❓ Question regarding the definition of 'bushfire prone' areas following the Keelty report and the roles of DEC, WALGA, FESA, and DAFWA in defining and declaring such areas. The answer clarifies DEC's limited role in this process, deferring to the Bushfire Review Implementation Group.
AnsweredQoN 101Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT
OF ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION — BUSHFIRE-PRONE AREAS
101. Hon SALLY TALBOT to the minister representing the
Minister for Environment:
I refer to recommendation 3 of the Keelty report on the Perth
hills bushfire and the advice to the stakeholders' briefing in October
2011 that planning was underway to ''work with WALGA, FESA, DEC and
DAFWA to clarify the definition of 'bushfire prone' and the
requirements pursuant to a declaration''.
(1) How does DEC define ''bushfire prone''?
(2) Was this definition changed after the Perth hills fire or
the Margaret River bushfires?
(3) Has any
decision been made as to which agency has the expertise to assess areas as ''bushfire
prone''?
(4) If yes to (3), what were the
outcomes?
(5) What steps
has DEC taken to date to enable the transfer of responsibilities for declaring
bushfire-prone areas to the Western Australian Planning Commission?
OF ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION — BUSHFIRE-PRONE AREAS
101. Hon SALLY TALBOT to the minister representing the
Minister for Environment:
I refer to recommendation 3 of the Keelty report on the Perth
hills bushfire and the advice to the stakeholders' briefing in October
2011 that planning was underway to ''work with WALGA, FESA, DEC and
DAFWA to clarify the definition of 'bushfire prone' and the
requirements pursuant to a declaration''.
(1) How does DEC define ''bushfire prone''?
(2) Was this definition changed after the Perth hills fire or
the Margaret River bushfires?
(3) Has any
decision been made as to which agency has the expertise to assess areas as ''bushfire
prone''?
(4) If yes to (3), what were the
outcomes?
(5) What steps
has DEC taken to date to enable the transfer of responsibilities for declaring
bushfire-prone areas to the Western Australian Planning Commission?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question. I note that the question was asked on 7 March so this answer is
current as at that date.
(1)–(5) The
Keelty report on the Perth hills bushfire notes that under the Local Government
Act 1995 local governments may declare all or parts of their local government
area to be a bushfire-prone area. It further notes that a designated
bushfire-prone area is defined under the National Construction Code as ''land
designated under a power in legislation as being subject, or likely to be
subject, to bushfires''. Action on recommendation 3 of the report is
being progressed by the Bushfire Review Implementation Group convened by the
Department of the Premier and Cabinet and on which DEC is represented. However,
DEC does not have responsibility for the definition of ''bushfire prone''
or for the implementation of recommendation 3.
question. I note that the question was asked on 7 March so this answer is
current as at that date.
(1)–(5) The
Keelty report on the Perth hills bushfire notes that under the Local Government
Act 1995 local governments may declare all or parts of their local government
area to be a bushfire-prone area. It further notes that a designated
bushfire-prone area is defined under the National Construction Code as ''land
designated under a power in legislation as being subject, or likely to be
subject, to bushfires''. Action on recommendation 3 of the report is
being progressed by the Bushfire Review Implementation Group convened by the
Department of the Premier and Cabinet and on which DEC is represented. However,
DEC does not have responsibility for the definition of ''bushfire prone''
or for the implementation of recommendation 3.
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