Mount Gellibrand Fire Tower fix remains in limbo, as community signs petition

The CFA was warned this fire tower needed work three years ago. But only now, with the fire season upon us, is it the subject of assessments to determine if it can be fixed — outraging a small regional community.

Locals and politicians from the Opposition gather at the Mount Gellibrand Fire Tower after the CFA suddenly closed it for being unsafe. The CFA was warned in 2017 it needed to be repaired or replaced.

A FIRE tower locals deem “critical” in their firefighting response on Victoria’s Western Plains will not operate in full use this fire season after the CFA suddenly marked it unsafe two weeks before summer.

But the CFA is not dashing all hopes, promising assessments and further consultation with engineers is continuing to determine whether works will allow for use of the Mount Gellibrand Fire Tower in some capacity.

The CFA was warned in an engineer’s report in 2017 the tower required an upgrade or replacement, but no action was taken and the tower was marked unsafe for use mid-November this year, causing community outrage and the issue to be raised in Victorian Parliament.

Local Liberal MP Richard Riordan expects to table a petition in Parliament this week, which he says racked up more than 1000 signatures in 10 days.

Mr Riordan said that number spoke volumes about the importance of the tower to the wider community, considering “only about 60 people live near tower”, and he couldn’t believe assessments that would determine the use of the tower had been left to drag into the fire season.

“They’ve had three years,” he said. “My concern is that their underlying view is that it’s not important.”

When questioned about providing funding for the fix of the tower, in Parliament last month, Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville said she was “waiting on the CFA” for its assessment.

The CFA confirmed to The Weekly Times today it had received an engineer’s report.

“In consultation with engineers, it has been confirmed remedial works may not provide for full use of the fire tower this summer,” a CFA spokesman said.

“CFA is continuing its assessments and further engaging in consultation with engineers to determine whether works will allow for the use of the tower.

“The health and safety of our members is our number-one priority.”

Ms Neville’s office told The Weekly Times today the CFA has been “working extensively to ensure the Mt Gellibrand area is well covered this fire season” and that the “community should be in no doubt that they are well protected”.

“Following the results of a recent engineering report of the Mt Gellibrand fire tower, CFA has engaged engineers to provide immediate advice on what, if any, remedial or other measures are possible to render the tower safe to operate,” the spokeswoman said. “This work is ongoing.”