The enquiry into the catastrophic fires in Victoria is starting to reveal an all too familiar story. Several authorities with overlapping responsibilities, each with a turf protection culture and a rigid command structure unable to quickly respond to a fast changing fire situation.
What we should be doing is examining if a similar situation exists in New South Wales !
The Wollongong escarpment is a tragedy waiting to happen. It is not a case of " if " a fire storm develops - more a matter of " when " - and how we would respond to get people to safety.
Several questions beg to be answered ! How would be warn residents between Stanwell Park and Thirroul that a dangerous fire was on the way ? What evacuation plans are ready to be implemented ? Considering that the only evacuation route is Lawrence Hargreave Drive - what traffic management plans are in place ?
And most important of all - who has overall authority to make the decisions - give the orders - and take control ?
If the state government is unable to answer these questions - and is doing nothing to take heed of the lessons forthcoming from the Victorian enquiry - then the minister responsible should face a criminal trial if lives are lost because of such negligence.
Not only the Premier should be responding to this danger. Wollongong Council has a role to play - at least bringing the matter to the attention of the public - and the head of this area's police command would be involved in an emergency evacuation.
The writing is on all the wall after the Victorian experience. The people who face fire danger from the escarpment have a right to expect an answer on our state of readiness !
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