Vegetation cut back along freeway before bushfire season

Overgrown bushes, trees and grass along the South-Eastern Freeway will get chopped back in a major operation starting Friday.

A major clean up blitz, to prepare the SE freeway for the bushfire season, will commence on Friday. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Overgrown vegetation, which could pose a risk to South Eastern Freeway users during a bushfire, will be given the chop in a major clean-up blitz.

The Department for Infrastructure and Transport has commissioned a contractor to prepare the state highway between the Toll Gate and Tailem Bend for the upcoming bushfire season

Work is scheduled to start on Friday and will include median mowing, fire break mowing, weed spraying and slashing.

It comes as Adelaide Hills residents voice their concern about the potential bushfire risk along the state highway.

A department spokesman said work would be completed by December 1.

The state of vegetation overgrowth along the SE freeway has been worrying to many Hills residents. Picture Dean Martin

“The department is focused on mowing activities across the state and has aimed to address the more built-up area of the South Eastern Freeway as a priority,” he said.

“Vegetation in inaccessible locations remains dense but does not affect the operation of the fire break.

“Restrictions will be in place around works as the safety of workers and the general public will be paramount, so please observe speed limits when travelling through work zones.”

Stirling resident Oliver Ocorfe, who has been lobbying the department to clean up vegetation since January, said he welcomed the long-awaited initiative.

“I am very pleased but it is a petty that it took so long and so much effort to get the department to do something about it,” he said.

“It shouldn’t have been necessary to write to the Minister about the issue but I’m just glad it’s finally getting done.

“Hopefully, the lesson has been learned and we do have to start a second campaign next year.”

Stirling resident, Oliver Ocorfe, has been fighting the State Government since January, about clearing vegetation along the SE Freeway. Picture Dean Martin

In an article published by The Adelaide Hills News earlier this week, Mr Ocorfe warned of a potential firestorm as a result of overgrown vegetation.

“Anyone walking along the footpaths on either side of the South Eastern Freeway, between Stirling and Crafers, will observe dead pine trees, piles of dead wood, dried BlackBerries and other combustible weeds, which would burn fiercely in the event of a bushfire, and ignite the pine trees above them,” he said.

“Traffic on the freeway would be threatened by the heat, and it would be like driving through an oven.

“If any one vehicle caught fire it would halt other traffic, and there would be no escape for passengers leaving vehicles.”