Black Saturday survivor is afraid revegetating Haining Farm will end in bushfire tragedy

A DON Valley woman, who was lucky to escape the Black Saturday bushfires, is refusing to give up the fight to help prevent the Yarra Valley from once again going up in flames.

Bronwyn Page with twins Poppy and Daisy. Photo: Daniel Pockett

A DON Valley woman, who was lucky to escape the Black Saturday bushfires, is refusing to give up the fight to help prevent the Yarra Valley from once again going up in flames.

After writing more than 30 letters to politicians, State Government departments and a fire expert, mother-of-four Bronwyn Page is distraught no-one will listen to her concerns that revegetating Haining Farm could end in tragedy.

As reported in Lilydale & Yarra Valley Leader, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning wants to turn the dairy farm into a wildlife corridor for critically endangered species by planting more than 315,000 trees and shrubs.

Revegetation work on Haining Farm is expected to begin later this year, with the state-owned land becoming part of Yellingbo Conservation Area.

But Mrs Page said the government has made the wrong decision.

“There is no way there is no risk,” she said.

“We believe they want conservation and that is what they’ll do regardless.”

On February 7, 2009, Mrs Page, her husband and 13-month-old daughter Indigo, left their Flowerdale home for the last time.

It was a 46C day and Mrs Page said she remembers noticing smoke in the air but a search of the CFA’s website revealed nothing.

“I had a friend call saying fire was coming but I thought that’s not possible,” she said.

It wasn’t until the sky grew dark and glowed red, that the couple decided to leave.

As they jumped into the car with a screaming baby, the deafening roar of the ferocious blaze filled their ears.

It was as they drove down the empty road she realised they had left too late.

“My story is only small, but there were people who died in my street,” she said.

“We know we live in a bushfire prone area but we don’t want to make it worse.”

Mrs Page said nine years after losing their home and possessions she was still trying to fit into her new life in Don Valley.

“For me the aftermath was worse … there was years of depression,” she said.

“I don’t want to see that happen again.

“I don’t want that for the beautiful Yarra Valley.”

She said the CFA was constrained by State Government policy and unable to give its opinion on whether revegetating the former farm with 315,000 trees would increase fire risk.

“People in authority got it wrong on Black Saturday and they’ve got it wrong now,” Mrs Page said.

“I can’t believe here I am in this position nine years after Black Saturday.”

She said she was appalled at the lack of action from politicians responses.

“No one will answer our questions,” she said.

Department of Environment Land Water and Planning land and built environment programs regional manager Victoria Purdue said the data used for the fire modelling would be provided to the community this week.

Ms Purdue said the department was responding to all correspondence.

A CFA spokesperson, who did not want to be named, said while the project was still underway CFA was not able to comment.