❓ A WA parliamentary question regarding the reliability of Google Maps for bushfire evacuation routes in Mt Helena compared to the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) advice, questioning the Minister's reliance on Google Maps.
AnsweredQoN 95Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
PLANNING — BUSHFIRE MANAGEMENT — MT
HELENA
95. Hon COLIN de GRUSSA to the minister representing the
Minister for Emergency Services:
In the Department of Fire and
Emergency Services' submission to the Western Australian Planning
Commission regarding the proposed Mt Helena urban precinct—WAPC MRS
1277/57—DFES states that evacuation options are limited, traverse
extreme bushfire risk areas or are not available, making access and egress
options uncertain during a bushfire event. I refer to the comments made by the
minister in response to a question in the other place, in which he states —
I have been on Google maps. I have
taken the information from the minister. I have looked at the access and egress
for emergency vehicles.
(1) Does Google
maps have access to more information about the Mt Helena urban precinct than
the Department of Fire and Emergency Services had when preparing its
submission?
(2) Does Google
maps provide more accurate information than the Department of Fire and
Emergency Services about bushfire evacuation routes?
(3) Should Western
Australian residents rely on Google maps over the advice of the Department of
Fire and Emergency Services when being evacuated due to a bushfire or other
natural disaster?
HELENA
95. Hon COLIN de GRUSSA to the minister representing the
Minister for Emergency Services:
In the Department of Fire and
Emergency Services' submission to the Western Australian Planning
Commission regarding the proposed Mt Helena urban precinct—WAPC MRS
1277/57—DFES states that evacuation options are limited, traverse
extreme bushfire risk areas or are not available, making access and egress
options uncertain during a bushfire event. I refer to the comments made by the
minister in response to a question in the other place, in which he states —
I have been on Google maps. I have
taken the information from the minister. I have looked at the access and egress
for emergency vehicles.
(1) Does Google
maps have access to more information about the Mt Helena urban precinct than
the Department of Fire and Emergency Services had when preparing its
submission?
(2) Does Google
maps provide more accurate information than the Department of Fire and
Emergency Services about bushfire evacuation routes?
(3) Should Western
Australian residents rely on Google maps over the advice of the Department of
Fire and Emergency Services when being evacuated due to a bushfire or other
natural disaster?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1)–(3) No. The premise of the question is misleading when
presented out of context. The minister's remarks were part of a holistic
explanation of DFES's advisory role in the planning process as stated
in the answer. Please refer to Minister
Logan's response to questions without notice 50 and 51 asked on
Thursday, 14 February 2019.
some notice of the question.
(1)–(3) No. The premise of the question is misleading when
presented out of context. The minister's remarks were part of a holistic
explanation of DFES's advisory role in the planning process as stated
in the answer. Please refer to Minister
Logan's response to questions without notice 50 and 51 asked on
Thursday, 14 February 2019.
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