MARYSVILLE, VIC. — A back-up generator for community broadcast station UGFM (Upper Goulburn FM), which is used to keep UGFM and the Mt Gordon fire spotting tower operating and ‘on air’ during emergencies, when power is lost, has been stolen overnight.
“Last night some low life stole our mains back up power generator from our Marysville and Triangle transmission site at Mt Gordon,” A UGFM Facebook post states. UGFM has confirmed such to VicNews.
This is one of the generators that, when power is lost, keeps the local community radio station, UGFM and also the Mount Gordon fire spotting tower functioning when there is a power failure or during disasters, such as the Black Saturday bushfires.
“The generator was used to supply power during mains power outages and emergencies to keep our UGFM FM 98.5 Transmitter on air and also for backup power to the fire watch tower and other emergency services on site,” the post states.
With heatwave warnings and potential catastrophic fire warnings likely to be issued later this week, the theft could not have occurred at a worse time for the local community.
A community that already suffered through, survived and rebuilt following the Black Saturday bushfires on February 7, 2009, doesn’t need this right now, with catastrophic fire conditions forecast for later this week.
Alexandra police attended the scene early this morning and, along with Marysville Police, are investigating the theft.
Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000, Alexandra Police on (03) 5772 1040 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
