Pittwater Life December 2020 Issue

Hot under the collar
over bushfire ‘snub’
News
After much delay, Northern
Beaches Council
has finally published
their Draft Bushfire Management
Policy and are inviting
feedback from the community
– however, it’s on public exhibition
only until December 2,
so you’ll need to be quick with
your response.
The short timeframe and
lack of communication about
its availability has infuriated
many in the community.
In recent months Pittwater
Life has reported on the preparations
for this year’s bushfire
season by the Local Rural Fire
Service volunteers. Also about
the concerns of local Ingleside
residents around a lack of
hazard reduction measures,
and ongoing frustrations at the
lack of a draft Bushfire Management
Policy; something that
has been a work in progress for
a number of years.
Council’s eagerly awaited
draft policy was finally
published on November 5, but
when this magazine contacted
Stephen Choularton, President
of BIRA (Bayview Ingleside
Residents Association), a
fortnight later for his comments,
he was not aware of its
publication.
“They know that we’ve been
waiting for this for some time
and they have all our e-mail
addresses,” said Stephen, “I’m
surprised that they didn’t
inform us.”
FINALLY RELEASED: Council’s Draft Bushfire Management Policy.
Stephen Smith, President
of the Wirreanda Residents’
Association, was equally
surprised.
“It’s my responsibility to
take this to the residents and
give their feedback to council,
but this is the first I’ve heard
of it,” he told us.
“I’ve been on the ICRG
(Ingleside Community Reference
Group) for five years now,
meeting on a regular basis,
and I can assure you that
nothing ever gets done in a
month – consultation normally
takes six months at the very
least,” Stephen continued. “It’s
strange this is going through
so quickly, under the radar.”
“And actually what bothers
me most – I have skim-read
this – is that Council says that
they do not have responsibility
for National Parks, and so
they are excluded from this
policy.” Stephen explains.
“There is a 10,000ha National
Park right in the middle of
Ingleside, so who has responsibility
for that?”
Council CEO Ray Brownlee
told Pittwater Life the draft
bush fire management policy
aimed to provide an overarching
framework for Council
to work with the Northern
Beaches Bush Fire Management
Committee (BFMC), its
partner agencies and the
community to manage bush
fire risk, implement fire
management works, engage
with at risk communities, and
consider bush fire impact in
land use planning.
“It is a Council policy so
it’s designed to guide, and
be used in conjunction with,
operational plans,” he said.
He added that to make the
policy more accessible to the
community during consultation,
its bushfire team was inviting
the community to book
one-on-one appointments.
“This policy will guide our
approach to bush fire prevention
and management and
outline how we’ll work closely
with local fire agencies and
emergency services to protect
our communities.
“Bush fire management is a
shared responsibility involving
governments, agencies,
industries and the community,
all working collectively
and collaboratively together to
reduce the threat.
“For property owners, the
key takeaway remains – the
best option to protect life and
property is to have a Bush Fire
Survival Plan in place, follow
the advice of agencies like the
RFS and manage the risks on
your property, particularly
during the bush fire season.”
More info Council website.
– Rob Pegley
18 DECEMBER 2020
The Local Voice Since 1991