Every home in the Latrobe Valley town of Morwell will be doorknocked by officers from the local council and emergency services in a bid to better understand the needs of residents, some of whom live within a few hundred metres of the burning open-cut coalmine.
The doorknocking operation – in a town of 14,000 people and their estimated 5000 or so homes – is already under way, with officers starting in the southern area of the town, the residential area closest to the mine.
The scores of businesses that make up Morwell’s busy central business district will also be doorknocked, as the Latrobe City Council investigates the economic impact of the fire on the town.
”We hear loud and clear that people are scared and traumatised and what we are doing in these distressing circumstances is working with the CFA and MFB, to doorknock homes,” said Latrobe City mayor Sharon Gibson.
”The purpose of the visits is to check on the welfare of residents and to get a firsthand understanding of how they are coping and identify any needs they may have.
”Information gathered during the doorknock will be used to provide immediate support and assistance and help to inform recovery planning.”
The Environment Protection Authority has begun streaming online data of fine particles, which can enter people’s lungs and have been distressing residents. Elevated levels of these particles – called PM2.5 and PM10 – may affect the elderly, children and people with asthma, lung and heart disease. Readings of PM2.5 reached a peak of 378 in Morwell South on Tuesday, with a rating over 150 considered ”very poor”.
Local councillor and Morwell resident Graeme Middlemiss said the doorknocking program was essential to identify vulnerable people and determine how they could be assisted. State government funds should be made available to pay for their accommodation in a safe location, he said.
”I’m hearing of more and more people who are vulnerable. I’m talking [about] the elderly, infirm, who are concerned but not getting enough information. Largely the information stream has been by radio and internet, and that misses many, many people,” he warned.
Cr Middlemiss said there was ”a great deal of concern” among residents about whether they would suffer long-term health effects from the smoke and ash.
