THOSE expecting answers at the first of the state government's bushfire community meetings held last night in Ballarat were left disappointed.While many took the opportunity to highlight problems or endorse recommendations from the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission, others were left wondering what immediate action would be taken.A group of Mt Helen residents at the meeting expressed their anger, claiming building permits for their blocks of land had been refused by the Ballarat City Council due to bushfire risk.At least four people who have purchased blocks in the Sanctuary Mount Helen estate say they have been knocked back because of the proximity to bushland, despite the estate falling into a residential zone 1 area."We're stuck in the middle of the legislation," one woman, who did not want to be named, said."I bought the block in September 2009 and applied for a permit in October. We're ready to go, the plans are drawn up." Police and Emergency Services Minister Bob Cameron and Ballarat East MP Geoff Howard both attended, along with members of the Department of Sustainability and Environment, Country Fire Authority and other organisations, but no answers were given to the many questions asked.After the meeting, Mr Howard acknowledged planning was an ongoing issue in areas near bushland such as Mt Helen."They want to get on with their houses, take advantage of the first home buyer scheme, (but) they've been caught in a bind and there's not an easy solution," he said."To build on their properties as is, a lot of work needs to be done . . . but there are more creative solutions we're looking at in terms of buffer-zoning or managing to get them to move forward."The meetings will be used to assist the state government develop its final response to the recommendations of the Bushfires Royal Commission.More than 60 people at last night's event at the Ballarat Mercure discussed refuges, forced evacuations, powerlines, acquisition of property and fuel reduction.But Liberal candidate for Ballarat West Craig Coltman said the time for talk was over."What people are looking for is action," he said."We're now three months out from the next bushfire season . . . and Ballarat is just as unprotected as we were last year."The Liberals have also criticised the organisation of the event, which was announced just 24 hours earlier."It was really poorly promoted, poorly organised, it's a last minute response," Liberal candidate for Ballarat East Ben Taylor said.Mr Cameron said the government planned to act quickly on the information fed to them by community meetings. A meeting will be held in Daylesford tomorrow from 2pm to 4pm at The Daylesford Inn, 2891 Ballan Road.