❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding a prescribed burn (Layman Ballan BS120) near Nannup, focusing on its impact on biodiversity, black cockatoos, and logging plans. The Minister's response addresses concerns about delays, habitat loss, and compliance with environmental guidelines.
AnsweredQoN 3232Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Layman Ballan BS120 prescribed burn in Wiltshire-Butler and Blackwood River National Parks near Nannup, and ask -
(1) Was this prescribed burn primarily a biodiversity protection burn?
(2) Did the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) District Manager and Regional Manager sign off on the prescribed fire plan on 14 September 2010?
(3) On what day was the edge burn planned to begin?
(4) On what day did the edge burn begin?
(5) If there was a delay, what was the reason for the delay?
(6) On what day was ignition planned to begin?
(7) On what day did ignition begin?
(8) If there was a delay, what was the reason for the delay?
(9) Did any DEC officers from the Wildlife Branch request that the burn be delayed?
(10) If yes to (9), for what reason(s)?
(11) Was the release of some 18 endangered Baudin’s and Carnaby’s black cockatoos from a property adjacent to Helms block postponed because of the prescribed burn?
(12) Were these birds and their carers placed at risk by the prescribed burn or its escape?
(13) Has the release of the birds taken place?
(14) If no to (13), -
(a) why not; and
(b) when will the release take place?
(15) Now that some 12,000 hectares of cockatoo habitat south-west of Nannup are no longer suitable habitat for at least five years, will the logging planned for nearby forest in Helms block in 2011 and 2012 be postponed?
(16) If no to (15), why not?
(17) How does BS120 prescribed burn in Wiltshire-Butler and Blackwood River National Parks comply with the first recommendation of the Environmental Protection Authority, following its review of the Department of Conservation and Land Management’s (CALM’s) fire policies and management practices, that in planning the annual burn program, assessment of fire requirements for biodiversity outcomes be given first consideration?
(18) Will the Minister please provide a map and photographs showing the extent of the prescribed burn and resulting wildfire and the mosaics, if any, left unburnt as intended (20 - 40 per cent of the riparian and forest areas of Agonis flexuosa)?
(19) Was any attempt made by DEC officers to assess the number of dead or injured fauna following the fire?
(20) If yes to (19), what was the result?
(21) How will this burn inform DEC's other burns in the South-West on the spring burning list, in light of the current drought conditions and rising temperatures?
(1) Was this prescribed burn primarily a biodiversity protection burn?
(2) Did the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) District Manager and Regional Manager sign off on the prescribed fire plan on 14 September 2010?
(3) On what day was the edge burn planned to begin?
(4) On what day did the edge burn begin?
(5) If there was a delay, what was the reason for the delay?
(6) On what day was ignition planned to begin?
(7) On what day did ignition begin?
(8) If there was a delay, what was the reason for the delay?
(9) Did any DEC officers from the Wildlife Branch request that the burn be delayed?
(10) If yes to (9), for what reason(s)?
(11) Was the release of some 18 endangered Baudin’s and Carnaby’s black cockatoos from a property adjacent to Helms block postponed because of the prescribed burn?
(12) Were these birds and their carers placed at risk by the prescribed burn or its escape?
(13) Has the release of the birds taken place?
(14) If no to (13), -
(a) why not; and
(b) when will the release take place?
(15) Now that some 12,000 hectares of cockatoo habitat south-west of Nannup are no longer suitable habitat for at least five years, will the logging planned for nearby forest in Helms block in 2011 and 2012 be postponed?
(16) If no to (15), why not?
(17) How does BS120 prescribed burn in Wiltshire-Butler and Blackwood River National Parks comply with the first recommendation of the Environmental Protection Authority, following its review of the Department of Conservation and Land Management’s (CALM’s) fire policies and management practices, that in planning the annual burn program, assessment of fire requirements for biodiversity outcomes be given first consideration?
(18) Will the Minister please provide a map and photographs showing the extent of the prescribed burn and resulting wildfire and the mosaics, if any, left unburnt as intended (20 - 40 per cent of the riparian and forest areas of Agonis flexuosa)?
(19) Was any attempt made by DEC officers to assess the number of dead or injured fauna following the fire?
(20) If yes to (19), what was the result?
(21) How will this burn inform DEC's other burns in the South-West on the spring burning list, in light of the current drought conditions and rising temperatures?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
15 March 2011
Responded by
Minister for Child Protection representing the Minister for Environment
Response time
103 days
(1) Yes.
(2) Yes, the District Manager signed the prescribed fire plan and the acting Regional Fire Coordinator signed on behalf of the Regional Manager.
(3) 15 October 2010.
(4) 16 October 2010.
(5) DEC received advice that people opposed to the burn would endeavour to prevent it commencing by hindering the operation. As a consequence DEC postponed the commencement of the edge burning.
(6) Ignition of the core area was intended to proceed once sufficient edge burning had been conducted.
(7) Lighting of the remaining core area took place on 19 October 2010.
(8) The core ignition was always intended to be conducted after sufficient edge burning had been conducted. Active fire behaviour and the need to ensure containment delayed the core ignition from the timing which could normally have been expected.
(9) No.
(10) Not applicable.
(11) The release of the black cockatoos was delayed at the request of the volunteer cockatoo rehabilitators involved in raising the birds.
(12) No. Provision was made for the safety of the birds and their carers along with other community members in the area when problems developed with the prescribed burn.
(13) No.
(14) (a) The cockatoo rehabilitators requested that the release be postponed to a date to be determined in 2011.
(b) The date has yet to be determined.
(15) The 2011 indicative timber harvest plan published by the Forest Products Commission does not contain any coupes within the Helms forest block. The 2011 coupe previously identified on the earlier 2010-2012 three year harvest plan was deferred. The location, extent and timing of the 2012 coupe depicted on the 2010-2012 three year harvest plan will be considered as part of the routine planning processes leading to the finalisation of the 2012 annual harvest plan. This includes consideration of bushfires within the planning area.
(16) The short-term impact of the burn on cockatoo food sources is unlikely to affect the planning of harvesting in adjacent areas. Food sources may be accessible within the harvest coupe, and these cockatoos range throughout much of the south-west and would likely move to areas within this range where alternate food sources occur should there be insufficient food available in the local area.
(17) The primary purpose of the planned burn BS120 was for biodiversity protection and the consideration of ecological values in the burn planning reflected this.
(18) DEC is working to process and ground truth satellite imagery. This will take some further weeks. When map products are available they will be provided to the Member.
(19) No estimate of dead or injured fauna was made and no reports of injured fauna were received by DEC. There is no methodology for reliably estimating the number of dead or injured fauna following bushfires or prescribed burns.
(20) Not applicable.
(21) DEC is aware of the dryness of the 2010 season and is taking this into account when considering other planned burns.
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(2) Yes, the District Manager signed the prescribed fire plan and the acting Regional Fire Coordinator signed on behalf of the Regional Manager.
(3) 15 October 2010.
(4) 16 October 2010.
(5) DEC received advice that people opposed to the burn would endeavour to prevent it commencing by hindering the operation. As a consequence DEC postponed the commencement of the edge burning.
(6) Ignition of the core area was intended to proceed once sufficient edge burning had been conducted.
(7) Lighting of the remaining core area took place on 19 October 2010.
(8) The core ignition was always intended to be conducted after sufficient edge burning had been conducted. Active fire behaviour and the need to ensure containment delayed the core ignition from the timing which could normally have been expected.
(9) No.
(10) Not applicable.
(11) The release of the black cockatoos was delayed at the request of the volunteer cockatoo rehabilitators involved in raising the birds.
(12) No. Provision was made for the safety of the birds and their carers along with other community members in the area when problems developed with the prescribed burn.
(13) No.
(14) (a) The cockatoo rehabilitators requested that the release be postponed to a date to be determined in 2011.
(b) The date has yet to be determined.
(15) The 2011 indicative timber harvest plan published by the Forest Products Commission does not contain any coupes within the Helms forest block. The 2011 coupe previously identified on the earlier 2010-2012 three year harvest plan was deferred. The location, extent and timing of the 2012 coupe depicted on the 2010-2012 three year harvest plan will be considered as part of the routine planning processes leading to the finalisation of the 2012 annual harvest plan. This includes consideration of bushfires within the planning area.
(16) The short-term impact of the burn on cockatoo food sources is unlikely to affect the planning of harvesting in adjacent areas. Food sources may be accessible within the harvest coupe, and these cockatoos range throughout much of the south-west and would likely move to areas within this range where alternate food sources occur should there be insufficient food available in the local area.
(17) The primary purpose of the planned burn BS120 was for biodiversity protection and the consideration of ecological values in the burn planning reflected this.
(18) DEC is working to process and ground truth satellite imagery. This will take some further weeks. When map products are available they will be provided to the Member.
(19) No estimate of dead or injured fauna was made and no reports of injured fauna were received by DEC. There is no methodology for reliably estimating the number of dead or injured fauna following bushfires or prescribed burns.
(20) Not applicable.
(21) DEC is aware of the dryness of the 2010 season and is taking this into account when considering other planned burns.
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
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