A Tyers environmentalist has called on the CFA to abandon plans for two fuel reduction burns at Tyers over fears they could kill wildlife and destroy about 40 nationally-protected Strzelecki Gum trees.
Irene Proebsting was notified of the controlled burns along the Traralgon-Tyers Road and at the Fitzgibbons Road Flora and Fauna Reserve last month and said native vegetation and habitat in the area could be destroyed.
“This reserve is a habitat for flora and fauna and I don’t think it should be burnt; I think it’s dangerous to burn it,” Ms Proebsting said.
“It’s at the bottom of a steep hill and I’m concerned some CFA burn-offs have become out of control and this is a residential area.
“The wildlife use the vegetation, the foliage, they roost in the trees. There’s possums here, echidnas, goannas, wallabies and ants and many birds.”
Ms Proebsting, who is a member of the Latrobe Valley Field Naturalists club, said wildlife spotted at the reserve would have no place to go and could be seriously injured or killed.
“I think there’s too much burning that’s being done and I’m concerned about the smoke and pollution for people with ill health,” Ms Proebsting said.
“If you get a huge wildfire this kind of burn-off will not do anything to stop it … it naturally looks after itself and has done so for thousands of years.”
There are also concerns about a proposed burn on the Traralgon-Tyers Road where about 40 protected Strzelecki Gums, which are listed as a protected species under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, stand.
CFA District 27 was preparing a response when The Express went to print.
