General News
1 October, 2022
Fire fears with weed growth
UNMANAGED roadside vegetation was increasing fire risk across the Loddon, said Murray Plains MP Peter Walsh. Mr Walsh said the State Government allocation to rural councils to combat roadside weeds was miniscule. The Government has given Loddon Shire...
UNMANAGED roadside vegetation was increasing fire risk across the Loddon, said Murray Plains MP Peter Walsh.
Mr Walsh said the State Government allocation to rural councils to combat roadside weeds was miniscule.
The Government has given Loddon Shire $75,000 this year, the same as the last 10 years. Council operations director Steven Phillips said the allocation was enough for the shire to “do some work”.
“If they had even the slightest clue they would not once again have treated regional and rural Victorians with such disdain, providing a miniscule amount of money to councils to help control roadside weeds and pests, claiming it will help reduce the spread of fires,” Mr Walsh said.
“Put simply, Labor has again failed to recognise how its own mismanagement has contributed to increased roadside fire risks.
“Even worse, this government continues to actively subvert the management of roadside fire risks by not completing slashing and mowing programs on time, and through introducing unnecessary layers of bureaucracy that make it difficult for the CFA to complete fuel reduction burns.”