❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses bushfire prevention on crown land, including firebreaks, access for fire authorities, and controlled burning programs. The Minister's response details the government's prescribed burning program and its achievements.
AnsweredQoN 693Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
BUSHFIRES — PRESCRIBED BURNING PROGRAM —
CROWN LAND
693. Hon NIGEL HALLETT to the minister
representing the Minister for Environment:
(1) What steps
has the government taken to allow landholders to prepare and maintain permanent
firebreaks on crown land bordering farming properties?
(2) When does the
minister intend to grant powers for land management agencies, fire authorities
and bushfire volunteers to enter crown land for the purpose of extinguishing fires
without fear of prosecution?
(3) What immediate plans are there
to increase the number of controlled burns on crown land?
CROWN LAND
693. Hon NIGEL HALLETT to the minister
representing the Minister for Environment:
(1) What steps
has the government taken to allow landholders to prepare and maintain permanent
firebreaks on crown land bordering farming properties?
(2) When does the
minister intend to grant powers for land management agencies, fire authorities
and bushfire volunteers to enter crown land for the purpose of extinguishing fires
without fear of prosecution?
(3) What immediate plans are there
to increase the number of controlled burns on crown land?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice
of this question.
(1)–(2) These questions
should be directed to the Minister for Emergency Services.
(3) The
Department of Parks and Wildlife's enhanced prescribed burning program
was established following the O'Sullivan and Lower Hotham bushfires in
January 2015. It is a four-year, $20 million investment that began in 2015–16,
funded through the royalties for regions program, with the aim of enhancing
protection of south west communities from bushfire. The enhanced prescribed
burning program has been integral to the department's achievement of
154 149 hectares for 2015–16. The nominal annual 200 000 hectare target
may well have been achieved but for early and unexpected autumn rainfall in
2016, which significantly reduced burning opportunities. As a result, more than
40 000 hectares of prescribed burning planned for May 2016 has now been
postponed until spring 2016. Despite these prohibitive weather conditions, the
associated preparatory works for these prescribed burns and others planned for
2016–17 have resulted in the completion of more than 720 kilometres of
burn boundary preparation and burn security works. This means that the
department is well prepared for the 2016–17 prescribed burning program.
of this question.
(1)–(2) These questions
should be directed to the Minister for Emergency Services.
(3) The
Department of Parks and Wildlife's enhanced prescribed burning program
was established following the O'Sullivan and Lower Hotham bushfires in
January 2015. It is a four-year, $20 million investment that began in 2015–16,
funded through the royalties for regions program, with the aim of enhancing
protection of south west communities from bushfire. The enhanced prescribed
burning program has been integral to the department's achievement of
154 149 hectares for 2015–16. The nominal annual 200 000 hectare target
may well have been achieved but for early and unexpected autumn rainfall in
2016, which significantly reduced burning opportunities. As a result, more than
40 000 hectares of prescribed burning planned for May 2016 has now been
postponed until spring 2016. Despite these prohibitive weather conditions, the
associated preparatory works for these prescribed burns and others planned for
2016–17 have resulted in the completion of more than 720 kilometres of
burn boundary preparation and burn security works. This means that the
department is well prepared for the 2016–17 prescribed burning program.
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