CFA shed risk

By Kath Gannaway
A GROUP of East Warburton residents is putting a different slant on the CFA’s slogan of turning awareness into action.
Rosemary Mace said she and other residents of Surman Avenue became aware of plans to build a new fire station in the street when planning application notices went up two weeks ago.
Mrs Mace and a local school crossing supervisor were among residents who told the Mail last week the proposed location at the rear of the East Warburton Hall car park would put local school children at risk.
A petition is part of their action plan to convince the CFA and the Shire of Yarra Ranges of those risks.
The application is for 410 Woods Point Road but Mrs Mace said fire trucks would come out into Surman Avenue to turn onto the main road directly opposite the local primary school and within metres of the school crossing.
“The fact that this is a narrow dirt road with room for one car at a time is one issue, but you would have volunteers responding to calls from both directions and fire trucks coming out onto a road which is used by a lot of children,” Mrs Mace said.
She said the hall car park is a drop-off point for children who then cross Surman Avenue to get to the school crossing. Secondary school students catch the bus on the corner and there’s a play group run from the hall.
“It is a heavily used area which is just not suitable for what they want to do,” Mrs Mace said.
School crossing supervisors deal frequently with drivers who refuse to slow down for the crossing.
They see this as another threat to their safety.
Living in a high risk fire-prone area, objector Barry Mace said he and other residents are fully aware and appreciative of the work done by their local CFA brigades but believe the new station should be built on the site of the existing CFA shed in Herbert Avenue.
“There is no reason why they couldn’t build it on that site. There is enough room out there, it is on a sealed road and away from the school,” he said.
CFA spokeswoman Adele Buhagiar said the CFA could not comment except to confirm they have made an application to the Shire of Yarra Ranges to build a new fire station on the Woods Point Road site.
“We are still in the initial stages of the town planning process,” Ms Buhagiar said.
“Part of that process will be consultation with the local community.”
Residents have until 23 July to register an objection to the application with the Shire of Yarra Ranges.