LOCAL GOVERNMENT —
PRESCRIBED BURNING — SOUTH WEST
777. Hon RICK MAZZA to the Leader of the House representing
the Minister for Local Government:
I was pleased to note that the 2016–17
annual report of the then Department of Parks and Wildlife stated that the 247 360
hectares of prescribed burns in 2016–17 were the largest area achieved
by the department in the south west forest regions in 30 years. Given that
current weather conditions are likely to result in a significant increase in
fuel loads and with reference to local government authorities in the south west
regions and the lands under their ownership or management, I ask the following.
(1) Do all LGAs
have fuel load reduction programs, such as slashing, prescribed burning or
other mitigation measures, within their bushfire strategies?
(2) If no to (1), which LGAs do not
have fuel load reduction programs?
(3) Of those that
have these programs, how many achieved increases in the number of hectares
subjected to fuel load reduction in 2016–17?
(4) How many LGAs recorded decreases in the number of
hectares subjected to fuel load reduction in 2016–17?
(5) What, if any,
sanctions are imposed on LGAs that do not achieve targeted prescribed burning
or other mitigation programs?
Hon SUE
ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
The answer from the Minister for
Local Government is that this is a matter for each individual local government
authority. However, it may well be, I do not know, that another minister is
responsible for getting these reports from LGAs in respect of their bushfire
strategy. I will see whether there is additional information, because it might
come from a different minister.