By Olivia Condous
Moorabool residents will be better protected against the dangers of fire season thanks to new funding for a fire access track and static water supply within the region.
The Moorabool Shire Council has been granted $22,853 from the state government’s Fire Access Road Subsidy Scheme (FARSS), with council contributing an additional $6742 towards the projects.
The funding has been secured by council on behalf of the Ballan and Gordon fire brigades, with the fire access track to be constructed in Ingliston and the static water supply installed in Gordon.
The water supply will provide two 26,000 litre tanks for firefighting, located in the high-risk fire area north of Gordon, due to a previous lack of water supply.
The fire access track in Ingliston will help to improve emergency vehicle access to Werribee Gorge, Falcons Lookout and surrounding areas, such as state parks and grassed farming areas.
Ballan Group of Fire Brigades group officer Shane Cramer said the benefit of the static water supply in Gordon was highlighted by a recent shed fire in the area prior to the installation of the tanks.
“It took tankers more than 30 minutes to travel to the then nearest known water to fill up and return,” Mr Cramer said.
He said the new fire access track would also benefit with quicker emergency response for the Werribee Gorge area.
“Having access to Falcons Lookout that is less hazardous to vehicles will reduce response times into the area for emergency services that are often called to deal with trapped and injured hikers, as well as providing quicker access in event of fires in that part of the Gorge and surrounds.”
Moorabool Shire mayor Tom Sullivan said the projects funded through the FARSS program would ensure residents had improved safety from fire.
“Moorabool communities in two high risk fire areas will now be better protected ahead of next fire season,” he said.
