SPLITTERS Creek fire brigade has raised serious fears about being able to defend more properties from a major bushfire.
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The area on the western edge of Albury is already a high risk fire zone with only three trucks presently servicing the largely rural landscape.
But sections of the Splitters Creek community are pushing for more land to be made available for homes under an Albury Council rural lands strategy.
Some landowners in the Bretton Valley are wanting a proposed four hectare minimum reduced to two in line with land facing the Riverina Highway.
Splitters Creek residents packed a community forum on Monday night with local fire captain Ian Avage raising concerns about the implications of increased population in the event of bushfire.
"The inherent fire risks in Splitters Creeks need to be taken very seriously," he said.
"We are not opposed to future growth, but want to ensure we are capable of providing an adequate response and protecting our community to the best of our ability.
"Any increase in the current population places additional restraints and pressures on our brigade."
The types of grasses and woodlands, access to water, topography and single road access into the area could be a deadly cocktail in the event of a major bushfire.
A change to a two hectare minimum could equate to 25 more properties in the Bretton Valley area.
"A firefighter's No.1 priority is to protect is or her life and secondly the property of others," Mr Avage said.
"In the event of a fire there might not be time to issue an emergency warning and residents will be advise to take shelter in their properties.
"A substantial increase in population will also place more vehicles on the only road out of the areas should they try to evacuate in an emergency situation."
Planning consultant Peter O'Dwyer, on behalf of the Ellwood family, Bert Eastoe and Helen Harrod spoke in favour of the two hectare minimums.
Councillors toured the Splitters Creek and Table Top areas before the forum.
They were joined by Planisphere Consultants project director James Lamour-Reid who said bushfire risk was a major consideration.
"We are concerned about adding more people to the landscape would exacerbate the existing risk," he said.
"The bushfire risk should be an over-riding consideration."
