Residents surrounding the Valley Lakes precinct have expressed ongoing concerns regarding the fire fuel build up in the area following the Crater Lakes blaze last week.
Tenison Drive resident Heather Teakle sent a letter to Mount Gambier City Council in 2016 addressing her concerns, particularly centred around the blue gum walking trail and rear of the cemetery.
Ms Teakle said the pine trees that were cut down and left behind looked untidy and posed a fuel hazard.
“Because a pine tree is full of pine oil, it’s a really flammable substance, so it poses risk in a fire,” she said.
“Last year I wrote another letter because we’d come back from a holiday and I noticed there were several huge trees that had come down and everything was left on the ground.”
Ms Teakle was advised council discussed a controlled burn in 2020, which never eventuated.
She believed a controlled burn would have reduced the fuel load which could have decreased the severity of the fire.
Fellow Tenison Drive resident Angelique Kenny raised similar concerns.
Ms Kenny understood it was a difficult area which was not very accessible, but said something needed to be done.
“I’m all for trying to get it back to native as much as possible, but I think anything they do chop down probably needs to be removed so it’s not creating this fuel load,” she said.
“This was going to happen sooner or later.
“From time to time they do go through and try and clear out some of the feral, non-native plants, which they have done quite a bit of in the last year.
“But it’s all just left lying on the ground, so the fuel load is just building up and up.”
Ms Kenny said a pine tree fell into her backyard a couple of years ago, which was removed, however the stumps, branches and debris were left outside her back fence.
“That’s why we were quite concerned when the fire came so close it was like a huge bonfire just waiting to go up, because it’s now dead and dry,” she said.
Ms Kenny believed more could be done to minimise the fire risk and the fuel load could be reduced by removing trees on the ground and controlled burns every few years.
Ms Teakle and Ms Kenny thanked all emergency services involved for their efforts in the difficult environment, protecting their properties and preventing the fire from spreading further.
Mount Gambier City Council chief executive Sarah Philpott said council would undertake a thorough damage and hazard assessment of the area and create a plan for recovery.
Ms Philpott said council would draw on assistance from the Limestone Coast Landscape Board, National Parks and Wildlife and the MFS.
“The undergrowth and fuel load present in the area will be considered as part of the assessment and future management of the site,” she said.
“Tree removal will be considered as part of the assessment process.”
Ms Philpott said clearing pest weeds in the area had been a focus for council during the past two years and – in addition to the routine upkeep of the precinct – staff were undertaking weed control measures in conjunction with the Limestone Coast Landscape Board.
Ms Philpott said public safety in the area following the fire was council’s main priority and people were asked to abide by the signage placed on the walking and bike trails.
“The Crater Lakes area is much loved by our community,” Ms Philpott said.
“We acknowledge there was a feeling of sadness and concern from our residents to see the fire impact this precious State Heritage Area.
“We certainly understand and appreciate the fire may have created a particularly stressful and unnerving time for neighbouring residents given their close proximity to the fire.”
Ms Philpott said council would contact surrounding residents following the blaze.
“We want to understand and address any concerns people may have as part of the assessment process to develop a plan for the area moving forward,” she said.
