❓ Mr Dean asks about bushfire preparedness in the south west. Dr Edwards outlines increased funding, personnel, equipment, and aerial firefighting capacity, emphasizing collaboration between CALM and FESA.
AnsweredQoN 667Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I am mindful that the weather is warming up and we have had another relatively dry winter. Will the minister please advise what measures the Department of Conservation and Land Management has in place to maximise the protection of life, property and biodiversity values from bushfires in the south west of our State? Dr J.M. EDWARDS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. As I speak, the Department of Conservation and Land Management and the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia are engaged in a training exercise in Bunbury with some of the pilots who will perform very useful duties as we move into the full swing of the fire season. Late last year the Government announced that it would inject an extra $3 million into CALM’s capacity for fire management. That resulted in a very good outcome in which our prescribed burning figures were closer to the target figures that we need; in fact, 190 000 hectares were burnt. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Warren-Blackwood. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Warren-Blackwood to order for the second time. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There were 190 000 hectares of prescribed burning in that season - an excellent figure compared with that of years gone by. This year the Government has contributed an additional $3.6 million. We will put 30 extra seasonal firefighters on to the task, as well as eight other personnel in different parts of the State. In addition, we will provide more earthmoving equipment than has previously been available through contracts to respond more expeditiously if there are wildfires. In conjunction with FESA, CALM has also assembled this year the most comprehensive array of aerial firefighting capacity we have ever had. Eight fixed-wing water bombers will be based this season at Albany, Manjimup, Bunbury and Perth, and we will have the capacity to move those aircraft from centre to centre as needed. As I said at the beginning of my answer to the member’s question, at the moment a training program is being conducted in Bunbury to ensure that pilots and spotters in particular are geared up for the season. I believe that this issue is of concern to every Western Australian. This winter has been reasonably dry and we are worried about the fuel loads. However, I believe that the Government’s emphasis on the matter, the detection aircraft, the capacity on the ground, the training that has been provided to personnel and the new equipment that has been purchased will ensure that emergencies can be responded to. Indeed, we will be doing that.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS replied: I thank the member for the question. As I speak, the Department of Conservation and Land Management and the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia are engaged in a training exercise in Bunbury with some of the pilots who will perform very useful duties as we move into the full swing of the fire season. Late last year the Government announced that it would inject an extra $3 million into CALM’s capacity for fire management. That resulted in a very good outcome in which our prescribed burning figures were closer to the target figures that we need; in fact, 190 000 hectares were burnt. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Warren-Blackwood. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Warren-Blackwood to order for the second time. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There were 190 000 hectares of prescribed burning in that season - an excellent figure compared with that of years gone by. This year the Government has contributed an additional $3.6 million. We will put 30 extra seasonal firefighters on to the task, as well as eight other personnel in different parts of the State. In addition, we will provide more earthmoving equipment than has previously been available through contracts to respond more expeditiously if there are wildfires. In conjunction with FESA, CALM has also assembled this year the most comprehensive array of aerial firefighting capacity we have ever had. Eight fixed-wing water bombers will be based this season at Albany, Manjimup, Bunbury and Perth, and we will have the capacity to move those aircraft from centre to centre as needed. As I said at the beginning of my answer to the member’s question, at the moment a training program is being conducted in Bunbury to ensure that pilots and spotters in particular are geared up for the season. I believe that this issue is of concern to every Western Australian. This winter has been reasonably dry and we are worried about the fuel loads. However, I believe that the Government’s emphasis on the matter, the detection aircraft, the capacity on the ground, the training that has been provided to personnel and the new equipment that has been purchased will ensure that emergencies can be responded to. Indeed, we will be doing that.
I thank the member for the question. As I speak, the Department of Conservation and Land Management and the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia are engaged in a training exercise in Bunbury with some of the pilots who will perform very useful duties as we move into the full swing of the fire season. Late last year the Government announced that it would inject an extra $3 million into CALM’s capacity for fire management. That resulted in a very good outcome in which our prescribed burning figures were closer to the target figures that we need; in fact, 190 000 hectares were burnt. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Warren-Blackwood. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Warren-Blackwood to order for the second time. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There were 190 000 hectares of prescribed burning in that season - an excellent figure compared with that of years gone by. This year the Government has contributed an additional $3.6 million. We will put 30 extra seasonal firefighters on to the task, as well as eight other personnel in different parts of the State. In addition, we will provide more earthmoving equipment than has previously been available through contracts to respond more expeditiously if there are wildfires. In conjunction with FESA, CALM has also assembled this year the most comprehensive array of aerial firefighting capacity we have ever had. Eight fixed-wing water bombers will be based this season at Albany, Manjimup, Bunbury and Perth, and we will have the capacity to move those aircraft from centre to centre as needed. As I said at the beginning of my answer to the member’s question, at the moment a training program is being conducted in Bunbury to ensure that pilots and spotters in particular are geared up for the season. I believe that this issue is of concern to every Western Australian. This winter has been reasonably dry and we are worried about the fuel loads. However, I believe that the Government’s emphasis on the matter, the detection aircraft, the capacity on the ground, the training that has been provided to personnel and the new equipment that has been purchased will ensure that emergencies can be responded to. Indeed, we will be doing that.
Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Warren-Blackwood. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Warren-Blackwood to order for the second time. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There were 190 000 hectares of prescribed burning in that season - an excellent figure compared with that of years gone by. This year the Government has contributed an additional $3.6 million. We will put 30 extra seasonal firefighters on to the task, as well as eight other personnel in different parts of the State. In addition, we will provide more earthmoving equipment than has previously been available through contracts to respond more expeditiously if there are wildfires. In conjunction with FESA, CALM has also assembled this year the most comprehensive array of aerial firefighting capacity we have ever had. Eight fixed-wing water bombers will be based this season at Albany, Manjimup, Bunbury and Perth, and we will have the capacity to move those aircraft from centre to centre as needed. As I said at the beginning of my answer to the member’s question, at the moment a training program is being conducted in Bunbury to ensure that pilots and spotters in particular are geared up for the season. I believe that this issue is of concern to every Western Australian. This winter has been reasonably dry and we are worried about the fuel loads. However, I believe that the Government’s emphasis on the matter, the detection aircraft, the capacity on the ground, the training that has been provided to personnel and the new equipment that has been purchased will ensure that emergencies can be responded to. Indeed, we will be doing that.
The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Warren-Blackwood. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Warren-Blackwood to order for the second time. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There were 190 000 hectares of prescribed burning in that season - an excellent figure compared with that of years gone by. This year the Government has contributed an additional $3.6 million. We will put 30 extra seasonal firefighters on to the task, as well as eight other personnel in different parts of the State. In addition, we will provide more earthmoving equipment than has previously been available through contracts to respond more expeditiously if there are wildfires. In conjunction with FESA, CALM has also assembled this year the most comprehensive array of aerial firefighting capacity we have ever had. Eight fixed-wing water bombers will be based this season at Albany, Manjimup, Bunbury and Perth, and we will have the capacity to move those aircraft from centre to centre as needed. As I said at the beginning of my answer to the member’s question, at the moment a training program is being conducted in Bunbury to ensure that pilots and spotters in particular are geared up for the season. I believe that this issue is of concern to every Western Australian. This winter has been reasonably dry and we are worried about the fuel loads. However, I believe that the Government’s emphasis on the matter, the detection aircraft, the capacity on the ground, the training that has been provided to personnel and the new equipment that has been purchased will ensure that emergencies can be responded to. Indeed, we will be doing that.
Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Warren-Blackwood to order for the second time. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There were 190 000 hectares of prescribed burning in that season - an excellent figure compared with that of years gone by. This year the Government has contributed an additional $3.6 million. We will put 30 extra seasonal firefighters on to the task, as well as eight other personnel in different parts of the State. In addition, we will provide more earthmoving equipment than has previously been available through contracts to respond more expeditiously if there are wildfires. In conjunction with FESA, CALM has also assembled this year the most comprehensive array of aerial firefighting capacity we have ever had. Eight fixed-wing water bombers will be based this season at Albany, Manjimup, Bunbury and Perth, and we will have the capacity to move those aircraft from centre to centre as needed. As I said at the beginning of my answer to the member’s question, at the moment a training program is being conducted in Bunbury to ensure that pilots and spotters in particular are geared up for the season. I believe that this issue is of concern to every Western Australian. This winter has been reasonably dry and we are worried about the fuel loads. However, I believe that the Government’s emphasis on the matter, the detection aircraft, the capacity on the ground, the training that has been provided to personnel and the new equipment that has been purchased will ensure that emergencies can be responded to. Indeed, we will be doing that.
The SPEAKER: I call the member for Warren-Blackwood to order for the second time. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There were 190 000 hectares of prescribed burning in that season - an excellent figure compared with that of years gone by. This year the Government has contributed an additional $3.6 million. We will put 30 extra seasonal firefighters on to the task, as well as eight other personnel in different parts of the State. In addition, we will provide more earthmoving equipment than has previously been available through contracts to respond more expeditiously if there are wildfires. In conjunction with FESA, CALM has also assembled this year the most comprehensive array of aerial firefighting capacity we have ever had. Eight fixed-wing water bombers will be based this season at Albany, Manjimup, Bunbury and Perth, and we will have the capacity to move those aircraft from centre to centre as needed. As I said at the beginning of my answer to the member’s question, at the moment a training program is being conducted in Bunbury to ensure that pilots and spotters in particular are geared up for the season. I believe that this issue is of concern to every Western Australian. This winter has been reasonably dry and we are worried about the fuel loads. However, I believe that the Government’s emphasis on the matter, the detection aircraft, the capacity on the ground, the training that has been provided to personnel and the new equipment that has been purchased will ensure that emergencies can be responded to. Indeed, we will be doing that.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There were 190 000 hectares of prescribed burning in that season - an excellent figure compared with that of years gone by. This year the Government has contributed an additional $3.6 million. We will put 30 extra seasonal firefighters on to the task, as well as eight other personnel in different parts of the State. In addition, we will provide more earthmoving equipment than has previously been available through contracts to respond more expeditiously if there are wildfires. In conjunction with FESA, CALM has also assembled this year the most comprehensive array of aerial firefighting capacity we have ever had. Eight fixed-wing water bombers will be based this season at Albany, Manjimup, Bunbury and Perth, and we will have the capacity to move those aircraft from centre to centre as needed. As I said at the beginning of my answer to the member’s question, at the moment a training program is being conducted in Bunbury to ensure that pilots and spotters in particular are geared up for the season. I believe that this issue is of concern to every Western Australian. This winter has been reasonably dry and we are worried about the fuel loads. However, I believe that the Government’s emphasis on the matter, the detection aircraft, the capacity on the ground, the training that has been provided to personnel and the new equipment that has been purchased will ensure that emergencies can be responded to. Indeed, we will be doing that.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS replied: I thank the member for the question. As I speak, the Department of Conservation and Land Management and the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia are engaged in a training exercise in Bunbury with some of the pilots who will perform very useful duties as we move into the full swing of the fire season. Late last year the Government announced that it would inject an extra $3 million into CALM’s capacity for fire management. That resulted in a very good outcome in which our prescribed burning figures were closer to the target figures that we need; in fact, 190 000 hectares were burnt. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Warren-Blackwood. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Warren-Blackwood to order for the second time. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There were 190 000 hectares of prescribed burning in that season - an excellent figure compared with that of years gone by. This year the Government has contributed an additional $3.6 million. We will put 30 extra seasonal firefighters on to the task, as well as eight other personnel in different parts of the State. In addition, we will provide more earthmoving equipment than has previously been available through contracts to respond more expeditiously if there are wildfires. In conjunction with FESA, CALM has also assembled this year the most comprehensive array of aerial firefighting capacity we have ever had. Eight fixed-wing water bombers will be based this season at Albany, Manjimup, Bunbury and Perth, and we will have the capacity to move those aircraft from centre to centre as needed. As I said at the beginning of my answer to the member’s question, at the moment a training program is being conducted in Bunbury to ensure that pilots and spotters in particular are geared up for the season. I believe that this issue is of concern to every Western Australian. This winter has been reasonably dry and we are worried about the fuel loads. However, I believe that the Government’s emphasis on the matter, the detection aircraft, the capacity on the ground, the training that has been provided to personnel and the new equipment that has been purchased will ensure that emergencies can be responded to. Indeed, we will be doing that.
I thank the member for the question. As I speak, the Department of Conservation and Land Management and the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia are engaged in a training exercise in Bunbury with some of the pilots who will perform very useful duties as we move into the full swing of the fire season. Late last year the Government announced that it would inject an extra $3 million into CALM’s capacity for fire management. That resulted in a very good outcome in which our prescribed burning figures were closer to the target figures that we need; in fact, 190 000 hectares were burnt. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Warren-Blackwood. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Warren-Blackwood to order for the second time. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There were 190 000 hectares of prescribed burning in that season - an excellent figure compared with that of years gone by. This year the Government has contributed an additional $3.6 million. We will put 30 extra seasonal firefighters on to the task, as well as eight other personnel in different parts of the State. In addition, we will provide more earthmoving equipment than has previously been available through contracts to respond more expeditiously if there are wildfires. In conjunction with FESA, CALM has also assembled this year the most comprehensive array of aerial firefighting capacity we have ever had. Eight fixed-wing water bombers will be based this season at Albany, Manjimup, Bunbury and Perth, and we will have the capacity to move those aircraft from centre to centre as needed. As I said at the beginning of my answer to the member’s question, at the moment a training program is being conducted in Bunbury to ensure that pilots and spotters in particular are geared up for the season. I believe that this issue is of concern to every Western Australian. This winter has been reasonably dry and we are worried about the fuel loads. However, I believe that the Government’s emphasis on the matter, the detection aircraft, the capacity on the ground, the training that has been provided to personnel and the new equipment that has been purchased will ensure that emergencies can be responded to. Indeed, we will be doing that.
Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Warren-Blackwood. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Warren-Blackwood to order for the second time. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There were 190 000 hectares of prescribed burning in that season - an excellent figure compared with that of years gone by. This year the Government has contributed an additional $3.6 million. We will put 30 extra seasonal firefighters on to the task, as well as eight other personnel in different parts of the State. In addition, we will provide more earthmoving equipment than has previously been available through contracts to respond more expeditiously if there are wildfires. In conjunction with FESA, CALM has also assembled this year the most comprehensive array of aerial firefighting capacity we have ever had. Eight fixed-wing water bombers will be based this season at Albany, Manjimup, Bunbury and Perth, and we will have the capacity to move those aircraft from centre to centre as needed. As I said at the beginning of my answer to the member’s question, at the moment a training program is being conducted in Bunbury to ensure that pilots and spotters in particular are geared up for the season. I believe that this issue is of concern to every Western Australian. This winter has been reasonably dry and we are worried about the fuel loads. However, I believe that the Government’s emphasis on the matter, the detection aircraft, the capacity on the ground, the training that has been provided to personnel and the new equipment that has been purchased will ensure that emergencies can be responded to. Indeed, we will be doing that.
The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Warren-Blackwood. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Warren-Blackwood to order for the second time. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There were 190 000 hectares of prescribed burning in that season - an excellent figure compared with that of years gone by. This year the Government has contributed an additional $3.6 million. We will put 30 extra seasonal firefighters on to the task, as well as eight other personnel in different parts of the State. In addition, we will provide more earthmoving equipment than has previously been available through contracts to respond more expeditiously if there are wildfires. In conjunction with FESA, CALM has also assembled this year the most comprehensive array of aerial firefighting capacity we have ever had. Eight fixed-wing water bombers will be based this season at Albany, Manjimup, Bunbury and Perth, and we will have the capacity to move those aircraft from centre to centre as needed. As I said at the beginning of my answer to the member’s question, at the moment a training program is being conducted in Bunbury to ensure that pilots and spotters in particular are geared up for the season. I believe that this issue is of concern to every Western Australian. This winter has been reasonably dry and we are worried about the fuel loads. However, I believe that the Government’s emphasis on the matter, the detection aircraft, the capacity on the ground, the training that has been provided to personnel and the new equipment that has been purchased will ensure that emergencies can be responded to. Indeed, we will be doing that.
Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Warren-Blackwood to order for the second time. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There were 190 000 hectares of prescribed burning in that season - an excellent figure compared with that of years gone by. This year the Government has contributed an additional $3.6 million. We will put 30 extra seasonal firefighters on to the task, as well as eight other personnel in different parts of the State. In addition, we will provide more earthmoving equipment than has previously been available through contracts to respond more expeditiously if there are wildfires. In conjunction with FESA, CALM has also assembled this year the most comprehensive array of aerial firefighting capacity we have ever had. Eight fixed-wing water bombers will be based this season at Albany, Manjimup, Bunbury and Perth, and we will have the capacity to move those aircraft from centre to centre as needed. As I said at the beginning of my answer to the member’s question, at the moment a training program is being conducted in Bunbury to ensure that pilots and spotters in particular are geared up for the season. I believe that this issue is of concern to every Western Australian. This winter has been reasonably dry and we are worried about the fuel loads. However, I believe that the Government’s emphasis on the matter, the detection aircraft, the capacity on the ground, the training that has been provided to personnel and the new equipment that has been purchased will ensure that emergencies can be responded to. Indeed, we will be doing that.
The SPEAKER: I call the member for Warren-Blackwood to order for the second time. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There were 190 000 hectares of prescribed burning in that season - an excellent figure compared with that of years gone by. This year the Government has contributed an additional $3.6 million. We will put 30 extra seasonal firefighters on to the task, as well as eight other personnel in different parts of the State. In addition, we will provide more earthmoving equipment than has previously been available through contracts to respond more expeditiously if there are wildfires. In conjunction with FESA, CALM has also assembled this year the most comprehensive array of aerial firefighting capacity we have ever had. Eight fixed-wing water bombers will be based this season at Albany, Manjimup, Bunbury and Perth, and we will have the capacity to move those aircraft from centre to centre as needed. As I said at the beginning of my answer to the member’s question, at the moment a training program is being conducted in Bunbury to ensure that pilots and spotters in particular are geared up for the season. I believe that this issue is of concern to every Western Australian. This winter has been reasonably dry and we are worried about the fuel loads. However, I believe that the Government’s emphasis on the matter, the detection aircraft, the capacity on the ground, the training that has been provided to personnel and the new equipment that has been purchased will ensure that emergencies can be responded to. Indeed, we will be doing that.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There were 190 000 hectares of prescribed burning in that season - an excellent figure compared with that of years gone by. This year the Government has contributed an additional $3.6 million. We will put 30 extra seasonal firefighters on to the task, as well as eight other personnel in different parts of the State. In addition, we will provide more earthmoving equipment than has previously been available through contracts to respond more expeditiously if there are wildfires. In conjunction with FESA, CALM has also assembled this year the most comprehensive array of aerial firefighting capacity we have ever had. Eight fixed-wing water bombers will be based this season at Albany, Manjimup, Bunbury and Perth, and we will have the capacity to move those aircraft from centre to centre as needed. As I said at the beginning of my answer to the member’s question, at the moment a training program is being conducted in Bunbury to ensure that pilots and spotters in particular are geared up for the season. I believe that this issue is of concern to every Western Australian. This winter has been reasonably dry and we are worried about the fuel loads. However, I believe that the Government’s emphasis on the matter, the detection aircraft, the capacity on the ground, the training that has been provided to personnel and the new equipment that has been purchased will ensure that emergencies can be responded to. Indeed, we will be doing that.
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