❓ Dr. Edwards questions the Minister for the Environment regarding the assessment and management of Phytophthora cinnamomi dieback in WA forests, focusing on areas assessed, designated protectable/unprotectable, costs, and logging plans. The Minister provides data on areas mapped, costs, and refers to local CALM offices for specific operational details.
AnsweredQoN 177Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
177. Dr EDWARDS to the Minister for the Environment:
(1) How many hectares of actual forest in total have been assessed by the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) under its new protectable/unprotectable Phytophtora cinnamomi dieback management policy?
(2) How many of hectares actual forest have consequently been designated 'protectable' and how many hectares 'unprotectable'?
(3) How many hectares of actual forest within designated Disease Risk Areas (DRA formerly Dieback Quarantine Areas) have been assessed by CALM under its new 'protectable/unprotectable' Phytophthora cinnamoni dieback policy?
(4) How many hectares of actual forest within DRA zones have consequently been designated 'protectable' and how many hectares 'unprotectable'?
(5) Are maps available showing the outcomes of the assessments carried out, and if not, why not?
(6) How were the above assessments carried out, and by whom?
(7) What is the cost of the exercise to date, and what is its projected total cost?
(8) How many hectares of -
(a) protectable; and
(b) unprotectable jarrah forest does CALM plan to log over the next three months?
(9) What is the exact location of all currently operating dieback washdown facilities connected to forest logging?
(1) How many hectares of actual forest in total have been assessed by the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) under its new protectable/unprotectable Phytophtora cinnamomi dieback management policy?
(2) How many of hectares actual forest have consequently been designated 'protectable' and how many hectares 'unprotectable'?
(3) How many hectares of actual forest within designated Disease Risk Areas (DRA formerly Dieback Quarantine Areas) have been assessed by CALM under its new 'protectable/unprotectable' Phytophthora cinnamoni dieback policy?
(4) How many hectares of actual forest within DRA zones have consequently been designated 'protectable' and how many hectares 'unprotectable'?
(5) Are maps available showing the outcomes of the assessments carried out, and if not, why not?
(6) How were the above assessments carried out, and by whom?
(7) What is the cost of the exercise to date, and what is its projected total cost?
(8) How many hectares of -
(a) protectable; and
(b) unprotectable jarrah forest does CALM plan to log over the next three months?
(9) What is the exact location of all currently operating dieback washdown facilities connected to forest logging?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 November 2000
Response time
97 days
The Minister Replied:
The revised policy for 'Phytophthora cinnamomi and disease caused by it' was formally adopted by CALM in December 1998. A composite record of the individual areas mapped for disease caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi (known as 'dieback') is updated on an annual basis. Consequently, the following figures for the area of Phytophthora cinnamomi occurrence correspond to areas mapped during the 1999 calendar year.
(1) During 1999 a total of approximately 55,000 hectares of native forest were mapped by Dieback Interpreters to determine the disease status prior to harvesting operations.
(2) Approximately 43,100 hectares were designated as 'protectable' and 11,900 hectares as not 'protectable'.
(3) During 1999 approximately 36,400 hectares were surveyed and mapped in designated Disease Risk Areas.
(4) Approximately 32,300 hectares were designated as 'protectable' and 4,100 hectares were designated as not 'protectable'.
(5) Yes. Maps are prepared in advance of field operations, and are generated for operational use as required.
(6) Detection, diagnosis and mapping of disease caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi on areas proposed for timber harvest is performed by accredited Plant Disease Interpreters. They use a combination of aerial photographs, systematic field survey and soil and tissue sampling of indicator plants within the area to determine and map the occurrence of disease symptoms.
(7) The cost of detection, diagnosis and mapping of plant disease occurrence varies annually as it is linked to the level of field operations undertaken in the forest. The direct cost of the mapping program for the 1999 calendar year is estimated to have been approximately $ 907,000. The future cost will be related to the level of harvesting and other disturbance activities, the physical characteristics of the areas being assessed and the level of disease expression at the time.
(8) The extent of harvest activities over the next three month period will depend upon the coupe boundaries determined in the field. This work has not been completed for all areas concerned. This information will be provided on completion.
(9) The preferred location of Phytophthora cinnamomi washdown facilities is identified during the preparation of a Phytophthora cinnamomi Hygiene Management Plan for each area. The location of currently operating sites within specific forest areas is recorded on maps held at CALM's District Offices and can be ascertained by enquiry at the local CALM office.
The revised policy for 'Phytophthora cinnamomi and disease caused by it' was formally adopted by CALM in December 1998. A composite record of the individual areas mapped for disease caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi (known as 'dieback') is updated on an annual basis. Consequently, the following figures for the area of Phytophthora cinnamomi occurrence correspond to areas mapped during the 1999 calendar year.
(1) During 1999 a total of approximately 55,000 hectares of native forest were mapped by Dieback Interpreters to determine the disease status prior to harvesting operations.
(2) Approximately 43,100 hectares were designated as 'protectable' and 11,900 hectares as not 'protectable'.
(3) During 1999 approximately 36,400 hectares were surveyed and mapped in designated Disease Risk Areas.
(4) Approximately 32,300 hectares were designated as 'protectable' and 4,100 hectares were designated as not 'protectable'.
(5) Yes. Maps are prepared in advance of field operations, and are generated for operational use as required.
(6) Detection, diagnosis and mapping of disease caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi on areas proposed for timber harvest is performed by accredited Plant Disease Interpreters. They use a combination of aerial photographs, systematic field survey and soil and tissue sampling of indicator plants within the area to determine and map the occurrence of disease symptoms.
(7) The cost of detection, diagnosis and mapping of plant disease occurrence varies annually as it is linked to the level of field operations undertaken in the forest. The direct cost of the mapping program for the 1999 calendar year is estimated to have been approximately $ 907,000. The future cost will be related to the level of harvesting and other disturbance activities, the physical characteristics of the areas being assessed and the level of disease expression at the time.
(8) The extent of harvest activities over the next three month period will depend upon the coupe boundaries determined in the field. This work has not been completed for all areas concerned. This information will be provided on completion.
(9) The preferred location of Phytophthora cinnamomi washdown facilities is identified during the preparation of a Phytophthora cinnamomi Hygiene Management Plan for each area. The location of currently operating sites within specific forest areas is recorded on maps held at CALM's District Offices and can be ascertained by enquiry at the local CALM office.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.