❓ The WA parliamentary question addresses firebreaks on private property with rare flora. The Minister's response outlines a process for landowners to apply for permits to construct firebreaks, balancing fire safety with conservation.
AnsweredQoN 705Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to rare flora being found on private property. (1) Is it the Government’s policy not to allow firebreaks to be placed around privately owned property in which rare flora has been found? (2) If the answer to (1) is yes and a fire did start on such a property, where would the owner stand legally, given the owner still lived on the property? Hon KIM CHANCE
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) I thank Hon Robyn McSweeney for some notice of the question. It is recognised that a firebreak around such property will help not only protect adjacent properties but also provide protection to the rare flora on the property concerned and the surrounding vegetation in which it is located. If the rare flora grows on the boundary of the property in which a firebreak may legitimately be desired, or in another location in which the firebreak is sought to be constructed due to the nature of the land or vegetation, the landowner may apply to the Minister for the Environment for a permit to take the rare flora for that purpose. In considering an application to take the rare flora, the Department of Conservation and Land Management, on behalf of the minister, will consider the impact on the conservation of the taking of the rare flora and what alternatives might be appropriate to the construction of the firebreak in that area. If a conservation impact were unacceptable, an alternative design to the firebreak that would still achieve the protection necessary for the property while also removing or reducing the impact on the rare flora would be pursued.
(1) Is it the Government’s policy not to allow firebreaks to be placed around privately owned property in which rare flora has been found? (2) If the answer to (1) is yes and a fire did start on such a property, where would the owner stand legally, given the owner still lived on the property? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1)-(2) I thank Hon Robyn McSweeney for some notice of the question. It is recognised that a firebreak around such property will help not only protect adjacent properties but also provide protection to the rare flora on the property concerned and the surrounding vegetation in which it is located. If the rare flora grows on the boundary of the property in which a firebreak may legitimately be desired, or in another location in which the firebreak is sought to be constructed due to the nature of the land or vegetation, the landowner may apply to the Minister for the Environment for a permit to take the rare flora for that purpose. In considering an application to take the rare flora, the Department of Conservation and Land Management, on behalf of the minister, will consider the impact on the conservation of the taking of the rare flora and what alternatives might be appropriate to the construction of the firebreak in that area. If a conservation impact were unacceptable, an alternative design to the firebreak that would still achieve the protection necessary for the property while also removing or reducing the impact on the rare flora would be pursued.
(2) If the answer to (1) is yes and a fire did start on such a property, where would the owner stand legally, given the owner still lived on the property? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1)-(2) I thank Hon Robyn McSweeney for some notice of the question. It is recognised that a firebreak around such property will help not only protect adjacent properties but also provide protection to the rare flora on the property concerned and the surrounding vegetation in which it is located. If the rare flora grows on the boundary of the property in which a firebreak may legitimately be desired, or in another location in which the firebreak is sought to be constructed due to the nature of the land or vegetation, the landowner may apply to the Minister for the Environment for a permit to take the rare flora for that purpose. In considering an application to take the rare flora, the Department of Conservation and Land Management, on behalf of the minister, will consider the impact on the conservation of the taking of the rare flora and what alternatives might be appropriate to the construction of the firebreak in that area. If a conservation impact were unacceptable, an alternative design to the firebreak that would still achieve the protection necessary for the property while also removing or reducing the impact on the rare flora would be pursued.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1)-(2) I thank Hon Robyn McSweeney for some notice of the question. It is recognised that a firebreak around such property will help not only protect adjacent properties but also provide protection to the rare flora on the property concerned and the surrounding vegetation in which it is located. If the rare flora grows on the boundary of the property in which a firebreak may legitimately be desired, or in another location in which the firebreak is sought to be constructed due to the nature of the land or vegetation, the landowner may apply to the Minister for the Environment for a permit to take the rare flora for that purpose. In considering an application to take the rare flora, the Department of Conservation and Land Management, on behalf of the minister, will consider the impact on the conservation of the taking of the rare flora and what alternatives might be appropriate to the construction of the firebreak in that area. If a conservation impact were unacceptable, an alternative design to the firebreak that would still achieve the protection necessary for the property while also removing or reducing the impact on the rare flora would be pursued.
(1)-(2) I thank Hon Robyn McSweeney for some notice of the question. It is recognised that a firebreak around such property will help not only protect adjacent properties but also provide protection to the rare flora on the property concerned and the surrounding vegetation in which it is located. If the rare flora grows on the boundary of the property in which a firebreak may legitimately be desired, or in another location in which the firebreak is sought to be constructed due to the nature of the land or vegetation, the landowner may apply to the Minister for the Environment for a permit to take the rare flora for that purpose. In considering an application to take the rare flora, the Department of Conservation and Land Management, on behalf of the minister, will consider the impact on the conservation of the taking of the rare flora and what alternatives might be appropriate to the construction of the firebreak in that area. If a conservation impact were unacceptable, an alternative design to the firebreak that would still achieve the protection necessary for the property while also removing or reducing the impact on the rare flora would be pursued.
(1) Is it the Government’s policy not to allow firebreaks to be placed around privately owned property in which rare flora has been found? (2) If the answer to (1) is yes and a fire did start on such a property, where would the owner stand legally, given the owner still lived on the property? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1)-(2) I thank Hon Robyn McSweeney for some notice of the question. It is recognised that a firebreak around such property will help not only protect adjacent properties but also provide protection to the rare flora on the property concerned and the surrounding vegetation in which it is located. If the rare flora grows on the boundary of the property in which a firebreak may legitimately be desired, or in another location in which the firebreak is sought to be constructed due to the nature of the land or vegetation, the landowner may apply to the Minister for the Environment for a permit to take the rare flora for that purpose. In considering an application to take the rare flora, the Department of Conservation and Land Management, on behalf of the minister, will consider the impact on the conservation of the taking of the rare flora and what alternatives might be appropriate to the construction of the firebreak in that area. If a conservation impact were unacceptable, an alternative design to the firebreak that would still achieve the protection necessary for the property while also removing or reducing the impact on the rare flora would be pursued.
(2) If the answer to (1) is yes and a fire did start on such a property, where would the owner stand legally, given the owner still lived on the property? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1)-(2) I thank Hon Robyn McSweeney for some notice of the question. It is recognised that a firebreak around such property will help not only protect adjacent properties but also provide protection to the rare flora on the property concerned and the surrounding vegetation in which it is located. If the rare flora grows on the boundary of the property in which a firebreak may legitimately be desired, or in another location in which the firebreak is sought to be constructed due to the nature of the land or vegetation, the landowner may apply to the Minister for the Environment for a permit to take the rare flora for that purpose. In considering an application to take the rare flora, the Department of Conservation and Land Management, on behalf of the minister, will consider the impact on the conservation of the taking of the rare flora and what alternatives might be appropriate to the construction of the firebreak in that area. If a conservation impact were unacceptable, an alternative design to the firebreak that would still achieve the protection necessary for the property while also removing or reducing the impact on the rare flora would be pursued.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1)-(2) I thank Hon Robyn McSweeney for some notice of the question. It is recognised that a firebreak around such property will help not only protect adjacent properties but also provide protection to the rare flora on the property concerned and the surrounding vegetation in which it is located. If the rare flora grows on the boundary of the property in which a firebreak may legitimately be desired, or in another location in which the firebreak is sought to be constructed due to the nature of the land or vegetation, the landowner may apply to the Minister for the Environment for a permit to take the rare flora for that purpose. In considering an application to take the rare flora, the Department of Conservation and Land Management, on behalf of the minister, will consider the impact on the conservation of the taking of the rare flora and what alternatives might be appropriate to the construction of the firebreak in that area. If a conservation impact were unacceptable, an alternative design to the firebreak that would still achieve the protection necessary for the property while also removing or reducing the impact on the rare flora would be pursued.
(1)-(2) I thank Hon Robyn McSweeney for some notice of the question. It is recognised that a firebreak around such property will help not only protect adjacent properties but also provide protection to the rare flora on the property concerned and the surrounding vegetation in which it is located. If the rare flora grows on the boundary of the property in which a firebreak may legitimately be desired, or in another location in which the firebreak is sought to be constructed due to the nature of the land or vegetation, the landowner may apply to the Minister for the Environment for a permit to take the rare flora for that purpose. In considering an application to take the rare flora, the Department of Conservation and Land Management, on behalf of the minister, will consider the impact on the conservation of the taking of the rare flora and what alternatives might be appropriate to the construction of the firebreak in that area. If a conservation impact were unacceptable, an alternative design to the firebreak that would still achieve the protection necessary for the property while also removing or reducing the impact on the rare flora would be pursued.
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