By Callum Ludwig
Given the extreme bushfire risk throughout the Yarra Ranges and particularly in the Upper Yarra, bushfire management plans are crucial.
However, a number of McMahons Creek residents were perplexed when they received a letter in the mail from the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) to undertake hazardous tree removal by blasting.
Yarra District Manager of Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) Nigel Brennan said crews were removing hazardous trees in the state forest 5km east of McMahons Creek in preparation for an upcoming planned burn.
“As the safety of the community, our firefighters and staff is always our top priority and felling hazardous trees is one of the most dangerous activities our crews manage, we are assessing different ways to reduce risk when conducting this important work,” he said.
“While dangerous trees are usually managed using chainsaws or heavy machinery we are working with a specialist contractor to trial the use of targeted explosives.”
Blasting is an alternative method of hazardous tree removal using explosives, with the intention of making conditions safer for workers and reducing their risk of injury when removing trees for bushfire management purposes. If the trial is successful, DEECA and FFMVic will continue to consider using blasting as a removal option for trees considered too dangerous for removal with chainsaws or heavy machinery.
Works in McMahons Creek were conducted over Thursday 30 March and Friday 31 March involving 20 trees assessed as hazardous in an area closed to public access, but residents were warned they may hear the blast.
