Title: One Tree Hill, Ferny creek, Residents' submission First Name: Colin surname: Wnnd

state: victoria Telephone: Main TopicsA summary of our concerns as they pertain to the conditions leading up to the fires, the things that may have contributed to the outcomes, and the findings that will be made by the Bushfire Royal commission as they will affect us too. Acknowledgements: * I acknowledge that my submission will be treated as a public document and may be published, quoted or summarised by the 2009 Victorian Bushfires ~oyalcommission. * I understand that I can be contacted by the Royal Commission in relation to my submission. * I would like to receive future updates about the activities of the Royal Commission. col in wood

DG International Media Pty Ltd A.B.N. 93 088 896 155 Ferny VIC 3786

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Contents

Urgent requirements Urgent requirements ...... 7 Climate change & the weather ...... 9 Stay or go? Stayorgo? ...... 10 One Tree HIII. Location Locationmap ...... 12 Aerial photograph ...... 13 Tourist destination set amid forest ...... 14 F~rebreaks Fire breaks &containment lines ...... 16 One Tree Hill residences: trees too close ...... 17 One Tree Hill containment line ...... 18 Road reserve requires opening up ...... 20 Fuel prox~mlty& fuel loads Vegetation proximity ...... 22 Comparison of fuel proximity ...... 23 Housesinablock ...... 24 Churchill Drive ...... 25 Conservation policies ...... 26 Fuel load in nearby forest ...... 27 Park abuts private property...... 28 Road reserve overgrown & neglected ...... 29 Longgrassisahazard ...... 30 Fire buffer or fire hazard? ...... 31 Forest abuts residential property ...... 32 Reduce the fuel load regularly ...... 33 One Tree HIM: the Issues Summary of issues for One Tree Hill ...... 35 First line of defence ...... 37 Fire can come from all directions ...... 38 Escaperoutes ...... 39 Vegetation profile Vegetation profile of the Dandenongs ...... 41 Introduced trees an attraction too ...... 42 The authorities: who does what? The authorities' preparations ...... 44 Who'sincharge? ...... 45 Resources & assets Inadequate resources ...... 47 Put cables underground ...... 48 Pole in the road ...... 50 Inadequate construction ...... 51 Communications...... 52 The Ferny Creek siren alert ...... 53 Helicopter access ...... 54 Reinstate the look-out tower ...... 55 Current & future technology options ...... 56

One Tree Hi//residents' submission Page 4

Climate change &the weather

All the forecasts point to hotter and drier summers with an increased frequency and severity of bushfires. Our plans should be fomulated to provide defendable space, not accept defeat in the face of bushfires. A fire on a 37"day seems to be different from a fire on a 47" day. The latter can produce firestorms, given the right conditions. But if fuel is denied to the fire, it can't proceed. Bunkers, refuges, reduction of fuel loads, world-class communications, abundant fire-fighting equipment and integrated command structures all play their part.

Hotter and dryer future Fire Danger lndex We are told that climate change will mean less rain, The Bureau of Meteorology calculates a Fire Danger hotter temperatures and more fire risk in future. As we lndex (FDI) and, while this can be found on the BoM have recently suffered more catastrophic fires, there website, it is hard to find and is not widely publicised. is an urgent need to address the issues and make The community has little understanding about the FDI. changes. These changes may include the provision especially what the higher readings indicate. of greater resources and infrastructure as well as Such information should be more widely publicised changes to our management policies. and explained so that the communbity can make more informed decisions. Prepare for the worst If we prepare for the worst, we will be better prepared The current weather for all bushfires. While the BoM website is very useful, additional information would be welcome. ror instance, The North wind is the danger timing of the progress of a change crossing the State Like all areas, One Tree Hill is more susceptible to is critical when waiting for a wind change. It would be fire on days when the wind is from the north to north helpful if a graphic representation of a change in wind west. There is a history of arsonists lighting fires along direction be added to the existing maps. Mountain Highway, the lower part of which is directly downhill and north of One Tree Hill. This problem musi be addressed. However, winds from other directions, especially the south west, can also be hazardous. The wind frequently changes to the south west later in the day when fires are active.

One Tree Hill residents' submission Page 9 Stay or go?

People should be free to choose whether to stay or go. Statistics prove that, not only is it safe to stay and defend your property, but that absence can lead to the loss of a house and leaving late can be deadly. Well prepared is well defended. There are many reasons why forced evacuation is not a workable solution, and very few reasons why those who choose to stay should not be allowed to do so.

Forced evacuation is solution of last resort When would you tell people to leave? Evacuation policy should be formed after examining Unless everyone in fire prone areas was forced to all of the contributing factors as it is an action of last leave before (say) 10 am on all designated days, it is resort, not the first. likely that the decision to force evacuation would be made once a fire had started. Such a fire would, of Safer to stay and protect necessity be a potential threat to those who you wish Forced evacuation endangers people's property to remove. Thus there would be people fleeing while It has been proven many times that those who stay fire was in the area. The statistics show that this is the and defend have a much greater chance of saving worst time to be on the roads. their homes (go%), property and livestock. If you leave, and your house is subject to a fire front or Leave if you wish fire spotting, it is very likely that your house will burn Those who wish to leave on high fire danger days down. should have the best possible forecasts, warnings and other relevant information at their disposal. Reduced effectiveness People will tire of evacuating and the resulting loss of Refuges business time will be unsustainable. There has been a lot of discussion about bunkers, and Many wrong decisions are made in an emergency. many residents will install them now. Consideration No-one wants to be evacuated when it proves to be should be given to establishing public refuges and unnecessary. Conversely, there would be occasions regional plans for extreme emergencies. when evacuation will not be enforced, people would think it is safe and then get caught in a bushfire unprepared. People should be allowed to decide for themselves. What they need is timely and comprehensive information on which to base their decision.

One Tree Hill residents' submission Page 10

Fire breaks and containment lines

There are no fire breaks in the Dandenongs; there should be. Fire breaks are often put in when a fire threatens, and while you can't guess everywhere they might be needed, some strategically placed breaks would provide immediate access to key areas. There are some areas, such as Sherbrooke Forest, that are impenetrable and, if a bushfire started, it is likely that the CFA would let it burn. This is unacceptable near to residential properties. Also, in a bushfire, most of the native animals we claim to protect would perish. The extreme green movement has created a dangerous situation. We are 'green' too; a better plan is needed.

Fire vulnerability - lack of fire breaks Reducing the fuel load The lack of fire breaks in and around the Dandenong There should be multiple strategies to reduce the fuel Ranges creates a dangerous situation. Those fire load, slow or stop fires' progress and provide rapid buffers that do exist are not maintained adequately. access to fire fronts and potential fire spots from Sherbrooke Forest has not had its fuel reduced for ember attack. The CFA are keen to emphasise that the decades. It is widely thought that if Sherbrooke Forest greatest dangers lie in the small leaf litter that provides were to catch fire, the entire forest would be burned, fuel for ember attack. To reduce such leaf litter, we killing the very animals the current policies claim to must have access, and fire breaks and containment protect. lines provide that.

Speed of attack Gateway to the Dandenongs As has been shown (again) in the Black Saturday fires, In more ways than one, Ferny Creek is the gateway to fires can spread rapidly and go undetected for vital the Dandenongs. On a day of north or north-westerly minutes. The fire protection plan and preparations wind, One Tree Hill is at the vanguard. If a fire were should have identification and rapid response as a top to burn through OneTree Hill, it could quickly engulf priority. the whole of Ferny Creek, and then onto Sherbrooke, Kallista, Sassafras, Belgrave and then towards Defendable areas Beaconsfield and Cardinia. Containment lines help to create defendable areas, surely a first step in the master plan.

Grass is a hazard too Video from fires such as Black Saturday clearly show that fire can travel through grass. If cres are not on site to douse the flames, the fire moves on to other areas.

One Tree Hill residents' submission Page 16

One Tree Hill containment line

The lack of a containment line or fire break on One Treet Hill puts that part of Ferny Creek at particular risk. Currently it is not possible to gain access immediately around the residential properties and the forest abuts private property. Combined with locked gates and lack of proper maintenance, and the fact that fires reach this area from the foothills in less than 15 minutes, undermines the area's defendability.

Road passage not contiguous Trees should be set back The former fire buffer zone does not connect with Hill Alongside Hill Street, trees are too close to the road Street. It should do so to provide access, entry and along its entire length. This should be part of a fire escape routes. buffer zone (containment line). Whatever the size of a fire buffer, a tree should be no closer than the height of Locked gates are locked exits the tree so that, should any fall, they will not block the By law you cannot have exit doors locked at public road. It is common knowledge that we regularly have venues, yet the gates into the parkarea are kept falling branches and trees, some of them very large. locked, thereby preventing them being used as exits This constitutes an unacceptable risk to residents. for vehicles in the event of an emergency. A road blockage would also prevent the CFAfrom accessing the water tanks at the end of Hill Street. No fire truck; no guarantee of key The locked gate leading into the park takes you to a Neglected road reserve rough track that does lead around to the fire buffer The forest comes right up the edge of 8 Hill Street zone, but it is traversable by off-road vehicles only. in an area that is designated as the Hill Street road The CFA is keen to tell residents that they should not reserve. The road reserve has not been maintained expect a fire truckto arrive at their house in the event by either Parks Victoria nor the Shire of Yarra Ranges. of a fire. Thus, it cannot be guaranteed that anyone The latter has agreed to start looking after it but, as at from CFE or DSE would appear to unlock the gate May 2009, nothing has happened. The area has fallen in time, or at all. If Hill Street became impassible, branches and a lot of fuel load on the ground. These residents would be trapped. Many people have died in have been there for a long time. similar circumstances. In the short term, the residents should have keys. The Containment line required around houses gates can be designed with two locks so that either a A substantial containment line should be put around resident's or a CFA key will unlock the gate. One Tree Hill, Hill Street and Mount Erin Road from the top of Churchill Drive (clockwise) to Mount Erin Potential blockage of Hill Street Road (see diagram). One side of the containment line The park (and its trees) abuts Hill Street along its full should abut the private property and One Tree Hill length. All of the trees within a certain distance of the Road, while the other side should abut the park. houses constitute an increased fire hazard by their It is probably good management to continue the proximity. They could fall or drop branches across containment line between all residential property and Hill Street, thereby trapping residents and preventing the forest all the way from Ferny Creek to Kalora~na. assisting crews gaining access.

One Tree Hill residents' submission Page 18

Summary of issues for One Tree Hill - 1

First line of defence the north west of One Tree Hill towards Boronia. If houses are lost in Hill Street, or in other streets There have been several arsonists active in the area abutting the forest, this would open the gates for fire over the years, and it has taken a long time to catch to spread through Ferny Creek. Thus it is important to them (if at all). improve protection on the border between Hill Street and the park. Hill Street road reserve Hill Street should be extended along the existing road Reduce the fuel load more frequently reserve to join up with the former fire buffer zone. The park, sh~reand road areas should be kept clean Such extension would have the following benefits: and low on fuel year round The nearby forest should It would form part of the new containment line and be blackened annually to reduce fuel be free of vegetation. It will allow greater room for fire trucks to manoeuvre and pass each other coming in Busy tourist/visitor area all year round and out of I lill Street (to access the quicMill hydrant Apart from the residents, the area is used by and the tanks). It will allow fire trucks and other thousands of local and overseas visitors to the emergency vehicles contiguous access to the edge of Dandenongs each year. They arrive by car to the the forest and/or private property. picnic ground, walkalong Churchill Drive or One New gate Tree Hill Road, or walk up the Thousand Steps. The To prevent the extended road being used by ordinary intersection of Hill Street and OneTree Hill Road must street traffic, a gate should be provided at the end be one of the busiest in the Dandenongs. of extended Hill Street (not where the road currently ends). The gate should carry a sign "FIRE ACCESS, Thousand Steps walk KEEP CLEAR AT ALLTIMES". Such a gate and sign The Thousand Steps walking track incorporates the exists at the end of Hilton Road, Ferny Creek. The Kokoda Memorial Walk and is world famous. It is used entrance to the extended road should also have signs every day of the week by walkers, joggers, sports for "NO THROUGH ROAD" and "NO PARKING". clubs and many international visitors. The majority Parking at the top of Hill Street should be reserved for leave their vehicles in the Parks car park at the foot of residents only. It would also be helpful to have "NO the climb in Upper Ferntree Gully and will therefore be TRAIL BIKES" prominently displayed to discourage without transport. thosde who currently use the parkfor trail bike riding.

Evacuation of tourists Drain to be remade In the event of a bushfire, what systems are in place The drain at the junction of Hill Street and One Tree manage tourists? Hill; Road should re-engineered and rebuilt. The How will tourists be alerted to a bushfire while they in current policy is to provide gravel and rock dust every an unfamiliar environment? 17 weeks and to grade Hill Street. The gravel and How will they be evacuated? dust provides silt that encroaches on private property, blocking drains. It also constantly blocks the drain Curbing required under Hill Street at the junction with One Tree Hill The curbing and channelling stops before the Road intersection and visitors frequently park their cars on the grass verges after climbing the hill (high load) and having very hot exhausts. The curbing on One Tree Hill Road should be extended in front of 70 One Tree Hill Road to join up the existing curbing with the drain.

Known arson spots The area is directly above known arson spots in The Basin and along Mountain Highway. The highestfuel load, and longest distance within forested area, is to

One Tree Hill residents' submission Page 35 Summary of issues for One Tree Hill - 2

Ferny Creek siren Prevent parking on grass The special CFA siren at One Tree Hill (unique in The section of OneTree Hill Road between Churchill Victoria) is in addition to the CFA base siren and is Drive and Hill Street, on the southern side, should intended to alert residents of afire in their area. Unlike have bollards to prevent motorists from parking in the some other CFA sirens, it is used to call firefighters grass (which is very dangerous in hot weather). As to the station. However, it sounds for car accidents, the bollards would prevent emergency vehicles from house fires and other minor emergencies too. driving around a road block (from a car accident, But on Black Saturday it failed to sound when a for instance), gaps should be left at each end as fire started in Upper Ferntree Gully. Given that the 'gateways'. No Parking signs should also be placed prevailing south west wind would have driven the fire along OneTree Hill Road in this area to encourage directly to One Tree Hill, it is fortuitous that the fire was visitors to park in the paved designated areas. extinguished more by luck than good management. The Ferny Creek CrA l3rigade Captain tried to sound Take out pole in road the alert remotely (from Kinglake?) but the system Hill Street should be straightened so that, in the event was overloaded and it couldn't be done. Emergency of smoke and fire, the probability of vehicles leaving systems should work under severe load. Otherwise, or blocking the road is minimised. At present, an old they are not up to the job. telegraph pole forces the road to deviate, creating a hazard in smokey condtions. Remove dead trees at edge of forest The policy of leaving dead and fallen trees at the Churchill Drive walking track edges of forests should be changed so that all such Many people walk the length of Churchill Drive. There deadfall be removed immediately. This should also is no provision for pedestrians and in places the apply to the first few metres of forest so that deadfall road is windy with blind corners. It is irresponsible to just inside the tree line is also removed endanger pedestrians in this way and a safe walkway should be provided Cables underground All electricity and telephone cables should be placed Extend the burning-off season underground. Because both services have 'single The burning off season is too short, too restrictive run', this requirement should apply to the entire in the allowable days of the week, and burning is region, or at leastto the major parts. This would frequently forbidden on days when it is obviously not eliminate the problems we have had for decades with a risk. these services being taken out due to fallen trees or branches. Recycling garden waste should be free If the residents are to do their part in keeping the Upgrade area maintenance area's fuel load low, it needs to be easier and cheaper Parks Victoria, the Shire of Yarra Ranges, VicRoads to take garden waste to a recycling depot. Those and all other statutory authorities should maintain the residents who are not able to clear their blocks as well areas they are responsible for to eliminate or reduce as others (possibly due to age or infirmity) should be the fuel load. This is particularly relevant for roadside able to call on the Shire to assist with pick-up. leaf litter, twigs, large and small branches and fallen trees. Leaf litter along the verges of such roads as Churchill Drive should be swept regularly, especially in the fire season.

One Tree Hill residents' submission Page 36

Vegetation profile of the Dandenongs

Some native flora are highly combustible. Some Eucalypts and pines are extremely dangerous in a bushfire. Deciduous trees make effective barriers. There are many other plants that are fire resistant. The Dandenong Ranges are famous for their mixed vegetation, with many introduced plants. Deciduous trees and other suitable vegetation could be planted along the edges of forested areas to make them safer. Some of the more dangerous eucalypts, such as candlebarks, could be reduced in key areas.

Mixed vegetation can protect The Dandenongs' natural environment The Dandenong Ranges have had mixed vegetation The people that live in the Dandenong Ranges do so for decades and are a showcase for introduced plants because of the natural environment. No-one wants and trees. Many of these species are fire resistant or to see the hills turned into a concrete and bitumen retardant. Deciduous trees have proved a barrier to suburb devoid of trees. Trees are one of the most bushfire progress. This can be turned to advantage important natural features of this forested area. as we reconsider the safety requirements in relation to Most people that live in the hills like 'living in the trees'. the Australian bush we live in, given that it is extremely In recent years, the more extreme 'green' elements fire prone. have held sway in the retention of bushland close to habitation, including dead trees as 'nesting places', Reshaping the profile resulting in an environment that has an unacceptable It is possible to reshape the vegetation profile of the fire risk. Dandenongs to minimise the fire riskwhile enhancing A better balance should be found between keeping as the natural beauty, albeit including a slight reduction in much of the natural environment while making it safe the proximity of eucalyptus trees and other fuel load to to visit and live in. In short, the place should be better the habitation. Introduced trees and shrubs could be managed, and policies that are put in place should used as a protection layer around some of the native be implemented year after year, not quickly forgotten vegetation or fall into disrepair. Their implentation should be Candlebark trees could be taken out and the safer monitored and evaluated regularly. eucalypts allowed to take their places. Professional horticulturalists and arborists could contribute information about fire resistant plants and trees and local nurseries could be encouraged to promote favoured species Rows of fire resistant trees could be planted on forest edges to create barriers and improve protection.

One Tree Hill residents' submission Page 4 1

The authorities' preparations

While the CFA stress that is is all citizen's responsibility to prepare correctly for bushfires, the authorities themselves are often seriously in default. It is a case of 'do as I say' rather than 'do as I do1.

Do as I say, not as I do The community is told that the basics of preparation Tall grass and dead trees for fire protection lie in good housekeeping, the We are encouraged to cut tall grass to reduce the fuel reduction of fuel load being a major contributor. While load, yet we have been told that this is not a problem the community by and large does its best to comply, in the former fire buffer zone. Why not? the performance of key stakeholders, as a group, The former fire buffer zone has two large dead trees continues to be inadequate. It's a case of 'do as I say', in it (with long grass) and a dead tree trunk leaning rather than ' do as I do' against a tree on private property.

Reports go unactioned Logs are not traffic management Every report from every enquiry after every fire states Logs should not be used for traffic management. that there is urgent need to reduce the fuel load and They add to the fuel for a fire, make it difficult to keep to upgrade and extend reduction programs. While the grass short and do not (as presumably thought) the DSE and local authorities maintain publicly that provide a road block for 4-wheel drive vehicles. they are satisfied with the current level, there are many experts who disagree. Some of the prevailing Hard to get action conditions are blatant examples of the failure to A large number of residents have found it impossible carry out this work. The 'defendable space' is better to get satisfactory responses to their requests. Buck maintained around houses than it is in public areas passing and turf wars are common. such as the parks and alongside roads. The work that In answer to requests, the answer is almost always, is done appears to be limited to occasional 'tidying 'If it costs money, it isn't going to happen'. Letters are up the backyard', rather than changing the vegetation sent out saying that issues are under consideration, profile to suit the prevailing conditions. and that's the last you hear of it.

Lack of meaningful communication Class actions The authorities do not connect with the community Of the number of ways to get things done, class well at all. It is usually only the local CFA units that hold actions are gaining favour and are on the increase. Of community meetings, but even these lack the depth course, these happen after the fact. How much better of information interchange from which meaningful it would be to fix the problems before a catastrophy outcomes will arise. Even the CFA are given to occurs. delivering the 'mop and bucket' talk to residents who have heard it scores of times.

Leaf litter We are told that leaf litter is the most dangerous thing to have on the ground, yet there is a great amount of leaf litter almost everywhere you look: including the One Tree Hill Picnic Ground car parking area alongside the entrance road, and the full length of Churchill Drive.

One Tree Hill residents' submission Page 44

Inadequate resources

While the fire fighters do a good job, they are let down by a lack of suitable resources. While the CFA claim that there are enough fire trucks ("Who would man them if we had more?"), Black Saturday found the resource pool lacking in tankers. We listened in horror to CFA captains on the scanner pleading for more water, more tankers and other resources, only to be told that there was nothing more to send. What would happen if there had been more fires on the day? What if the State had twice as many fires? What would happen then?

Combustible fire trucks Fight the fire you have? Our main fire fighting equipment resources are the fire The CFA policy of 'fight the fire you have' that allows trucks at all CFA stations. It appears that hundreds for the movement of fire trucks between areas has of these are combustible due to the inclusion of a number of unfortunate consequences. Crews fibreglass in their construction. It has been shown from far away localities don't know their way around publicly (on YouTube) but as far as we know, nothing is unfamiliar areas, frequently get lost, and have no local being done about this. There isn't even an admission knowledge. If the policy is taken to an extreme on a from the CFA that there is problem. Regrettably, we day when the whole State is affected by fire, a large have lost several fire fighters who were caught in their proportion of the fire resources would be away from vehicles in fires. All deficient fire trucks should be their home bases. upgraded or replaced. Resources reduced Helicopters The Sassafraslrerny Creek CrA has three fire trucks. Plainly, we could use more fire bombing helicopters On Black Saturday, one of these was sent to Kinglake. This depleted the local resources by one third on a Heat sensing cameras day when we could have easily had a serious fire. Recent trials of fire sensing cameras have been While we appreciate that Kinglake needed more successful. Let's have more of them. resources on the day, it is not appropriate to reduce resources in high fire-prone areas. Extra equipment If the problems are going to get bigger, we need more equipment. More helicopters, fixed wing water bombers, surveillance video cameras. Spend more money on equipment and less on the overlapping bureaucracy.

One Tree Hill residents' submission Page 47

Communications

Much emphasis is being placed on a mixture of the internet and the telephone system to alert and inform the community. Access to the internet relies on having power, one of the first things to go down in the event of a storm or bushfire. Similarly, land lines for phones are liable to fail or be brought down (because they're overhead in many places). Mobile phone reception can be patchy or non-existent in the hills. At every large emergency, the systems are overloaded. They shouldn't be.

Communications require connections Local public information The internet and phone alerts rely on there being In an emergency, ABC local radio now has a very power and telephone connections. The development useful service that provides information on a rotational of internet and phone technologies should continue, basis for all affected areas. This is good at a macro equal emphasis should be placed on maintaining the level, but is inadequate in providing specific local services during emergencies. public information. Many people have scanners which enable them to Macro and micro information monitor the communications between fire teams in the While there have been great improvements in field and the control centre. But these exchanges are providing 'macro' information during emergencies, for operational matters and do not provide those who there is still a dangerous gap in 'micro' information; have decided to stay and defend their properties with local public information of current fire conditions in up-to-date information on local conditions. They need specific localities. to know exactly where fires are, their intensity, direction of travel and so on. Emergency systems need to be stronger The internet is getting better in providing up-to-date Existing warning systems do not work properly. For information, but there is a lot more it could do now, example, the specially installed fire siren for the One with much more in the future (such as real time, high Tree Hill area failed to be sounded during the only fire resolution satellite images) to threaten the area this year. We are told that new emergency communications are being prepared, but all internet and telephone Local public information in an emergency emergency systems rely on power and telephone In the case of a major fire, the power will fail, and cables to be operational. The first thing to go in an mobile phone reception in the hills is patchy at best, emergency is the power. Overhead telephone cables unavailable in a large part of the area, including are also extremely vulnerable. Until these are put the forest. In some cases, only battery-powered underground. equipment is of any use. Mobile phones cannot get reception in many areas in the Dandenongs. For this and other reasons, they are Is the CFA going digital? not suitable to be used as monitoring devices. Most We have heard that the CFA is changing to digital mobile phone do not have speakers and if everyone radios. Will this mean that the community will no were connected, the system would be overloaded. longer be able to listed in the the operational chatter? The best type suitable is a broadcasting system. As this is one of the best sources of local information, Local public information could be delivered via other what steps are being taken to replace this facility? media such as over scanner frequencies and CB From what we can gather, it is illegal for members of Radio frequencies. Macro information is available the general public to have scanners that can receive over ABC Radio 774, but this is too little, too late and digital signals from the emergency services. not localised enough. The use of CB radio would also provide at least some extra capability for the general public to call for help or give updates on local conditions

One Tree Hill residents' submission Page 52 The Ferny Creek siren alert

Special siren alert As is well-known, there is a special fire siren in the vicinty of OneTree Hill in Ferny Creek. It is considered that it works very well, but it is not perfect and has failed at critical times.

Failure to sound On Black Saturday, the specially installed fire siren, that is intended to alert the residents of OneTree Hill to danger, failed to sound when there was a fire in Upper Ferntree Gully. It has been explained that this did not happen because of operational factors on the day. This is not good enough. The siren should have sounded. We have learned that the local CFA captain tried to sound the siren manually, but this attempt failed because 'the system was overloaded'. These systems are supposed to work at times of overload; in an emergency.

Two different sounds would be better Past attempts to have two sirens installed in the same area to give different sounds to differentiate between traffic acidents and fires have proved fruitless. Given that the current climate encourages solutions to well- worn problems, this might be a good time to address this issue again.

One Tree Hill residents' submission Page 53

Current and future technology options - 2

Much has been made of the use of ABC local radio. A continuous stream of information or packaged information available on demand (such as Podcasts or phone-in recordings) is what is required. The ideal messaging system should be rapid to deploy, quick to update, able to be used by battery operated equipment, should not require very specialised equipment, should be 'permanent' (can be reviewed if original broadcast is missed), and should be receivable in most places, most of the time. The most glaring omission at the moment is the availability of current, local public information.

Emergency systems' capacity Mobile phone reception in the hills CB radio We have heard many times that and wooded areas is sometimes Similarly, CB radio could be used. current emergency systems have patchy and in many places non- This would have the added facility been overloaded. This is offered as existent. Mobile phones can't for members of the public to an acceptable excuse for their not be relied upon. With heavy use, transmit calls for help and send working. We do not accept this. mobile phone batteries can easily updates on particular locations. Emergency systems chould be fail, and if the mains power is off, constructed to work in a very cannot be recharged. Internet - websites big emergency and not get Phone messages are spasmodic, The CFA and DSE websites overloaded. Emergency systems aren't easy to retrieve for some should be combined or replaced should work in emergencies. people, and the system trials have by another. They should included not been very good. more detailed information than Power sources they currently do. Their inception The internet and phones both Scanners is welcome, but they could be require power and phone lines One of the most useful pieces of improved and money should to be working. The first things to equipment for many years has be spent making them highly go down in an emergency are been a scanner, and we have been professional. water, power and phone lines. encouraged to obtain them. There is so much more that a Thus it is critical that cables be put The CFA reception has never been website can do. underground, at least in key areas. as good as the (now out-of-use) It is essential that battery-powered police broadcasts. But it has been Websites - blogs &Twitter equipment is included in the mix of an essential piece of equipment all It is now well-practiced to post options. the same. information on a minute by minute Now we hear that the CFA, like basis. Different blogs could cater AMIFM radio other emergency services, are for very specific emergencies The use of ABC 774 as a bushfire changing to digital scanners and and it is easy to add more links information centre has been a very that we will longer be able to listen as required. Individuals "on the useful development. But it can only to the operational chatter. This will ground" could instantly exchange broadcast 'macro' information. It be a significant step backwards. vital information. The technology takes time to get information to air If they are changing to another exists and should be used. and cannot hope to cover every system, the public should be able incident in a timely and informative to listen in. lnternet -Audio streaming way. This is much like a personalised Scanners for local public radio. People can log on at any Television information time and it is easy to have as many To date, television has been used It may be impractical to use AM/ streams as you need. The main only for occasional news bulletins. FM radio to broadcast urgent limitation would be to ensure that It has the potential to broadcast information on local fires to small the network could cope. This is additional coverage but the nature areas. Many channels would be an ideal application of broadband of television and the time taken required to cover the whole State. technology. to prepare items for broadcast There are many scanner channels works against it being used as an that could be used to broadcast lnternet -Video streaming emergency tool. emergency updates. These could See above. be broadcast from local areas Mobile phones instead of relying on a central While mobile phone messaging control to receive, sort and sift, a should be included in any group of large number of items. technologies being used, they have serious drawbacks.

One Tree Hill residents' submission Page 57 Current and future technology options - 2

Internet - Webcams Sharing information with the Road blocks Webcams are probably the most public There have been many examples useful, as webcams can be used The authorities such as the CFA, of the police preventing residents for fire spotting, fire monitoring the DSE,the Police and other from accessing ther area where and public information. Others are emergency services have much they live, or even returning after using this. We should too. more information than is usually a brief reconnoiter to ascertain made available to the public, current conditions. Such prevention Satellite images particularly while an event is in has occured even when there is Is it possible to use real-time progress. It would assist many no immediate danger in the area, satellite images that canproduce people if they could access more or the fire has passed. The rules infra-red imaging to get a better current information. should be made more flexible to appreciation of the current state of take account of those who had fires? chosen to stay and defend.

One Tree Hill residents' submission Page 58 col in wood < > 12/06/2009 10:30 AM TO enqui [email protected]. gov. au CC bcc subject The Ferny creek siren did not sound

History: This message has been replied to.

The Commissioners Victorian Bushfi re Royal Commission

Dear commissioners,

This is by way of an addendum to the submission that Ihave sent to the VBRC on behalf of the residents of One Tree Hill, Ferny creek.

FERNY CREEK (ONE TREE HILL) SIREN he Ferny creek siren has been mentioned several times in the Commission's hearings. The siren in question is at a different location to the Sassafras/Ferny creek CFA fire station and is intended to alert residents in the area around One Tree Hill, Ferny creek. Yesterday (Thursday 11 June 2009) the commission heard about the fire that occurred in Upper Ferntree Gully on Black saturday. The seriousness of the fire's potential was emphasised. while Ihave paid attention to much of the commission's hearings, Ihave not heard or read all of the deliberations. ~husI am not sure if the commission is aware of the following. Please excuse me if this has a1 ready been covered.

Is the Commission aware that on slack saturday the FERNY CREEK SIREN DID NOT SOUND? The fire in Upper Ferntree Gully threatened the area covered by the siren but it was silent and residents were therefore given no warning of a very serious threat.

The explanation (from CFA personnel) is that the siren, as we all know, is intended to alert local residents to danger. ~t is not used to call out fire fighters. They have pagers and the siren is prompted by a particular page message. AS the fire fighters were already deployed, they were not paged. In any case, a fire alert in Upper Ferntree Gully will not signal the Ferny creek siren. Thus the siren failed to sound on two counts.

Ibelieve that the Brigade captain, John schauble, was not in his own area at the time, but was at Kinglake. Apparently, he tried to sound the siren 'remotely', but could not because the system was overloaded'. so, while the siren has sounded many times over the fire season, the one time we really needed it, it didn't sound. The word around the community, and from the CFA, was that we 'dodged a bullet' on the day and were very lucky.

AS it was, the explanation of how the fire was su pressed is not encouraging either. The account Ihave heard is t R at, just after the fire started, a helicopter happened to be passing on its way to another location. By chance, there was a member of the Upper Ferntree Gully fire brigade aboard. ~husa rapid response became possible. ~utit could so easily have been otherwise. AS recounted yesterday at the commission, if the fire had got away, there would have been very serious consequences in the Dandenong Ranges. Further information can be found in our submission.

AS you can imagine, we believe that this exposes serious deficiencies in the system that are worthy of detailed examination.

Yours

Colin Wood on behalf of the ~esidentsof One Tree Hill, Ferny creek