❓ A WA parliamentary question investigates the costs and resources used in a prescribed burn that escaped containment, impacting a significant area of core wilderness. The response details costs associated with the prescribed burn and subsequent bushfire.
AnsweredQoN 1364Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to prescribed burn FRK-092 conducted by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) in the Mount Roe and Mount Frankland National Parks and aerially ignited on 28 and 29 November 2022. The prescribed burn area consisted of 14,801ha of core wilderness bounded by Thomson Road (west), Western Road (east), Johnston and Roe Roads (north) and Mitchell Road (south) (“prescribed burn area”). The burn escaped to the south of Mitchell Road and west of Thomson Road on 30 November 2022, resulting in a further 10,000ha of core wilderness burnt (“escape area”). The Emergency WA website listed a Bushfire Advice for the escape area until 16 January 2023 which covered a large area in the Trent locality, and I ask: (a) how is the area of the escape area categorised (i.e., wildfire, part of the prescribed burn, etc.,) for DBCA reporting and costing purposes; and (b) will the Minister table the following in relation to the prescribed burn area and the escape area respectively for the period from the prescribed burns commencement until February 2023: (i) a detailed list of any resources from other agencies or local governments that were utilised by DBCA; and (ii) in so far as is practicable, a detailed list of the types and quantities of resources utilised by DBCA overall and the associated costings, including but not limited to: (A) aerial ignition and surveillance aircraft? (B) incendiaries? (C) earth-moving equipment? (D) water tankers? (E) support vehicles? (F) fire trucks? (G) traffic management? (H) personnel?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
9 May 2023
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Environment
Response time
1 days
a. For reporting and costing purposes the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) categorises the area of the escape as a bushfire.
b.
1. No resources from other agencies or local government were used during the prescribed burn or subsequent burn escape.
2. DBCA fire trucks, earth moving machinery and light vehicles were the predominant resources used, with the quantity of resources varying daily and over time depending on activity level required during the prescribed burn and subsequent burn escape.
A. Aerial ignition and surveillance aircraft:
Prescribed burn: Total cost of $34,080 for fixed and rotary wing aircraft.
Bushfire cost: Total cost of $40,437 for fixed and rotary wing aircraft.
B. Incendiaries:
Prescribed burn: Total cost of $889 for aerial incendiaries.
Bushfire: Total cost of $572 for aerial incendiaries.
C. Earth moving equipment:
Prescribed burn: None used.
Bushfire: Total cost of $44,158 for DBCA bulldozers and front-end loaders and the use of one contract swamp dozer.
D. Water tankers:
Prescribed burn: None used.
Bushfire: None used.
E. Support vehicles:
Prescribed burn: Total cost of $1903 for light support vehicles.
Bushfire: Total cost of $34,565 for light support vehicles.
F. Fire trucks:
Prescribed burn: Total cost of $47,484 for a combination of DBCA gang truck and heavy-duty fire appliances.
Bushfire: Total cost of $67,526 for a combination of DBCA gang truck and heavy-duty fire appliances.
G. Traffic management:
Prescribed burn: None used.
Bushfire: None used.
H. Personnel:
Prescribed burn: Total cost of $104,309 for a combination of DBCA staff salary, wages, overtime, and allowances.
Bushfire: Total cost of $493,742 for a combination of DBCA staff salary, wages, overtime, and allowances.
b.
1. No resources from other agencies or local government were used during the prescribed burn or subsequent burn escape.
2. DBCA fire trucks, earth moving machinery and light vehicles were the predominant resources used, with the quantity of resources varying daily and over time depending on activity level required during the prescribed burn and subsequent burn escape.
A. Aerial ignition and surveillance aircraft:
Prescribed burn: Total cost of $34,080 for fixed and rotary wing aircraft.
Bushfire cost: Total cost of $40,437 for fixed and rotary wing aircraft.
B. Incendiaries:
Prescribed burn: Total cost of $889 for aerial incendiaries.
Bushfire: Total cost of $572 for aerial incendiaries.
C. Earth moving equipment:
Prescribed burn: None used.
Bushfire: Total cost of $44,158 for DBCA bulldozers and front-end loaders and the use of one contract swamp dozer.
D. Water tankers:
Prescribed burn: None used.
Bushfire: None used.
E. Support vehicles:
Prescribed burn: Total cost of $1903 for light support vehicles.
Bushfire: Total cost of $34,565 for light support vehicles.
F. Fire trucks:
Prescribed burn: Total cost of $47,484 for a combination of DBCA gang truck and heavy-duty fire appliances.
Bushfire: Total cost of $67,526 for a combination of DBCA gang truck and heavy-duty fire appliances.
G. Traffic management:
Prescribed burn: None used.
Bushfire: None used.
H. Personnel:
Prescribed burn: Total cost of $104,309 for a combination of DBCA staff salary, wages, overtime, and allowances.
Bushfire: Total cost of $493,742 for a combination of DBCA staff salary, wages, overtime, and allowances.
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