❓ Hon James Hayward questions the Minister for Emergency Services about the impact of ending native forest logging on bushfire risk, particularly concerning regrowth forests. The Minister assures that bushfire risk management remains a priority through prescribed burning and other strategies.
AnsweredQoN 760Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
NATIVE FOREST —
LOGGING
760. Hon JAMES HAYWARD to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Emergency Services:
I refer to the McGowan government's
decision to end all native forest logging.
(1) Has the minister been briefed on the impact that
the end to native forestry in WA will have on bushfire risk?
(2) If yes to
(1), will the minister table advice received about impacts on the bushfire risk
if regrowth in native forests is not harvested?
(3) Does the minister have any
concerns regarding bushfire risk in regrowth native forests?
(4) If yes to
(3), what options or activities are available to manage the bushfire risk in
regrowth native forests?
LOGGING
760. Hon JAMES HAYWARD to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Emergency Services:
I refer to the McGowan government's
decision to end all native forest logging.
(1) Has the minister been briefed on the impact that
the end to native forestry in WA will have on bushfire risk?
(2) If yes to
(1), will the minister table advice received about impacts on the bushfire risk
if regrowth in native forests is not harvested?
(3) Does the minister have any
concerns regarding bushfire risk in regrowth native forests?
(4) If yes to
(3), what options or activities are available to manage the bushfire risk in
regrowth native forests?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1)–(2) Not applicable.
(3)–(4) The
state government is committed to treating bushfire risk and continues to
support prescribed burning in our south west native forests as the primary fuel
reduction strategy to protect communities and the environment from the
devastating impacts of large-scale, high-intensity bushfires. The Department of
Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions is responsible for fire management
and mitigation in public forests within the south west. The activities
undertaken to manage bushfire risk in regrowth native forests vary depending on
the dominant species and stage of development. In general terms, such areas may
be subject to fuel reduction via planned
burning or ecological thinning to enhance the development of overstorey canopy. The maintenance of fire access tracks in
regrowth forests also facilitates land management activities and
bushfire response.
The current Forest management plan
2014–2023 provides for active forest management through fuel
reduction, prescribed burning and maintenance of an appropriately skilled and
resourced fire suppression capability. I am advised by the Minister for
Environment that active management of forest fuels within the south west will continue to be a priority as
part of the development of the next forest management plan . Prescribed burning undertaken over the past 60
years in south west Western Australia has demonstrated the effectiveness of fire as a land management tool in
mitigating the size and impacts of large-scale, high-intensity bushfires when applied consistently and at an
appropriate scale across the landscape.
some notice of the question.
(1)–(2) Not applicable.
(3)–(4) The
state government is committed to treating bushfire risk and continues to
support prescribed burning in our south west native forests as the primary fuel
reduction strategy to protect communities and the environment from the
devastating impacts of large-scale, high-intensity bushfires. The Department of
Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions is responsible for fire management
and mitigation in public forests within the south west. The activities
undertaken to manage bushfire risk in regrowth native forests vary depending on
the dominant species and stage of development. In general terms, such areas may
be subject to fuel reduction via planned
burning or ecological thinning to enhance the development of overstorey canopy. The maintenance of fire access tracks in
regrowth forests also facilitates land management activities and
bushfire response.
The current Forest management plan
2014–2023 provides for active forest management through fuel
reduction, prescribed burning and maintenance of an appropriately skilled and
resourced fire suppression capability. I am advised by the Minister for
Environment that active management of forest fuels within the south west will continue to be a priority as
part of the development of the next forest management plan . Prescribed burning undertaken over the past 60
years in south west Western Australia has demonstrated the effectiveness of fire as a land management tool in
mitigating the size and impacts of large-scale, high-intensity bushfires when applied consistently and at an
appropriate scale across the landscape.
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