The South East CFA Vegetation Management team will begin mulching works on Monday, 13 February to reduce fuel loads in the Dargo township.
CFA gained funding through the Safer Together initiative to hire a specialised spider excavator to mulch vegetation across approximately 5.3 hectares.
The four days of planned works on Lind Avenue follow concern from property owners who felt they were unable to manage accumulated fuel loads on their properties on the north-western side of the town.
The community was concerned about their assets, particularly if there was a bushfire, given the steep landscape that surrounds the residences.
Vegetation Management Support Officer Steph Montague, who is coordinating the project, said the community were worried about the fuel loads.
“The La Nina conditions over the last couple of years have seen a lot of growth, so the majority of the properties on the hill are quite overrun with weeds,” she said.
“Because it’s such steep terrain in that little pocket of Dargo, planned burning wasn’t a suitable option for that site, just given the type and density of vegetation and the fuel moisture, together with the steepness and proximity to private assets.
“On that north-western side of town, that is where a lot of bushfires will come from, like those that have threatened Dargo in the past." she said.
With the 2019 summer fires coming within 2km of the township, the proximity of vegetation to private properties could likely lead to direct flame contact, radiant heat and ember attacks.
“We endured significant complexities in finding an appropriate machine to undertake these works, given the steep slope and diameter of vegetation present,” she said.
“The only suitable machine is a spider excavator, and there are only three available in Victoria. Having successfully used them in the past throughout the Safer Together program we were confident it would be effective.
“They work really well in that steep topography as they have legs that can adjust to the height required and can crawl up really steep hills to undertake that mulching."
Media photo opportunity:
What: CFA community liaisons and CFA vegetation management staff will be onsite from 10am on Monday should media wish to attend the works for a photo opportunity.
A community liaison officer will be present in the morning and afternoon to share information to the local community.
When: 10am on Monday, 13 February 2023 (or alternative date from Mon-Thurs)
Where: Lind Avenue, Dargo
Contact: Vegetation Management Support Officer Stephanie Montague (0408 881 031)
Vegetation Management Officer Chris Lewis (0458 941 599)