❓ Mr Redman asks the government to commit to urgently progressing a mechanical fuel reduction project in Wilga due to high bushfire risk. The government responds by highlighting existing mitigation efforts and a comprehensive assessment process, without directly committing to the specific project.
AnsweredQoN 6067Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Department of Fire and Emergency Services’
planned mechanical fuel reduction project in un-allocated Crown Land
surrounding the Wilga community in the Shire of Boyup Brook. Given that housing in Wilga has a Bushfire Attack Level
rating of 40, and that the planned work has the potential to substantially
reduce fire risk to the community through fuel load reduction, and I ask: (a) Will this Government commit to progressing the Wilga Mechanical Fuel Reduction project as a matter of urgency in preparation for the next fire season (2020/21): (i) If yes, when will work commence; and (ii) If no, what actions are planned to reduce the risk of out of control bushfires in the community of Wilga?
planned mechanical fuel reduction project in un-allocated Crown Land
surrounding the Wilga community in the Shire of Boyup Brook. Given that housing in Wilga has a Bushfire Attack Level
rating of 40, and that the planned work has the potential to substantially
reduce fire risk to the community through fuel load reduction, and I ask: (a) Will this Government commit to progressing the Wilga Mechanical Fuel Reduction project as a matter of urgency in preparation for the next fire season (2020/21): (i) If yes, when will work commence; and (ii) If no, what actions are planned to reduce the risk of out of control bushfires in the community of Wilga?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
15 April 2020
Responded by
Minister for Emergency Services; Corrective Services
Response time
3 days
(a)(i –ii) The McGowan State Government has invested unprecedented funding to conduct bushfire mitigation activities to treat bushfire risk, including on Unallocated Crown Land. Mechanical fuel reduction is one method to reduce fuel loads and mitigate bushfire risk. DFES conducts a comprehensive assessment prior to each mitigation activity to ensure that it is the most effective treatment method for the conditions and environment. Mechanical fuel reduction is not always the most suitable mitigation treatment. This includes reviewing vegetation type, flora and fauna, fuel load, soil dryness and weather conditions. DFES’ Rural Fire Division and the Bushfire Centre of Excellence will harness lessons learned from academia, science and traditional aboriginal land practices to improve bushfire management across the State to better protect the community from the threat of bushfire.
The following bushfire risk mitigation works have been completed within and adjacent to the Wilga townsite since July 2019:
DFES bushfire mitigation on unallocated Crown Land / un-managed Reserve
Local Government works funded under the Mitigation Activity Fund (MAF)
The following planned burns are programmed to be undertaken in 2020/2021
The following bushfire risk mitigation works have been completed within and adjacent to the Wilga townsite since July 2019:
DFES bushfire mitigation on unallocated Crown Land / un-managed Reserve
Local Government works funded under the Mitigation Activity Fund (MAF)
The following planned burns are programmed to be undertaken in 2020/2021
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.