Fire at Spicketts Creek email to Melinda Pavey sent 1 June 2016

Dear Ms Pavey

A bush fire has been burning over an area of 360 hectares, which started on Helliwells road Missabotti about a week ago.

It burned through  inaccessible country including the closed Bellingen road.

It has been contained, but in Spicketts Creek we could see the flames coming down the hill towards our property. Two recently arrived owners in the front line of the fire moved out.

I have written to you previously about the need to reopen the Bellingen road and the main argument is the danger of bush fires, and I pointed out to you that Andrew Stoner promised to do this in 2011 from Natural Disaster Funding. (see below)

There has been some progress with all the local authorities, RFS, National Parks, Forestry and including RMS supporting rebuilding the road  as a fire trail to the standard of a Category 1 Fire Tanker (13 tonnes).

This current fire, which started as a controlled burn, demonstrates the need for this infrastructure. Bellingen Road was built 130 years ago and provided the starting point for various fire trails and logging trails. Without these the country in inaccessible.

I heard yesterday from Nambucca Shire Council that the proposal is sitting on the desk of the National Party Minister for Roads Duncan Gay, while he calls for another report. Surely the current fire should finally confirm the need for rebuilding the road.

I am copying this email to my neighbours and intend to send it to the local papers.

We expect better from the National Party in providing essential services to the rural community

David Wallin

From: Andrew Stoner <Andrew.Stoner@parliament.nsw.gov.au>
Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2011 08:08:15 +1000
To: "treeferns@westnet.com.au" <treeferns@westnet.com.au>
Cc: ElectorateOffice Oxley <ElectorateOffice.Oxley@parliament.nsw.gov.au>
Subject: Fwd: Re: Bowraville Road - funding of local roads and progress inspending natural disaster funding

Dear David

Firstly, apologies for the delay in responding.

I have always supported the restoration of the Bowraville-Bellingen Road under Natural Disaster funding arrangements and have consistently lobbied both State and Local Government toward this end.  The great shame is that they are still merely talking about it nearly 2 years later.
 A Nationals & Liberal State Government will act to have the road restored with Natural Disaster funding.
 Yours sincerely

Andrew Stoner