Hon Diane Evers asks about the cause and cost allocation of a fire in the Lewana plantation near Nannup. The Minister's response indicates an ongoing investigation and outlines cost responsibilities for firefighting, salvage, and timber loss.

AnsweredQoN 317Legislative Council
Asked
4 April 2019
Portfolio
Forestry

QuestionView source ↗

FORESTRY — LEWANA
PLANTATION — FIRE
317. Hon DIANE EVERS to the minister representing the
Minister for Forestry:
I refer to the recent fire in the
Lewana plantation near Nannup which affected 3 336 hectares, including 1 700 hectares
of Forest Products Commission pine.
(1) What caused
the fire?
(2) Who will bear
the costs of —
(a) fighting the
fire; and
(b) the state's
lost timber supply?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for the
question. The Minister for Forestry has provided the following information.
(1) The cause of
the Lewana plantation fire is currently under investigation by the Department
of Fire and Emergency Services' fire investigation unit.
(2) (a) Subject
to the release and the findings in the fire investigation report, the Forest
Products Commission will cover the costs of
the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions' firefighting effort, estimated at 80 per cent of the government firefighting
effort. The Department of Fire and Emergency Services will cover the balance.
Private timber industry support was also utilised and will cover their own
costs.
(b) The Forest Products Commission will cover the cost
of salvage and replanting of the fire-affected areas. There will be cost
recovery for a portion of the fire-affected material where the market exists.
Fire salvage efforts will be concentrated on recovering high-value timber
products in the first instance. The loss of timber assets will be borne by the
Forest Products Commission.

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