Ian is also suggesting work on the northern part of the Ridgeway as a strategic firebreak and remedial work on five fire trails to enable fire truck access.

Over the past week or two, a Review of Environmental Factors (REF) has been in progress and when this is finalised, work will begin on preparing the area around the Community Hall as an Asset Protection Zone. Ian allayed concerns that this might involve removing all the trees. Trees can act as an extremely good ember entrapment mechanism so while a few trees may be removed Ian emphasised that most larger trees will be retained, in particular any which are identified in the REF as habitat trees.

As well as the Asset Protection Zone, work will soon commence on upgrading the Community Hall with steel shutters on the western and possibly southern windows and steel mesh on the rest as well as the subfloor area. A 50,000 litre tank will be installed with storz fitting and fire hose reels attached to the Hall. There will be a diesel generator and heat shielding for the gas bottles. This work will make the Hall more resilient to fire attack but the Hall should only ever be considered a place of last resort.

As part of the plan, Ian has identified key areas which will require a schedule of mosaic hazard reductions while protecting endangered species.

Ian noted that, given the importance of communications and uncertainty associated with mobile phone coverage in the area, the Telstra hub in Uralla St is of crucial importance to the Community. As it also requires asset protection, Ian has been in discussions with Telstra about how that may be implemented.

Pressed on the issue of a jetty and water escape, Ian expressed some sympathy for the concerns and views expressed but emphasised the considerable risks associated with relying on water as a means of escape. As well as radiant heat, smoke, fumes and ember attack, Ian explained how helicopter pilots collecting water cannot see through the smoke so they need to be confident that the area is clear of people. He also indicated that there was no possibility that support would be given to funding a jetty from the funds allocated to fire risk mitigation.

Ian stressed that, while the Community Plan is important, we all need to have our own Survival Plans completed and our houses well prepared. He showed a series of photographs and a short video on the dramatic effects that bushfires have on homes.