BUSHFIRES — SOUTH WEST
785. Hon COLIN de GRUSSA to the Minister for Environment:
I
refer to the May and June 2019 fires in the Shires of Nannup, Donnybrook–Balingup
and Bridgetown–Greenbushes—incident numbers 423437 and
085-087—identified as being caused by plantation harvesting equipment.
(1) Are the
losses sustained from fires caused in this manner covered by the insurances of
the contractors or the relevant agency?
(2) Would the
Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Good Neighbour policy,
as listed on the DBCA website, apply under this circumstance?
(3) What is the status of this
policy?
(4) What actions
is the minister taking to assist those who have incurred losses due to fires
started in similar circumstances to these situations?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
The
fires of June 2019—BWD 085-087 in the Shires of Nannup, Donnybrook–Balingup
and Bridgetown–Greenbushes—were escapes from pine heap
debris burning and not the result of plantation harvesting equipment. This
incident is commonly known as the Jarrahwood bushfire. The pine heap debris
burning in Jarrahwood plantation was undertaken by DBCA, on behalf of the
Forest Products Commission, as part of its annual burn program.
Incident 423437 refers to the Lewana
bushfire, which occurred in February 2019 and is considered to be the result of
a Forest Products Commission contractor's plantation harvesting
equipment.
(1) I am advised
that DBCA insurances are not applicable in the instance of the BWD 085-087 pine
heap debris bushfire. The issue of contractor liability is unclear in relation
to incident 423437.
(2)–(3) DBCA's Good
Neighbour policy still applies; however, it does not supersede statutory
requirements.
(4) I am advised
that DBCA will liaise with the two affected landholders about the option of
undertaking some minor repairs to a standard similar to what was in place prior
to the fire impact. This is consistent with its Good Neighbour approach, acting
in good faith, and in accordance with statutory obligations.