PROTECTING HILLCREST

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 7, 19 March 1947, Page 5

PROTECTING HILLCREST

DANGER FROM FIRE OUTBREAKS

FIRE-RESISTING CREEPER SUGGESTED

AH members of the Whakatane Borough Council were in sympathy with a letter from the Fire Board urging that more protective measures should be enforced to safeguard the Hillcrest approaches from the continual ravages of fire outbreaks. On Cr Sullivan’s suggestion it was decided to purchase a supply of ice-plants or other fireresisting creepers and make them available to the owners of businesses at the foot of the bluff.

The Fire Board suggested that bylaws should enforce owners of properties to establish and maintain fire-breaks on their own and adjoining properties. The Mayor said he thought the Council had met the position as far as it was possible under its regulations last year. He did not think they could legally compel an owner to maintain a fire-break on an adjoining property. Cr Shapley said that all the Board required was co-operation with the members of the Fire Brigade, who had three times recently been called upon to fight fires on the slopes of Hillcrest, a very difficult and dangerous task. It was up. to the Council to be more rigorous in its control of fire outbreaks.

The Mayor: I agree that everything possible should be done. “It’s just as well that the Firemen were not the crew of the Wanganella,” observed Cr Sullivan who said that the only real way to protect the slopes was by planting green creepers such as ice-plants along the foot of the cliff face. The Mayor agree that the suggestion, was one, which could probably be handled by the Beautifying Society, if the Council secured the plants. It was decided to follow up Cr Sullivan’s suggestion, and further to invite the Fire Brigade Superintendent to point out any place of potential fire danger, upon which the Council might act by serving notice On the owner to clear.