Maureen Tait lives in the seniors’ public housing block on Moore Street, which is nestled between the Creswick Creek and the eastern edge of the Creswick Regional Park. 

She said council and state government bodies had done little to address the rapid grass growth which borders the 32-unit complex, posing a serious fire risk to residents, particularly those who are immobile.

“All we’ve got is this road, and if (a fire) really started going we have nowhere to go,” Ms Tait said.  

“We see kids coming through here and kids are going to be kids with their matches and smokes, but this would go so quickly if a fire came through.” 

Hepburn Shire Council general manager of infrastructure Bruce Lucas said “Where non compliance with a fire prevention notice is identified (required works and due date), enforcement works are typically undertaken to ensure the hazard is removed”.

The concerns come after Creswick residents also queried the extensive grass growth on a block of land on Albert Street which neighbours the town’s CFA station. 

Grass on the privately owned block stands at well over one metre tall, despite the council-managed edges of the block being trimmed.

Fire notices for private property found to be a fire hazard were due to be issued by early January, after which time a private contractor will be sent in by council at the landowner’s expense.

Hepburn Shire confirmed a fire notice has been issued to the landholder.

“We have issued over 500 fire prevention notices so far this fire season, which is significantly more than previous years,” Mr Lucas said.  “We would much prefer to be issuing fewer notices or ideally zero notices, as this would mean all properties are clean and well prepared which is our ultimate goal.”

It follows a Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre warning from November which warned of the growing threat of grass fire.

CFA District 15 operations manager Brett Boatman said properties on urban fringes were particularly vulnerable to fast-moving grass fires which are increasing due to excess fuel throughout the region.

“Particularly given wet winter and spring that fuel is starting to come on line,” Mr Boatman said.  “the thing we see around interface areas that presents a risk is that it doesn’t take a big bushfire to do some damage.”

Residents in other fire-prone areas such as Scotsburn have also raised concern about the level of grass growth present near homes.