Gabrielle Duykers, Naracoorte Community News

Residents affected by the Blackford fire have described local council as “missing in action” during the recovery efforts following the tragic event.

In January this year, the Blackford fire burnt through more than 14,000 hectares of land throughout Lucindale and Avenue Range.

On September 23, 2021, Naracoorte Lucindale Council emailed a survey to residents and landowners affected by the fire to gain feedback on its recovery actions and approach.

Council stated its various efforts included:

• Coordinating community meetings to get information out to the community in an effective and timely manner
• Undertaking tree removals to improve road safety
• Extending the opening hours of the Lucindale council office to assist with any enquiries 
• Holding a free hard waste day at the Lucindale Waste Transfer Station
• Collaborating with BlazeAid to establish their camp at Lucindale and replace damaged fences
• Working with agencies and community groups such as the CFS, Lucindale Lions Club and PIRSA to “deliver the services and outcomes required”.  

The survey, which closed on October 15, asked questions surrounding each recovery effort from council. Only five survey responses were received.

One respondent said that although BlazeAid and other organisations had shown “wonderful” support, it was “unclear” council was involved.

“It appears to me that council is now adding their name to the actions of other organisations, without actually having done much themselves,” the respondent said. “I would say that for the most part, with the exception of tree removal and the hard waste day, council was missing in action for fire recovery around Lucindale and Avenue Range.”

Another person left a comment saying Naracoorte council workers had been absent in assisting Lucindale council workers clean up the roads. 

“Council were blowing their bags at helping, however when you asked for assistance in clearing burnt trees we were soon told ‘not our area, not our concern’,” the respondent said.

“Please don’t take credit for BlazeAid, it was the local Lucindale service clubs and community doing the work behind the scenes.

“Council were excellent on the days there was media coverage, local politicians, and the Governor’s visit but missing in action all other times.”

When asked if they thought the council got information out to the community in a timely and effective manner after the fire, 60 per cent of respondents said yes, and 40 per cent said no.

60 per cent of respondents said council worked effectively with agencies and community groups, while 40 per cent said it did not.

100 per cent of respondents said council’s work to undertake tree removal was efficient, and 90 per cent said the free hard waste day was beneficial, while 10 per cent said it was not.

Naracoorte Lucindale Council CEO Trevor Smart said he was “unsure” why the survey received so few survey responses.

However, he said the existing feedback would be put to good use.

“It is our understanding that the Local Government Association of SA is developing a ‘fire recovery process’ that will assist councils in recovery efforts in the future, and we will provide our experiences to this,” Mr Smart said. Mr Smart said council were yet to consider hosting a face-to-face forum or Q&A style meeting to receive feedback rather than an online survey.

This article appeared in Naracoorte Community News, 3 November 2021.