Hon. Alison Xamon inquires about bushfire preparedness measures in schools, specifically regarding air-conditioning units and roof sprinklers. The Minister responds that ember screens are being installed and explains the Department's approach to creating safer locations during bushfires.

AnsweredQoN 463Legislative Council
Asked
27 June 2012
Portfolio
Education

QuestionView source ↗

SCHOOLS —
BUSHFIRE PREPAREDNESS
463. Hon
ALISON XAMON to the minister representing the Minister for Education:
I refer to the bushfire preparedness of schools in
bushfire-prone regions.
(1) Will the
government be providing state schools with impermeable covers for evaporative
air-conditioning units?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Will the government be providing roof sprinklers for any
designated ''go-to'' areas within the schools?
(4) If no to (3), why not?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question.
(1) The
government is installing ember screens to evaporative air-cooling units at
schools listed on the Department of Education's bushfire zone register.
In some cases older air-cooling units are being replaced with new units with
integrated ember screens.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) No.
(4) The
Department of Education's document ''The Principal's
Guide to Bushfire'', developed in consultation with the Fire and
Emergency Services Authority, provides for schools to identify a safer location
in the case of no-notice bushfire. The approach is to protect this site from
ember attack by aiming to create a 20-metre circle of safety around the
perimeter of school buildings and implementing, where possible, a 100-metre
hazard separation zone whereby the aim is to reduce the fuel load.

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