Concerns at buy-back

LANDOWNERS in high-risk bushfire areas have told of their concerns with a voluntary bushfire buy-back scheme.
Consultation meetings held in Yarra Glen, Chum Creek and Marysville over the last two months, as well as other bushfire-affected communities, allowed more than 200 people to have their say on the Victorian Government’s buyback scheme.
Landowners raised concerns over the future use of the land acquired, as they don’t want to increase the bushfire risk in their communities; the maintenance of all land in bushfire prone areas, whether that be by private landowners, local or state government, or other agencies; how long the acquisition process would take, and how valuations would be undertaken.
Bushfire Response Minister Peter Ryan said there had been a positive response to the Coalition Government’s initiative, which was moving to deliver on Recommendation 46 of the Bushfires Royal Commission. “Selling their land is a watershed moment in the recovery process for fire-affected landowners and I’m proud this government is giving that option in line with the Bushfires Royal Commission final recommendations,” he said.
Final details of the scheme will be announced at the beginning of the year, with applications open from 1 March 2012. Mr Ryan said: “After 31 May we will know the number of applications and will be able to write to each applicant informing them of when we are likely to assess their property and make an offer if they are eligible.”