❓ A parliamentary question seeks data on the authorised area of prescribed burns in WA from 2007-2014. The answer explains data collection challenges and provides seasonal data instead of annual figures.
AnsweredQoN 4057Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the "prescribed burn" program of the State Government and ask: (a) what was the authorised area of "prescribed burning" for each of the following years (the answer can be given by financial years if necessary): (i) 2007; (ii) 2008; (iii) 2009; (iv) 2010; (v) 2011; (vi) 2012; (vii) 2013; and (viii) 2014?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 June 2015
Responded by
Minister for Environment
Response time
42 days
Prior to 2015, the Department of Parks and Wildlife's prescribed burning program has been planned and approved on a seasonal rather than a full year basis. Due to carryovers between seasons, it is likely that a number of burns may be included for more than one season and/or in more than one year. In addition, the extension of the spring program into summer, especially in Warren Region, and of the autumn season into winter, especially in the Swan Region, means that seasonal programs do not fit neatly into either calendar or financial years.
Table 1 [See Tabled Paper No. #] therefore shows the total areas of the Department's approved prescribed burning program in its south-west forest regions by season for the years 2007 to 2014. For the reasons stated above, the autumn and spring seasonal programs cannot be added to provide an annual program. It should be noted that the Department plans and approves programs that are significantly greater than it expects to achieve in order to provide operational flexibility and make maximum use of safe burning opportunities.
Table 1 [See Tabled Paper No. #] therefore shows the total areas of the Department's approved prescribed burning program in its south-west forest regions by season for the years 2007 to 2014. For the reasons stated above, the autumn and spring seasonal programs cannot be added to provide an annual program. It should be noted that the Department plans and approves programs that are significantly greater than it expects to achieve in order to provide operational flexibility and make maximum use of safe burning opportunities.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.