❓ A parliamentary question regarding the cost and environmental impact of an experimental fire at Benger Nature Reserve, and the subsequent bushfire suppression. The response provides some cost figures and assesses the impact on the threatened Australasian Bittern.
AnsweredQoN 5754Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the recent experimental fire that was carried out by the Department at the 360 hectare Benger Nature Reserve, near Harvey, on 14 April 2011:
(a) what was the total cost to the Government for this experimental burn;
(b) what will be the total cost to Government for reparation works and ongoing monitoring of the reserve;
(c) can the Minister estimate a total cost to Government for the destruction of a threatened species ecosystem; and
(i) if yes, please detail; and
(ii) if not, why not; and
(d) how long will it take to repair the threatened species ecosystems?
(a) what was the total cost to the Government for this experimental burn;
(b) what will be the total cost to Government for reparation works and ongoing monitoring of the reserve;
(c) can the Minister estimate a total cost to Government for the destruction of a threatened species ecosystem; and
(i) if yes, please detail; and
(ii) if not, why not; and
(d) how long will it take to repair the threatened species ecosystems?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
9 August 2011
Responded by
Minister for Environment
Response time
54 days
(a) DEC does not specifically cost individual prescribed burns and is therefore unable to provide a cost for the burn at Benger Swamp Nature Reserve. Suppression of the bushfire on 16 April 2011 cost $106,195.
(b) This is still to be determined, however the cost of replacing fencing destroyed in the fire will be in the order of $100,000.
(c) No
(i) Not applicable
(ii) The Australasian Bittern is the only threatened species known to occur in the reserve. Its habitat is unlikely to have been significantly affected by the fire.
(d) Though historically the bittern's preferred habitat would have been baumea sedgelands, the Typha-dominated closed sedgelands at Benger provide similar habitat. DEC is confident that the Typha will regenerate in time for the 2011 spring breeding season. The impact of the fire on the bittern population is expected to be minimal.
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(b) This is still to be determined, however the cost of replacing fencing destroyed in the fire will be in the order of $100,000.
(c) No
(i) Not applicable
(ii) The Australasian Bittern is the only threatened species known to occur in the reserve. Its habitat is unlikely to have been significantly affected by the fire.
(d) Though historically the bittern's preferred habitat would have been baumea sedgelands, the Typha-dominated closed sedgelands at Benger provide similar habitat. DEC is confident that the Typha will regenerate in time for the 2011 spring breeding season. The impact of the fire on the bittern population is expected to be minimal.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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