Fire sparks call for plant removal

By Bridget Brady
All hands were on deck when a small fire broke out along a strip of plants at Mackellar Park, near Dobson Street in Lynbrook, on Saturday and damaged a resident’s fence. Her neighbour says the council planted the wrong plants.
Edna Joseph, who lives close to the park, said she asked council to remove the plants about two years ago when another fire occurred.
“I voiced my concerns to council when we had the first fire and nothing happened. They didn’t want to know about it,” Ms Joseph said.
“But in summer the plants dry out and it’s very bushy. My neighbour and I knew it was going to happen again, it was just a matter of when.
“I want the plants removed and want that area to be cleared and maybe replaced with evergreen plants that are less likely to catch fire.”
Ms Joseph said if no residents had been around to fight the fire on Saturday afternoon, it could have done more damage to her neighbour’s home.
Ms Joseph believed, although she did not have proof, that the fires were the result of vandalism. But her chief concern was the potential for fire the “unnecessary” plants caused.
“You could drop a cigarette butt and it would be enough to start it (a fire).”
But Casey Council made no clear indication whether the plants would be replaced with different types.
Casey’s manager of parks and reserves Trevor Griffin said the plants were “consistent with the native tree planting and landscaping of this reserve”.
“The plants are native flax and grasses that are drought tolerant.”
Mr Griffin said it was a matter for the council’s insurance company to assess whether the council would share the damage bill for the resident’s fence.