More campfire signage needed at Glen Mervyn
COLLIE RIVER VALLEY BULLETIN, FEBRUARY 2, 2023 3
MORE signage is needed at Glen Mervyn Dam to advise campers on rules about camp fires, according to Mumballup Volunteer Bushfire Brigade president and acting fire control officer Garry Hatch. His comments come just days after he spent more than a week fighting an out-of-control bushfire that tore through 8000 hectares. Mr Hatch said signage at the dam, as well as the Grimwade campsite, is inadequate to warn people about the rules of camp fires. According to one sign erected at the Collie-Preston Road and Best Road turnoff, campfires are allowed during the summer between 6pm and 10am, except when it is a total fire ban.
The sign states fires must be “within designated fire pits”, but Mr Hatch said there are no fire pits around Glen Mervyn Dam. There is no camp fire signage at the day use area. “Most people are pretty sensible,” he said. “But we as locals can’t burn off after December 15. “City people are often not as fire conscious and they don’t know the local environment. “We just want to minimise the risk and from a brigade point of view, we want to be proactive.” Mr Hatch said he raised the idea of
SIGNAGE LACKING: Mumballup Volunteer Bushfire Brigade president and acting fire control officer Garry Hatch is calling for more campfire warning signs at Glen Mervyn Dam. INSET: The only sign advising of campfire rules at Glen Mervyn Dam. more signage at the Shire of Donnybrook’s bushfire advisory council meeting, but it never went any further. “I was told DBCA (Department of Biosecurity, Conservation and Attractions) would do more patrols, but I’ve never seen them out here,” he said. “I just want some simple but large and permanent signs.
“Then people cannot say they didn’t know the rules.” He said despite the hot weather in the days leading up to Christmas there were many campfires around the dam when he drove past. “We’ve had three fires out this way recently, all within five kilometres of the dam,” he said.
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MENTAL HEALTH: Muja and Collie Power Station’s head of coal generation Brent Italiano with the six-metre tall blue tree that has been built at Muja in honour of mental health.
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Muja blue tree fights blues A SIX-METRE tall blue tree made from recycled steel has been erected at Muja Power Station in recognition of mental health. The tree was fabricated and made on site by boilermaker coded welder Darren True. It took approximately six months to build. Head of coal generation Brent Italiano said while Mr True was the main artist, the concept was a sitewide collaboration. “Everyone chipped in here, there and everywhere,” he said. “We are very supportive of the blue tree movement. "We believe in its message, and its principle right across society and industrial sites.” Mr Italiano said the idea for a blue tree at Muja was born at the Mining and Emergency Response Competition (MERC) where Blue Tree Foundation chief executive officer Kendall Whyte presented at the awards ceremony. “It resonated so much with everyone in the room. “All in attendance were from heavy industry companies, and mental
health and suicide has touched everyone to some extent,” he said. Mr Italiano said Muja took a different approach to the typical Blue Tree narrative. “We’re environmentally friendly, and we didn’t want to kill a tree to paint it blue,” he said. “So we used all recycled materials from the site. It was a total site collaboration - all played a role in the final product.” The tree was unveiled on R U OK? Day last year at a dedicated ceremony. “Everyone on site, except our operators who can’t leave the work, attended and for me, that represented the support on a site level and really spreads the message.” Mr Italiano said the tree was strategically positioned at the site’s entrance. “Anyone going past can see it,” he said. “We hope that it makes sure people are comfortable to have the mental health conversation.” The tree was sandblasted and painted by Ken Melvin from Coalfields Blasting and Coating Services.
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