SOME of the most dangerous bushfire roads in the North East are going to get the chop, well at the very least a trim.
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Indigo Council will spend $100,000 in the run-up to Christmas on pruning the potentially dangerous trees on roads identified as the greatest bushfire threat.
Areas to be targeted in the next six weeks include Stanley, Beechworth, Allans Flat and Yackandandah.
Indigo Mayor Cr Ali Pockley said the potential fire threat from trees was part of a double-edged sword of living in the rural shire.
“Part of the attraction of living here is the scenery — beautiful trees, rolling hills,” she said.
“But as we head into the fire season we recognise that those trees and terrain are a bushfire threat.
“This money will help us target the worst first.
“The list has been created with the help of the CFA, identifying populations most at risk in a fire.
“But the reality is that we could probably spend three times this much on trees across the shire.”
A $65,000 grant from the Office of Emergency Services Commissioner and a $35,000 contribution from the council year’s budget will pay for the work.
Cr Pockley said that despite this initiative, people needed to take responsibility for their own safety and make sure they had a bushfire plan and were clear about whether they would stay or go on a code red day.
“The work will take up to six weeks and should be completed before Christmas,” she said.
Cr Pockley said this summer season was expected to be one of the worst for potential grass fires due to the increased growth in vegetation from the good rains in the past year.
“The CFA has started a roadside burn-off program to reduce the risk and create firebreaks on roadsides in the Chiltern-Rutherglen area,” she said. “
I urge people to be vigilant and seek the advice of the CFA if they need to reduce the fuel loads on their properties.
“We all remember the devastating Black Saturday fires in 2009 and I urge residents to take all precautions this summer.”