❓ Hon Giz Watson questions the Department of Environment (DEC) regarding a prescribed burn in Flybrook Block and subsequent wildfire, focusing on crown scorch, flora assessment, quokka protection, and fire activity in December 2010. The DEC provides details on crown scorch percentages, flora assessments, quokka protection plans, and fire activity, including reasons for not burning on specific dates.
AnsweredQoN 4648Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to my question on notice No. 4248 regarding prescribed burn DP008 in Flybrook Block - Greater Hawke National Park and the resulting wildfire in the adjacent D'Entrecasteaux National Park in spring and summer 2010, and ask -
(1) Given that the burn area has been mapped and the number of hectares burnt has been determined, can the Department for Environment (DEC) please provide details of the percentage of the burnt area that was crown scorched as a result of the prescribed burn and resulting wildfire?
(2) Can DEC please provide details of the post fire flora assessment conducted on 9 February 2011, in terms of what floristic communities were assessed and how they were impacted by the fire?
(3) Were plans put in place prior to the fire to protect the quokka populations and their known and potential habitats?
(4) If yes to (3), what were these plans and how were they enacted?
(5) If no to (3), why not?
(6) Have any post fire assessments of the response of the quokka populations and their habitat been conducted to date?
(7) If yes to (6), can DEC please provide details about the results of these assessments?
(8) If no to (6), why not?
(9) Were fires within DP008 lit on 20 and/or 28 December?
(10) If yes to (9), when and how many hectares were intended to be burnt?
(11) If no to (9), was the advice posted on the DEC website of proposed new fires within DP008 on 20 and 28 December 2010 incorrect or withdrawn?
(12) If the advice was withdrawn, was public notification given?
(1) Given that the burn area has been mapped and the number of hectares burnt has been determined, can the Department for Environment (DEC) please provide details of the percentage of the burnt area that was crown scorched as a result of the prescribed burn and resulting wildfire?
(2) Can DEC please provide details of the post fire flora assessment conducted on 9 February 2011, in terms of what floristic communities were assessed and how they were impacted by the fire?
(3) Were plans put in place prior to the fire to protect the quokka populations and their known and potential habitats?
(4) If yes to (3), what were these plans and how were they enacted?
(5) If no to (3), why not?
(6) Have any post fire assessments of the response of the quokka populations and their habitat been conducted to date?
(7) If yes to (6), can DEC please provide details about the results of these assessments?
(8) If no to (6), why not?
(9) Were fires within DP008 lit on 20 and/or 28 December?
(10) If yes to (9), when and how many hectares were intended to be burnt?
(11) If no to (9), was the advice posted on the DEC website of proposed new fires within DP008 on 20 and 28 December 2010 incorrect or withdrawn?
(12) If the advice was withdrawn, was public notification given?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
1 November 2011
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Environment
Response time
42 days
(1) A post-burn assessment of the forested area within the prescribed burn identified that approximately 80 per cent had full crown scorch. Within the Donnelly River bushfire (Donnelly District fire 11) it was identified that approximately 60 per cent of the area had full crown scorch.
(2) Field assessments were undertaken between 9 and 15 February 2011 of priority listed flora known to occur in the area that may have been impacted by the prescribed burn and bushfire. These sites were primarily located within wetland communities. Future monitoring will identify the extent of regeneration. This monitoring is planned for late spring 2011.
(3) Yes
(4) When preparing the Prescribed Fire Plan, the recommendations of "
Fire Management Guideline No. 5 Quokka
" were used to reduce the impact of the burn on quokka populations in the burn area. Timing of ignition on the day of the burn and during spring were used to moderate fire intensity and reduce the potential for quokka habitat to be burnt, and to create a mosaic of burnt and unburnt patches.
(5) Not applicable
(6) No
(7) Not applicable
(8) Post-burn assessment for quokkas is planned for late spring 2011.
(9) No. However, on 20 December 2010 it was intended to burn approximately 50 hectares. This was not carried out due to rain over the burn area on the day. On 28 December 2010 a public notification was put in place as some of the remaining unburnt karri forest fuels were reigniting and it was estimated that 300 hectares may burn out on the day.
(10) See response to (9).
(11) At the time the advices were posted the information was correct. Due to the timing of the changed circumstances on each day, it was not appropriate or necessary to withdraw the advices.
(12) Not applicable
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(2) Field assessments were undertaken between 9 and 15 February 2011 of priority listed flora known to occur in the area that may have been impacted by the prescribed burn and bushfire. These sites were primarily located within wetland communities. Future monitoring will identify the extent of regeneration. This monitoring is planned for late spring 2011.
(3) Yes
(4) When preparing the Prescribed Fire Plan, the recommendations of "
Fire Management Guideline No. 5 Quokka
" were used to reduce the impact of the burn on quokka populations in the burn area. Timing of ignition on the day of the burn and during spring were used to moderate fire intensity and reduce the potential for quokka habitat to be burnt, and to create a mosaic of burnt and unburnt patches.
(5) Not applicable
(6) No
(7) Not applicable
(8) Post-burn assessment for quokkas is planned for late spring 2011.
(9) No. However, on 20 December 2010 it was intended to burn approximately 50 hectares. This was not carried out due to rain over the burn area on the day. On 28 December 2010 a public notification was put in place as some of the remaining unburnt karri forest fuels were reigniting and it was estimated that 300 hectares may burn out on the day.
(10) See response to (9).
(11) At the time the advices were posted the information was correct. Due to the timing of the changed circumstances on each day, it was not appropriate or necessary to withdraw the advices.
(12) Not applicable
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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