Memories of ’94 still haunt Lindfield resident, but fireys say street is safe

LINDFIELD’S Clem McMurray is calling for Ku-ring-gai Council to do more to make sure Winchester Ave is fire safe, following a rising concern that the devastation left behind by the 1994 bush fire will happen again if the area becomes engulfed in flames.

Louise StarkeyReporter

December 10, 2017, North Shore Times

Clem McMurray is calling for Ku-ring-gai Council to clear up the land behind his house, as he – along with a handful of other residents – are in a high fire risk area. Picture: Julian Andrews

North Shore

A BUSH fire prone street in Lindfield, which became engulfed in flames in 1994, continues to pose a risk to homeowners, a long-term resident believes.

However, firefighters have confirmed every step has been made to make the area as safe as possible.

The highly flammable embankment between Winchester Ave and Grosvenor Rd has been given the tick of approval in terms of fire safety, according to Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Kel McNamara, who recently inspected the site with the NSW Rural Fire Service.

As part of the Hornsby/Ku-ring-gai Bush Fire Management Committee’s Bush Fire Risk Management Plan, firefighting representatives prioritise and inspect areas labelled to be dangerous.

The embankment behind Clem McMurray’s house on Winchester Ave, Lindfield. Picture: Julian Andrews

“We found that hazard reductions have been done in the last 18 months to two years, and I can confidently say we are happy with the work done there,” he said.

“While it is steep and quite dangerous, the immediate and surrounding areas are being taken care of, and I believe we have minimised the risk of a large scale fire going through there again.

“The biggest concern I had was the amount of building materials being stored at the back of properties and underneath houses.

“I would advise residents not to cut down trees and throw them into the embankment as it’s definitely hard to clear.”

In 1994, seven houses on Winchester Ave were lost, and many others damaged, when a bush fire tore through the area.

State Emergency Services in the middle of cleaning up the devastation left behind in Lindfield, which was caused by a bush fire in 1994. Picture: Allan Hedges

The memory still haunts resident Clem McMurray who said he believes not enough has been done to ensure Winchester Ave is safe.

He called for Ku-ring-gai Council to test the water supply in Lindfield, in case of another fire-related emergency, and said residents should be allowed to clear debris on and behind the escarpment, as they were not currently allowed to do so.

He added the council needed to clear and maintain access to the reserve and said he was looking to escalate the matter if nothing continued to be done.

“(Council) don’t give a hoot about safety and that is what it’s all about,” he said.

“I have been asking them to do something about this for four years, and for god sake, if there was a fire, we should at least have water in the mains as there wasn’t any last time.
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“(A fire like the one in 1994) will happen again – I have no doubt about it.”

Merja Allen flees her home on Winchester Ave, Lindfield, when a bush fire tore through the area in 1994. Picture: Andrew Jacob

A Ku-ring-gai Council spokeswoman confirmed the land was under the care and control of the council, and said legislation requires a minimum of seven years between hazard reductions.

She added pile burns at the council’s expense were previously offered to residents in the area and said questions relating to the water pump should be addressed to Sydney Water.

“Council staff have been in regular communication with local residents in the area and have conducted numerous site visits, as well as the recent bushfire awareness workshop last month,” she said.

“All bushfire safety issues are addressed by the Bushfire Management Plan and are part of the regional bushfire planning conducted by the RFC, council and Fire and Rescue NSW.”

The spokeswoman added registered volunteer groups – such as Bushcare, Parkcare and Streetcare – are allowed to prune vegetation on public land, as well as residents if they are part of a registered Bushcare group.

She also encouraged residents to consider putting a bushfire plan together.