A coastal Victorian community is feeling vulnerable after being threatened by bushfires and wants authorities to develop a better emergency plan.
A week on from the bushfire that threatened to destroy the township of Loch Sport in eastern Victoria, residents are searching for answers.Residents want a clearer plan to follow in times of emergencyThe blaze burnt across 3,000 hectares and flanked both sides of the single road into the community, but was stopped before it hit the town thanks to firefighting efforts and a large downpour of rain.
"This should be something that's being considered by the authorities, but it's not and it's going to be too late one day."At 6am on the day of the fire, resident Peter McMahon was out of bed trying to get the word out.Firefighters in eastern Victoria say steady rain and a cool change is bringing some relief as they battle two serious bushfires near Briagolong and at Loch Sport on the Gippsland Lakes.
It outlined the challenges the town faced, having just a single road access and significant areas of national park surrounding it requiring fuel reduction. Among issues raised was the need to establish a safe boat harbour for use in case of emergency, greater fuel reduction efforts, and the exploration of a helicopter or boat evacuation route if necessary.He said the environment context in Loch Sport was similar to Mallacoota in East Gippsland, where bushfires encircled the town during the Black Summer bushfires in 2019.
"You get silly remarks from people saying, 'Well, if you don't like it, then move', but if that was the answer then nobody would live anywhere," he said.
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