WHITTLESEA: Fire risk at Toorourrong Reservoir
Fire risk at the Toorourrong Reservoir Park needs to be reduced, Northern Victoria MLC Wendy Lovell has told Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos (pictured).
“Toorourrong Reservoir is a Melbourne Water facility just north of Whittlesea township, and the surrounding park is managed by Parks Victoria,” Ms Lovell said.
“I recently met with members of the Friends of Toorourrong, together with the Whittlesea and surrounds fire guard group, who are highly concerned about the increasing fire risk at the Toorourrong Reservoir Park.
“This is a high-risk bushfire area that was devastated in the Black Saturday bushfires of 2009, and all steps possible must be taken to reduce the chance of future fires.
“Since the bushfires of 2009 regrowth in the area has been tremendous, and there have not been any controlled burns to reduce the increase in fuel load.
“Friends of Toorourrong volunteers have made several recommendations to reduce the fire risk in the park, and I am supporting their call for action to be taken. First, there should be controlled burns in the surrounding bush to reduce the fuel load. Malfunctions on the utomatic electric gate at the entry to the park on Jacks Creek Road need to be fixed, Ms Lovell said.