Collie River Valley Bulletin, January 19, 2023

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BULLETIN Published by LOCALS for LOCALS Thursday, January 19, 2023

BULLETIN Published by LOCALS for LOCALS Thursday, January 12, 2023

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COLLIE RIVER VALLEY EDITION No. 115

‘Stay-of-execution’

Yourdamung Resort battles fire risk claims

OFF TO UNI

THE proposed Yourdamung Road resort project is back before Collie Shire Council. Council rejected the proposal in late 2021 because of perceived “catastrophic fire risks”, but it was given a “stay-of-execution” at the last shire meeting. Councillors decided to go against a recommendation to refuse an application to expand use of the site and deferred the matter to allow staff to work through legislation issues with the proponents and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES). The decision was made after a consultant for the proponent, Russell Tierney, said there had been changes made to the access and egress requirements since last year. DFES had been and was still against the proposal due to the bushfire risk. Mr Tierney had appealed to the State Administration Tribunal (SAT) to overturn council’s decision in December, 2021, and had worked through media-

Jackson Rabaud is believed to have achieved Collie’s highest ATAR score, and will study pathology and laboratory medicine at the University of Western Australia later this year. Story page 7

Suspected arsonist active

A NUMBER of fires are believed to have been deliberately lit, including one that threatened the home of a family of five. Page 3.

tion sessions about legislation requirements concerning the fire risk. The site is located in State forest, and there is only one access route via a gravel road. DFES had estimated it could take up to 45 minutes to evacuate the site in the event of a bushfire. An amendment suggested in the new application was for a building to be altered to become a shelter. One of the objections to this was that a shelter was supposed to be a vacant building, whereas the proposed building was to also be used for a variety of purposes, and furnished accordingly. Chief executive officer Stuart Devenish said the matter is “complex and difficult to resolve”. “Council is in a very unenviable position,” he said. “While it is seeking to expand tourism opportunities, it cannot ignore the legislative requirements for bushfire risk.” Story continued page 8.

Quarry ‘ideal venue for events’

THE success of the Quarry Under the Stars gala dinner, held last October, has led to a move to have further events at the venue. Page 5.

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COLLIE RIVER VALLEY

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Uninsured home gutted by fire A LOCAL family returned to the charred remains of its home on Tuesday, after a bushfire tore through the property at the weekend. The property, off the Donnybrook-Boyup Brook Road, was home to Collie PCYC administration assistant Kristy Milne, and her three children, Alexis, Beau

and Zak. It was destroyed on Saturday. Neither the home nor its contents were insured. The fire started on Tuesday of last week and, despite initially being brought under control, weather conditions worsened over the weekend, reigniting the blaze. The family fled its home for the first time on the Tuesday.

“We left when they first closed the roads, so we could be sure that we would get out,” Ms Milne said. “Then we came back on Thursday when the warning was reduced to yellow and the roads were opened.” On Saturday, the fire regained momentum and headed for their home. Story continued page 8

REMAINS: Kristy Milne (left) with her daughter, Alexis, at the remains of the family home in Donnybrook-Boyup Brook Road.

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