‘No horsing about with fireworks’

By Rebecca Fraser
NARRE Warren North horse owners have expressed outrage after a nearby resident was given a fireworks permit for this Saturday night.
Angry residents living in Belgrave-Hallam Road and nearby Jacques Road are concerned that the fireworks will frighten their horses and cause them to run through fences or stampede.
Pam North, who owns three horses and has lived in Narre Warren North for 27 years, said fireworks and animals did not mix.
Ms North said residents had received a small flyer informing them of Saturday’s fireworks exhibition, which suggested responsible animal owners should move their horses and animals away from the event.
“Why should we have to pack up and move our horses somewhere else so someone can have 10 or 15 minutes of fireworks? It is not fair.
“The grass is really dry and it is the middle of summer so surely this could cause a real fire threat,” she said.
WorkSafe Victoria issued the fireworks permit but residents have been flooding Casey Council with calls this week in a desperate bid to have the permit revoked.
Ms North said fireworks had always been an issue in the area and she had spent many New Year’s Eves at home holding onto her horses so they would not run away.
“This is a big horse area and a lot of residents were really upset by this.
“There are also a lot of agisted horses in the area so who will take care of them?
“I have a new thoroughbred and he will just go ballistic.
“He has never heard fireworks and I am worried he may run through a fence or stampede. If one goes, they will all go,” she said.
Ms North said everyone would be stuck at home on Saturday night because of one irresponsible and inconsiderate person.
“If we put enough pressure on Casey Council, hopefully they will revoke it.
“We are hoping to stop it. We don’t want this to go ahead at all,” she said.
Casey manager of customer service, Rob Colling, said council had received calls from residents concerned about the impending fireworks, but the event would go ahead.
“I have spoken to our municipal fire officer who confirmed that council cannot revoke the permit. This is up to WorkSafe and obviously once they have determined that this permit is OK, then there is nothing we can do. They obviously went through the CFA to get approval as well, and if the CFA regional officer gives the permit the OK, there is nothing we can do about it.”