Faceless But Accountable

Illawarra Mercury

Friday January 4, 2002

WE hear the term ``duty of care" every day, every time we organise or take responsibility for anything.

Surely this time the National Parks & Wildlife Service and the Water Catchment Authority will be held accountable for their failure in regards to their duty of care.

Our local bush cannot be simply locked up and not properly managed. Even if these fires are deliberately lit, isn't that more of a reason to conduct preventative measures, given the fact that a small percentage of the human population will always be irresponsible vermin?

You people who have felt comfortable with the token ``hazard reductions" on the outskirts of town must now see the futility of this work when faced with a wildfire. This is in no way a reflection of our local fire services, who do their job with total commitment, many of them knowing that it was only a matter of time before we were threatened by a large fire. Sadly, we grow weary of not being listened to. Bureaucracy knows best, so we are told. The bush has to be burnt on a regular seven year cycle - all of it. Not just the bit behind your back fence!

Now is the time to bring to justice these faceless bureaucratic giants. They must be condemned. They must pay for the damage. Their entire existence must be scrutinised.

What can you do? Write to Bob Carr. Write to your local member. Lobby your community leaders. Be vocal. Enough is enough.

Of course the NPWS and the WCA will be in denial mode, don't be fooled by the standard responses that come from their ``spokespersons". Things could have been much worse, and it WILL happen again if we sit and do nothing.

- R FULTON, Darkes Forest.