A parliamentary question seeks details on controlled burn targets in metropolitan areas from 2005-2010. The Minister's response indicates that the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) does not set specific targets for metropolitan areas, but rather focuses on a broader South West target.

AnsweredQoN 38Legislative Council
Asked
16 February 2011
Portfolio
Environment

QuestionView source ↗

CONTROLLED BURNS — METROPOLITAN AREAS
(1) How are the Department of Environment and Conservation targets for controlled burns in the metropolitan area established? (2) What were these targets for each year between 2005 and 2010? (3) In how many years were these targets reached? (4) Where these targets were not reached, by how much did they fall short? (5) What methods, other than prescribed burning, does DEC use to reduce fuel loads in the areas of the state vulnerable to bushfires? Hon HELEN MORTON

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)–(5) DEC does not break the prescribed burning target of 200 000 hectares for the south west into targets for individual regions or areas. This recognises the flexibility that is required to account for variable seasonal weather conditions and other circumstances. DEC undertakes mowing, slashing and chaining to reduce fuels in suitable vegetation types. However, these techniques are not suitable to broadscale use or to application in forested areas in the south west.
(2) What were these targets for each year between 2005 and 2010? (3) In how many years were these targets reached? (4) Where these targets were not reached, by how much did they fall short? (5) What methods, other than prescribed burning, does DEC use to reduce fuel loads in the areas of the state vulnerable to bushfires? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)–(5) DEC does not break the prescribed burning target of 200 000 hectares for the south west into targets for individual regions or areas. This recognises the flexibility that is required to account for variable seasonal weather conditions and other circumstances. DEC undertakes mowing, slashing and chaining to reduce fuels in suitable vegetation types. However, these techniques are not suitable to broadscale use or to application in forested areas in the south west.
(3) In how many years were these targets reached? (4) Where these targets were not reached, by how much did they fall short? (5) What methods, other than prescribed burning, does DEC use to reduce fuel loads in the areas of the state vulnerable to bushfires? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)–(5) DEC does not break the prescribed burning target of 200 000 hectares for the south west into targets for individual regions or areas. This recognises the flexibility that is required to account for variable seasonal weather conditions and other circumstances. DEC undertakes mowing, slashing and chaining to reduce fuels in suitable vegetation types. However, these techniques are not suitable to broadscale use or to application in forested areas in the south west.
(4) Where these targets were not reached, by how much did they fall short? (5) What methods, other than prescribed burning, does DEC use to reduce fuel loads in the areas of the state vulnerable to bushfires? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)–(5) DEC does not break the prescribed burning target of 200 000 hectares for the south west into targets for individual regions or areas. This recognises the flexibility that is required to account for variable seasonal weather conditions and other circumstances. DEC undertakes mowing, slashing and chaining to reduce fuels in suitable vegetation types. However, these techniques are not suitable to broadscale use or to application in forested areas in the south west.
(5) What methods, other than prescribed burning, does DEC use to reduce fuel loads in the areas of the state vulnerable to bushfires? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)–(5) DEC does not break the prescribed burning target of 200 000 hectares for the south west into targets for individual regions or areas. This recognises the flexibility that is required to account for variable seasonal weather conditions and other circumstances. DEC undertakes mowing, slashing and chaining to reduce fuels in suitable vegetation types. However, these techniques are not suitable to broadscale use or to application in forested areas in the south west.
Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)–(5) DEC does not break the prescribed burning target of 200 000 hectares for the south west into targets for individual regions or areas. This recognises the flexibility that is required to account for variable seasonal weather conditions and other circumstances. DEC undertakes mowing, slashing and chaining to reduce fuels in suitable vegetation types. However, these techniques are not suitable to broadscale use or to application in forested areas in the south west.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)–(5) DEC does not break the prescribed burning target of 200 000 hectares for the south west into targets for individual regions or areas. This recognises the flexibility that is required to account for variable seasonal weather conditions and other circumstances. DEC undertakes mowing, slashing and chaining to reduce fuels in suitable vegetation types. However, these techniques are not suitable to broadscale use or to application in forested areas in the south west.
(1)–(5) DEC does not break the prescribed burning target of 200 000 hectares for the south west into targets for individual regions or areas. This recognises the flexibility that is required to account for variable seasonal weather conditions and other circumstances. DEC undertakes mowing, slashing and chaining to reduce fuels in suitable vegetation types. However, these techniques are not suitable to broadscale use or to application in forested areas in the south west.

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