TAYLORS Flat Volunteer Rural Fire Brigade AGM held last weekend, had the red hot topic of the district widely discussed, 'Closure of the Old Wheeo Road/Fish River Road at the Lachlan River'.
A large crowd of concerned brigade members, residents and ratepayers of the area, gathered at the property of Darrell and Robyn Hanns with the car park jammed tight with cars.
Concern from the floor made the message clear of their unhappiness with Boorowa Council placing a mountain of earth on the Old Wheeo Road blocking all traffic thoroughfare.
The issue of Upper Lachlan Council closing their side of the crossing was also widely mentioned.
Many people raised the issue of the large 1975 bushfire that raced through the area killing 30,000 sheep, burning out 80,000 acres and the fire travelled a distance of 96km, all in one day.
The residents of the area during this bushfire were able to escape using the Lachlan River Crossing and bushfire crews from Crookwell coming across the Lachlan, saving "The Pinacles" homestead.
William Kelly, retired Rugby Bushfire Brigade Captain, addressed the meeting with his personal views and concerns regarding the present state of the river crossing area. Retired Taylors Flat Bushfire Brigade Secretary, Albert Wilson and retired Taylors Flat Bushfire Brigade Captain, Maurice Croker both attended the meeting, contributed invalid knowledge of that day in 1975 of the largest bushfire seen in the district.
Many years of bushfire fighting and local area knowledge was demonstrated by many attending the AGM. The support of Taylors Flat's neighbouring bushfire brigades was overwhelming with their attendance last Saturday and their letters of concern to both councils. This issue is not only affecting the residents in the area, but a much larger part of our community on both sides of the Lachlan River.
Now with a major wall of earth blocking the escape route of Old Wheeo Road residents, they are trapped with nowhere to go in the event of a bushfire coming from a westerly direction. The locality of the area is widely known as a bushfire prone area and the steep terrain making access impossible to other section of the Lachlan River to escape in the event of a bushfire. The location is currently exhibiting another 'Victorian Bushfire' event waiting to happen. The lives of many residents in this area have been put in jeopardy with closure of the crossing.
The area is more heavily populated now due to subdivision approvals in the 1980s and 1990s.
During the winter period, house fires are more common. It is alarming for residents, that bushfire trucks and ambulances are unable to access either side of the Lachlan River at present to attend any property or life saving call outs.
All persons attending the AGM agreed that both Councils need to come together and jointly apply for government funding to upgrade the Lachlan River crossing. Encouragement was given for both councils to upgrade the crossing as quickly as possible and have the road re-opened to the public, which it has been the case for more than 80 years. The people of this area don't want to be trapped in a bushfire situation, witness another 1975 bushfire event or have a 'Victorian Bushfire' tragedy on their own doorstep.
Personal possessions can be replaced to some extent over time, but lives cannot.
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