❓ A parliamentary question regarding the cutting down of mature marri trees in Dalgarup National Park as part of burn preparations, specifically questioning the number of trees cut, the introduction of the practice, and habitat assessments for cockatoo nesting.
AnsweredQoN 222Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Dalgarup National Park—Burn
222. Hon Jess Beckerling to the Minister for the Environment:
I refer to the burn
preparations in and around Dalgarup National Park, burn ID BWD086, where
multiple mature marri trees have been cut down and left on the ground and the
local environment group has been informed by the Department of Biodiversity,
Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) that the action was a part of the agency's
burn preparations.
(1) How many mature trees have been cut down as a part
of the burn preparations?
(2) When was the practice of cutting down mature
trees as a part of burn preparations introduced?
(3) How many further mature trees are planned to
be cut down as a part of the burn preparations?
(4) Does DBCA engage cockatoo nesting experts to
conduct habitat assessments of mature trees planned for removal?
(5) If yes to (4), how many of the trees to be cut
down in BWD086 contain known or potential nesting hollows?
(6) If no to (4), why not?
222. Hon Jess Beckerling to the Minister for the Environment:
I refer to the burn
preparations in and around Dalgarup National Park, burn ID BWD086, where
multiple mature marri trees have been cut down and left on the ground and the
local environment group has been informed by the Department of Biodiversity,
Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) that the action was a part of the agency's
burn preparations.
(1) How many mature trees have been cut down as a part
of the burn preparations?
(2) When was the practice of cutting down mature
trees as a part of burn preparations introduced?
(3) How many further mature trees are planned to
be cut down as a part of the burn preparations?
(4) Does DBCA engage cockatoo nesting experts to
conduct habitat assessments of mature trees planned for removal?
(5) If yes to (4), how many of the trees to be cut
down in BWD086 contain known or potential nesting hollows?
(6) If no to (4), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member
for some notice of the question. I understand it is her first question. The questions
she asked were not the same as the ones that were submitted. The member made
reference to something in a question that was not part of my answer. In any
event, I have an answer for the member.
(1)–(6) The Department of Biodiversity,
Conservation and Attractions undertakes a range of environmental, safety and
risk assessments prior to conducting prescribed burns. Trees identified as
hazardous present a significant safety risk to fire personnel and the public as
they are adjacent to roads or thoroughfares and could become compromised during
the prescribed burn and fall or drop limbs onto roads, potentially injuring
fire personnel or members of the public, and blocking roads or escape routes.
Falling trees and limbs can also be a primary source of fire escapes. The
falling of large trees for safety and burn security reasons
are assessed on a case-by-case basis and trees are only fallen as a last resort
and left in situ as potential habitat. Trees containing hollows near burn
boundaries are identified and wherever possible are protected as part of burn
preparation to reduce the likelihood of them becoming hazardous.
for some notice of the question. I understand it is her first question. The questions
she asked were not the same as the ones that were submitted. The member made
reference to something in a question that was not part of my answer. In any
event, I have an answer for the member.
(1)–(6) The Department of Biodiversity,
Conservation and Attractions undertakes a range of environmental, safety and
risk assessments prior to conducting prescribed burns. Trees identified as
hazardous present a significant safety risk to fire personnel and the public as
they are adjacent to roads or thoroughfares and could become compromised during
the prescribed burn and fall or drop limbs onto roads, potentially injuring
fire personnel or members of the public, and blocking roads or escape routes.
Falling trees and limbs can also be a primary source of fire escapes. The
falling of large trees for safety and burn security reasons
are assessed on a case-by-case basis and trees are only fallen as a last resort
and left in situ as potential habitat. Trees containing hollows near burn
boundaries are identified and wherever possible are protected as part of burn
preparation to reduce the likelihood of them becoming hazardous.
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