FOSTER and Mirboo North Bushfire Assessment Summaries, which contain planning recommendations, have been adopted by South Gippsland Shire Council despite the reservations of some councillors.
Cr John Schelling was the most outspoken in expressing concerns, while Councillors Scott Rae and Adrian Darakai also voted against adopting the reports that are likely to influence future planning decisions.
The trio was outvoted by Councillors Jenni Keerie, Mohya Davies, Nathan Hersey and Clare Williams.
Councillors Sarah Gilligan and Mick Felton were absent.
“I’m not very happy at all with this report,” Cr Schelling said during the meeting, noting it was based on a desktop approach rather than physical inspection of the towns.
Cr Schelling explained to the Sentinel-Times his major concern relates to the Mirboo North Bushfire Assessment Summary.
“Some of the overlays just didn’t make sense to me when I looked at them,” Cr Schelling said, providing the example of a proposed overlay on land that doesn’t contain trees.
“There’s always potential when you get a report like that for people to adopt it into a planning policy without giving it due consideration, so I wanted to make sure that we’re giving it due consideration,” Cr Schelling said.
Cr Hersey contemplated calling for a deferral of the decision on whether to adopt the pair of Bushfire Assessment Summaries in order to allow further consideration, but decided he was ready to support the adoption of the reports compiled by experts.
“We have to begin to move forward with how we advise our residents and look forward to how we can better prepare for disasters in the future as well,” he said.
Cr Hersey made it clear council needs to give serious consideration to the observations and recommendations put forward.
“Once the council has the understanding that there is a risk to townships or properties, or something that may impact a future planning scheme, we must act on that,” he said.
Cr Davies highlighted the increasing prevalence of emergency events such as the recent storms that have severely hit parts of South Gippsland Shire.
“I find that scary, particularly in communities that are increasingly more populated, so it really is incumbent on council to ensure that our planning is the best and most informed it can be and that we are preparing for these continued emergency events,” she said.
Cr Keerie spoke of her intention to support adopting the bush fire assessment reports.
“It’s really important for us to know how a fire is likely to unfold in some of those areas, and it would be irresponsible for council to allow further houses to be built in areas that are a risk for the people who are moving there,” she said.
Cr Keerie was emphatic that the assessments for both Mirboo North and Foster should play a part in council’s planning process to help ensure the safety of residents, minimising risk to lives and infrastructure.
