A parliamentary question regarding a fire at West Cape Howe National Park, alleging mismanagement by the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) and a refused offer of assistance. The Minister requests more time to respond.

AnsweredQoN 922Legislative Council
Asked
11 December 2001
Portfolio
Environment and Heritage

QuestionView source ↗

WEST CAPE HOWE NATIONAL PARK, FIRE
I refer to a fire at West Cape Howe National Park. (1) Can the minister confirm that at 7.00 pm on Monday, 5 November 2001, a small arson-lit fire was surrounded by a fire to existing tracks, lit by the Department of Conservation and Land Management? (2) Can the minister confirm that at 7.30 am on Tuesday, 6 November, Frontline Fire Fighting offered CALM the use of a special firefighter capable of traversing the coastal hills and extinguishing the still small fire? (3) Can the minister confirm that this offer was refused? (4) Can the minister confirm that by 9.00 am that morning, the fire that had been enlarged by CALM was further significantly expanded due to strong winds, and developed into a fire that burnt for four weeks? (5) Does the minister agree that it would have been preferable to use the all-terrain equipment? (6) Why was the offer of equipment refused? (7) Will the minister conduct an inquiry into CALM’s failure to protect the West Cape Howe National Park? Hon TOM STEPHENS

AnswerView source ↗

The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has provided me with the following reply - In order to provide an adequate response to this question, some time will be required to obtain the relevant information. I ask for the question to be put on notice and will provide a response to it as soon as possible.
(1) Can the minister confirm that at 7.00 pm on Monday, 5 November 2001, a small arson-lit fire was surrounded by a fire to existing tracks, lit by the Department of Conservation and Land Management? (2) Can the minister confirm that at 7.30 am on Tuesday, 6 November, Frontline Fire Fighting offered CALM the use of a special firefighter capable of traversing the coastal hills and extinguishing the still small fire? (3) Can the minister confirm that this offer was refused? (4) Can the minister confirm that by 9.00 am that morning, the fire that had been enlarged by CALM was further significantly expanded due to strong winds, and developed into a fire that burnt for four weeks? (5) Does the minister agree that it would have been preferable to use the all-terrain equipment? (6) Why was the offer of equipment refused? (7) Will the minister conduct an inquiry into CALM’s failure to protect the West Cape Howe National Park? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has provided me with the following reply - In order to provide an adequate response to this question, some time will be required to obtain the relevant information. I ask for the question to be put on notice and will provide a response to it as soon as possible.
(2) Can the minister confirm that at 7.30 am on Tuesday, 6 November, Frontline Fire Fighting offered CALM the use of a special firefighter capable of traversing the coastal hills and extinguishing the still small fire? (3) Can the minister confirm that this offer was refused? (4) Can the minister confirm that by 9.00 am that morning, the fire that had been enlarged by CALM was further significantly expanded due to strong winds, and developed into a fire that burnt for four weeks? (5) Does the minister agree that it would have been preferable to use the all-terrain equipment? (6) Why was the offer of equipment refused? (7) Will the minister conduct an inquiry into CALM’s failure to protect the West Cape Howe National Park? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has provided me with the following reply - In order to provide an adequate response to this question, some time will be required to obtain the relevant information. I ask for the question to be put on notice and will provide a response to it as soon as possible.
(3) Can the minister confirm that this offer was refused? (4) Can the minister confirm that by 9.00 am that morning, the fire that had been enlarged by CALM was further significantly expanded due to strong winds, and developed into a fire that burnt for four weeks? (5) Does the minister agree that it would have been preferable to use the all-terrain equipment? (6) Why was the offer of equipment refused? (7) Will the minister conduct an inquiry into CALM’s failure to protect the West Cape Howe National Park? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has provided me with the following reply - In order to provide an adequate response to this question, some time will be required to obtain the relevant information. I ask for the question to be put on notice and will provide a response to it as soon as possible.
(4) Can the minister confirm that by 9.00 am that morning, the fire that had been enlarged by CALM was further significantly expanded due to strong winds, and developed into a fire that burnt for four weeks? (5) Does the minister agree that it would have been preferable to use the all-terrain equipment? (6) Why was the offer of equipment refused? (7) Will the minister conduct an inquiry into CALM’s failure to protect the West Cape Howe National Park? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has provided me with the following reply - In order to provide an adequate response to this question, some time will be required to obtain the relevant information. I ask for the question to be put on notice and will provide a response to it as soon as possible.
(5) Does the minister agree that it would have been preferable to use the all-terrain equipment? (6) Why was the offer of equipment refused? (7) Will the minister conduct an inquiry into CALM’s failure to protect the West Cape Howe National Park? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has provided me with the following reply - In order to provide an adequate response to this question, some time will be required to obtain the relevant information. I ask for the question to be put on notice and will provide a response to it as soon as possible.
(6) Why was the offer of equipment refused? (7) Will the minister conduct an inquiry into CALM’s failure to protect the West Cape Howe National Park? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has provided me with the following reply - In order to provide an adequate response to this question, some time will be required to obtain the relevant information. I ask for the question to be put on notice and will provide a response to it as soon as possible.
(7) Will the minister conduct an inquiry into CALM’s failure to protect the West Cape Howe National Park? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has provided me with the following reply - In order to provide an adequate response to this question, some time will be required to obtain the relevant information. I ask for the question to be put on notice and will provide a response to it as soon as possible.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has provided me with the following reply - In order to provide an adequate response to this question, some time will be required to obtain the relevant information. I ask for the question to be put on notice and will provide a response to it as soon as possible.
The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has provided me with the following reply - In order to provide an adequate response to this question, some time will be required to obtain the relevant information. I ask for the question to be put on notice and will provide a response to it as soon as possible.

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