Cut trees to

By Kelly Yates
CASEY Council officers will write to the relevant Federal Department and local indigenous community to discuss the possibility of removing trees and shrubs along major roads near Churchill Park in Endeavour Hills.
Four Oaks Ward councillor Karen Baxter raised the issue at a recent council meeting after receiving several calls from local residents concerned about the fire hazard.
“Some of the locals want a few of the trees to be cut back to the fence along the road,” she said.
“Others also wanted the undergrowth near the roads to be cut,” she said.
Cr Baxter said she wanted to see action before the upcoming fire season.
“An ex councillor is jumping up and down about the Harkaway area, but people need to remember that the recent fires were in Narre Warren North,” she said.
“I don’t want the Narre Warren North and Endeavour Hills communities to be forgotten as we gear up for the fire season.”
Cr Baxter also discussed a two-car crash at the intersection of Power Road and Churchill Park Drive, back in January that left Endeavour Hills residents fearing for their homes.
The crash caused one of the cars to burst into flames on impact.
The flames from the car quickly set long dry grass alight along the side of the road and the fire rapidly spread to nearby paddocks.
More than 350 firefighters, including CFA volunteers, battled the blaze for more than eight hours.
The fire threatened Churchill Park Golf Club and many nearby houses. As a result of the collision, two people received minor injuries.
Fellow ward councillor Shar Balmes said that this year fire prevention was the topic in the community as a result of the Black Saturday bushfires.
“Many residential and public areas in Casey do need to be cleaned up,” she said.
“But I do know that the council workers are working around the clock doing grass cutting, slashing and maintenance work throughout the municipality.”
Cr Balmes said residents had a responsibility to ensure their own properties were safely maintained.
Casey Council officers will give a response to the council in relation to the area around Churchill Park before the start of this year’s fire season.