Bushfire safety ‘can’t be put on the back-burner’

Couple has not seen one hazard reduction burn since moving into Mount Coolum 10 years ago.

Sunshine Coast resident Lyn McGlade has a house that backs on to Mount Coolum National park. Picture: Sarah Marshall

Lynette and Robert McGlade have not seen one hazard-reduction burn since they moved into their Mount Coolum home 10 years ago.

The Sunshine Coast couple has seen two major bushfires in the past decade, with one fire coming so close firefighters were in their backyard fighting back the blaze.

“We’ve seen it come pretty close a couple of times and we’ve seen the mountain go up,” Ms McGlade said. “We have seen the water-bomb choppers right over us here, dropping the water from the golf course.”

The McGlades’ home backs onto the fire break that is accessed by emergency crews and, because of that, they have never felt truly unsafe. “It’s just part of living near the bush,” Ms McGlade said.

“I think they backburned just before we came. But I guess they (firefighters) can’t do everything … they do a wonderful job.”

Neighbours Liz and Kieron Hav­rilvk, 63 and 68, have been on edge since the Peregian Beach bushfire last month destroyed one home and damaged three others.

“I’ve always lived in bush area. Even though we bought our home here, it’s a bit scary,” Ms Havrilvk said.

“Conditions have become so extreme. We’ve lived here three years and they haven’t backburned.

“After the Peregian fire, we are quite concerned.”

Documents obtained by The Australian last week showed an August 2017 fire at Caloundra, similar to the fire and ember storm that hit Peregian Beach, may have been less of a threat had back­burning taken place in 2016 and 17.

Local real estate agent Greg Smith said more communication was needed between state and local government.

“It feels like in years gone by there were more hazard-reduction burns,” Mr Smith said.

“Everyone jumps on the climate change bandwagon but if there is leaf litter, it just burns.

“We have got to get back to common sense.

“Between state government and council, there doesn’t seem to be any cohesion, and stuff just isn’t happening.”