Alex de Vos
Property owners are abusing new fire safety laws to create sea views for their Surf Coast homes, according to community groups.
The allegation has prompted Geelong Environment Council to demand an “urgent” review of the State Government legislation allowing property owners to clear trees within 10 metres of their homes and to remove other vegetation within 30 metres.
Airey’s Inlet Tourism and Trader’s Association’s Paul Angeloni backed the review call.
“It’s general knowledge some people are taking advantage and using the law to reclaim views when it’s meant for fire safety,” Mr Angeloni said.
“I think a lot of discussion should have taken place before the laws were introduced and the issue should be fine tuned.”
However, Mr Angeloni said the legislation was necessary to protect residents and their assets against bushfire.
“I think it’s important people take precautions to protect their homes and assets – the main message is that people need to be prepared and some clearing of vegetation where appropriate is required,” he said.
Geelong Environment Council president Joan Lindros said residents were abusing the 10/30 law to create views or for uses other than fire safety.
“We’re very concerned people are abusing it and seeing it as a recommendation when it’s not,” she said.
“It should be urgently reviewed.”
Ms Lindros slammed the 10/30 rule as confusing and inadequate.
“There is a lot of confusion regarding what is vegetation and what is fuel – fuel is dry and dead and not necessarily living vegetation,” Ms Lindros said.
“Experts are recommending people don’t remove trees because they offer some protection – if it’s a Black Saturday fire nothing will stop it.”
Ms Lindros said the new law posed a threat to the environment without protecting homes against “serious” bushfire.
“The reason people live in coastal areas is because of a love of wildlife and the bush – they don’t want it destroyed wantonly,” she said.
“People are of the mistaken view that if you remove vegetation you’re safe, which is not correct – you’re destroying environmental values for reasons that aren’t going to have any real effect if a major fire comes.”
Under the 10/30 legislation vegetation and trees earmarked for removal must be deemed to pose a bushfire risk to homes.