Unanimous on danger

Kylie Kitchen

Macedon Ranges councillors were unanimous in their decision against VicRoads' reduced roadside slashing program on Wednesday morning.
Council called a special meeting outside of its regular meeting schedule to urgently address the fire hazard issue.
VicRoads notified council in December that it has cut back its level of strategic firebreaks in the shire in line with a bushfire risk assessment recommended by the 2009 Victorian Bushfire Royal Commission.
The notification came only after councillors noticed significant overgrowth on arterial roads prompting the CEO and other officers to make enquiries.
"In essence, this advice indicates a reduced firebreak roadside slashing program in the Macedon Ranges Shire for the future," Cr Russell Mowatt said.
"This advice comes at a time when the state and nation as a whole are dealing with hundreds of fires across the board with conditions the worst (they have) been in decades."
Cr Mowatt criticised VicRoads' general approach.
"This is a regional approach by VicRoads rather than viewing our shire as an exception to the rule, given our history on bushfires (Ash Wednesday 1983)," Cr Mowatt said.
The new firebreak program replaces some mowing/slashing with roadside burn-offs, and removes fence-to-fence mowing.
"For example, the Calder Highway and Melbourne-Lancefield Road will no longer be slashed from fence to fence. I believe some of these areas are already feeling the impact of these changes," Cr Mowatt said.
"... we are a high fire risk area and are concerned for the welfare and safety of our neighbours and fellow residents."
Council agreed to write to the Premier, Emergency Services Minister, Roads Minister, local MPs, VicRoads and CFA to express its disappointment and dissatisfaction with the situation.
Councillors Mowatt, Jukes, Morabito, Connor, Letchford and Anderson carried the motion unanimously. Fellow councillors Hackett, Piper and McLaughlin were absent.