Living With the Bush

IN ITS interim report, the Bushfires Royal Commission called for a revised interpretation of Victoria's ''prepare, leave early or stay and defend'' policy. In future, the commission urged, the priority should always be saving human life, and in consequence it must be understood that the safest course of action when threatened by bushfire is always to leave early.

The reason the commission made this recommendation is simple: when there are blazes with the intensity of the fires that killed 173 people on Black Saturday, February 7, many properties will not be defensible. Firebreaks are of no avail if the winds fanning the flames and depositing burning embers are strong enough.

Premier Brumby’s announcement to encourage wholesale “as of right” clearing by land owners of all vegetation along fence lines trees and with 10 metres of houses has the potential to denude areas of great environmental significance and beauty in the Yarra Valley, Dandenong Ranges, Nillumbik, Mornington Peninsula and all over country Victoria.