By KATH GANNAWAY
FOUR new Neighbourhood Safer Places (NSPs) have been designated by Yarra Ranges Council.
Healesville RACV Club, Millgrove Recreation Reserve, Woori Yallock Reserve and Burrinja Gallery in Upwey were added to the shire’s current 11 NSPs at Yarra Ranges Council’s December 10 meeting; but not without discussion about whether they should be more correctly called Places of Last Resort.
Cr Samantha Dunn said calling the designated buildings or areas Neighbourhood Safer Places sent the wrong message to the community.
She welcomed Mayor Fiona McAllister’s move to have the matter, originally listed as a confidential item, discussed openly before the gallery.
“I will not be happy until these are called ’Places of Last Resort’ – to call them Neighbourhood Safer Places is completely flawed,” Cr Dunn said.
“They are not safe, and this gives a completely wrong message.”
Cr Dunn said council should continue to push for the more accurate description, but said it was good to see another four places had been assessed as appropriate for designation.
“I think residents will be pleased to see more across the shire, but there is no guarantee of survival,” she said.
“If you use one of these places, so it is always with mixed feelings when we designate these that we do need to emphasise there are no guarantees.”
Cr McAllister said the designation of NSPs was a critical issue for the Yarra Ranges communities and that there had been an incredible amount of work involved in getting to 15 places.
The recommendation which was passed unanimously noted that the 11 current NSPs had passed the annual audit and so would remain designated for the coming fire danger period.
The council is also required to provide signage and ensure the sites are maintained over the fire danger period. The report is to be made available to the public, minus any confidential information.
