Skip to main content
Home
  • The Legislative Assembly meets on 16/04/2024 (01:00 PM)
    Assembly sit 16/04/2024
  • The Legislative Council meets on 16/04/2024 (01:00 PM)
    Council sit 16/04/2024
  • The Public Administration meets on 08/04/2024 (10:00 AM)
    Committee meet 08/04/2024

Parliamentary Questions


Question On Notice No. 1110 asked in the Legislative Council on 11 April 2018 by Hon Dr Steve Thomas

Question Directed to the: Minister for Environment representing the Minister for Emergency Services
Parliament: 40 Session: 1


Question

(1) Who is responsible for fire management and ongoing maintenance and fire mitigation activities on unallocated crown land in Western Australia?
(2) What is the specific budget allocation to the fire management of unallocated crown land in Western Australia and from what department budget(s) is this funding sourced?
(3) What role do local governments in Western Australia undertake in the fire management of unallocated crown land and what funding mechanisms are provided to local governments from the State?

Answered on 12 June 2018

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) advises:

 

  1. DFES, on behalf of the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage (DPLH), undertakes fire risk management on unallocated crown land (UCL) and unmanaged reserves (UMR) within the metropolitan area, regional centres and town sites. The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS) manage bushfire risk on UCL and UMR outside of these areas under formal arrangements with DPLH.
  2. DFES receives funding from DPLH to undertake responsibilities outlined in question 1.

       (b) As part of the 2018-19 budget, $34.6 million has been allocated over the forward estimate period towards bushfire mitigation on crown land. The percentage of bushfire mitigation funding towards unallocated Crown land from this additional funding is yet to be determined. This additional funding will be administered by DFES. PWS will be able to provide advice on their arrangements with DPLH.

 3. Local governments (LG), in partnership with DFES under the Bushfire Risk Management Planning initiative, undertake tenure blind assessment of bushfire risk. DFES liaises with LG’s during the process of assessing and treating UCL/UMR, and where a LG has the equipment and resources to undertake the required treatment works, DFES will engage them as a contractor.

(b) Mitigation Activity Fund (MAF) funding is available to local governments with an Office of Bushfire Risk Management (OBRM) endorsed BRM Plan and can be utilised on Crown lands that are identified as having a high bushfire risk.