Great idea,
I like the Kurrajong as one Australian Eucalypt replacement tree .
It is attractive, not too tall, can be pruned to shape and it was used as a source of fibre , water , food and it's gum as a fixative; plus it doesn't fall over and lives for 100's of years .

Much more promotion of "wet " leaf Australian Species is needed.

Unfortunately ,Victoria is due for more Bushfire disasters if the perception of Bruce Esplin ,the Commissioner for Emergency Services is accepted as ok for the future.

Commenting on the radio ABC a few weeks ago ,his "feel good "message was that the bush was recovering well in the worst of the bushfire areas of SE Victoria.

That is NOT what I wanted to hear . It bodes more pain, suffering and destruction in the future for those people struggling to regain their lives and homes.

Now is the time to thin out those walls of paper and oils that surround us and replace them with greater areas of easier to burn and manage finer native grasses ,while it is easier to work in the bush - in 5 years time the difficulties and the fire risk could well be 50% higher.

Our Emergency Services Heads must be Responsible !

How feasible would it be for the CFA to sponsor the CSIRO to carry out a bit of genetic engineering and produce and patent gum trees that were fire-resistant. The CFA could then sell them and boost its fundraising.