Wannanup resident Brad Bedford noticed dead branches and foliage hanging over the back fence of his property in January this year, and became concerned the vegetation might pose a fire risk to his home.
The particular nature strip of concern to Mr Bradford runs between Old Coast Road and Rees Place, Greenshank Mews and Tattler Lane, however while driving around he pointed out a number of other ‘problem areas’ on council land on the other side of the Dawesville Cut, and along Old Coast Road.
“We’ve been here for about a year now, but the only way I noticed it was when we went for a walk,” Mr Bedford said.
He said he was concerned by the extent of dry, dead vegetation that backs up onto his property, posing a fire risk to his home.
“It’s not just dead grass, it’s those dead trees, those trees will go up in flames,” he said.
Mr Bedford contacted the City of Mandurah with his concerns on January 11, 2017, but said his concerns have since fallen on deaf ears, despite attempts to converse with city rangers and even the mayor via phone and email.
“I called to let them know of a large amount of dead trees and foliage coming over my back fence, so thick and dense,” he said.
“With no clearing or fire breaks this would surely burn people’s properties and be a danger to property and life.”
Mr Bedford became more frustrated after receiving an infringement notice on February 2 for failing to create a fire break or clear land on his own property on Narambeen Road in Dawesville.
When he received this notice, he was partway through razing his block, and has since requested to have the notice withdrawn, on the advice of a City ranger.
“It’s double standards… we’ve really got two issues, we’ve got an issue with my land, which I reckon... I’ve done something about, and then we’ve got another issue with [the City], what they are doing, they can’t practice what they preach,” he said.
“It’s their responsibility to maintain these nature strips, they’re supposed to be upholding the law, they’re supposed to be setting an example to other people how to do things right.”
While Mr Bedford’s vexation was aggravated by an infringement, his complaints about the council’s fire break management are not the first.
In January, a large bushfire in a reserve bordering Thisbe Drive in Dawesville had residents calling for fire breaks, controlled burns and removal of dead vegetation from council land.
At the time, local resident Peter Banks said he hoped the fire would be a wake-up call for the City of Mandurah.
“We’ve been concerned about it for a long time... I’ve been here 12 years, it’s never been touched, they’ve never done any burning back or anything,” he said in January.
Mr Banks and neighbour Chris Chequer sent a letter to the city with recommendations, and city chief Mark Newman told the Mandurah Mail the city would undertake strategies including prescribed burning, fire management plans, vegetation management strategies, fire breaks, community education and enforcement.
However, Mr Banks and Mr Chequer said that four months later, they are still yet to receive a response to their letter, or see any action.
City of Mandurah chief Mark Newman said in the last two years the City had undertaken extensive work to improve fire safety in the community, with priority given to the City’s largest reserves, and those that had historically been of fire concern.
“These works have been guided by a bushfire management plan prepared by a specialised fire consultant,” Mr Newman said.
Focus areas included Warrangup Springs, Caddadup Reserve, Tim’s Thicket, Donnybrook Turn, Island Point, Baloo Reserve, Ayrton Place, and road verges in the Herron area.
“The City has also fulfilled its role in administering the requirements of the Bush Fires Act 1954 in ensuring that private landowners prepare their properties in accordance with the City’s Fire Notice by inspecting properties across the City of Mandurah to ensure compliance,” Mr Newman said.
“With regard to the specific location of Wannanup and Dawesville road verges, the City undertakes works north of the Dawesville Cut on Old Coast Road on behalf of Main Roads WA.
“The City is aware of some portions of this road reserve require review of fire treatments following feedback received, and will assess these to determine further works that may be required for the coming fire season.”
