❓ A parliamentary question addresses concerns about wind erosion following the Esperance bushfires, inquiring about departmental expertise, advice, measures taken, and funding. The Minister acknowledges the concerns and outlines actions taken and planned.
AnsweredQoN 1328Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
ESPERANCE BUSHFIRES — WIND EROSION
1328. Hon SALLY TALBOT to the
Minister for Agriculture and Food:
(1) Is the
minister aware of concerns about the wind erosion implications for farmers
following the recent catastrophic bushfires in Esperance?
(2) How many
employees of the Department of Agriculture and Food have expertise in this
area, and of these how many work in the Esperance region?
(3) What is
their advice to the minister about managing wind erosion in areas affected by
the fires?
(4) What
measures has the minister already put in place?
(5) What
measures are planned and when will they be put in place?
(6) How much
money has been put aside to pay for these measures?
1328. Hon SALLY TALBOT to the
Minister for Agriculture and Food:
(1) Is the
minister aware of concerns about the wind erosion implications for farmers
following the recent catastrophic bushfires in Esperance?
(2) How many
employees of the Department of Agriculture and Food have expertise in this
area, and of these how many work in the Esperance region?
(3) What is
their advice to the minister about managing wind erosion in areas affected by
the fires?
(4) What
measures has the minister already put in place?
(5) What
measures are planned and when will they be put in place?
(6) How much
money has been put aside to pay for these measures?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question.
(1) Yes, I am.
(2) There are
15 staff in total across DAFWA who have expertise in the areas of soil
management, soil mapping and modelling. Four of these staff members are based
in Esperance.
(3) DAFWA has
an information package on its website about managing soil erosion following
fire. Key points are to remove livestock and prevent them from returning—they
can be put into a confinement feeding area, an unburnt paddock or agisted;
minimise vehicle traffic; to protect highly susceptible and valuable areas,
such as gateways, laneways, yards, surrounds of houses and sheds with binding
spray, claying, gravel, old hay or straw to give a full cover; to leave burnt
residue on roadsides, revegetation and bush areas, which will decrease the risk
of wind erosion; and if clearing is necessary, it can be left until after the
break of season.
(4) Measures
put in place include the post-fire wind erosion package on the DAFWA website.
Staff have created wind erosion hazard maps of the affected area. Esperance
staff are working with industry partners and commercial agronomists to advise
on best practice management of burnt paddocks. Exploration of hydro-mulching
and other mitigation techniques are being investigated for stabilisation of
high priority areas.
(5) The
Esperance office advises that overnight it rained over the fireground. DAFWA
experts advise that this will likely form a protective seal on the surface of
the majority of soil types in the affected area, which will reduce wind erosion
risk. Esperance staff will verify the formation of the surface seal when
conditions allow. DAFWA will continue to work with industry partners to ensure
that the wind erosion risk is minimised until ground cover can be established.
(6) Funding
requirements will be dependent upon the outcome of the wind erosion
investigations referred to in (4) and (5).
question.
(1) Yes, I am.
(2) There are
15 staff in total across DAFWA who have expertise in the areas of soil
management, soil mapping and modelling. Four of these staff members are based
in Esperance.
(3) DAFWA has
an information package on its website about managing soil erosion following
fire. Key points are to remove livestock and prevent them from returning—they
can be put into a confinement feeding area, an unburnt paddock or agisted;
minimise vehicle traffic; to protect highly susceptible and valuable areas,
such as gateways, laneways, yards, surrounds of houses and sheds with binding
spray, claying, gravel, old hay or straw to give a full cover; to leave burnt
residue on roadsides, revegetation and bush areas, which will decrease the risk
of wind erosion; and if clearing is necessary, it can be left until after the
break of season.
(4) Measures
put in place include the post-fire wind erosion package on the DAFWA website.
Staff have created wind erosion hazard maps of the affected area. Esperance
staff are working with industry partners and commercial agronomists to advise
on best practice management of burnt paddocks. Exploration of hydro-mulching
and other mitigation techniques are being investigated for stabilisation of
high priority areas.
(5) The
Esperance office advises that overnight it rained over the fireground. DAFWA
experts advise that this will likely form a protective seal on the surface of
the majority of soil types in the affected area, which will reduce wind erosion
risk. Esperance staff will verify the formation of the surface seal when
conditions allow. DAFWA will continue to work with industry partners to ensure
that the wind erosion risk is minimised until ground cover can be established.
(6) Funding
requirements will be dependent upon the outcome of the wind erosion
investigations referred to in (4) and (5).
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