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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 1144 asked in the Legislative Council on 21 October 2020 by Hon Rick Mazza

Parliament: 40 Session: 1

PRESCRIBED BURNING — SOUTH WEST

1144. Hon RICK MAZZA to the Minister for Environment:

With summer approaching and the bushfire season imminent, can the minister advise the following.

(1) What is the total number of hectares that have been prescribed burned in the south west for the year ending 30 June 2020?

(2) What is the prescribed burning target for the south west for the year ending 30 June 2021?

(3) What is the total number of Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions staff who will be available for bushfire suppression this season?

Hon STEPHEN DAWSON replied:

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question.

(1) The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions achieved a total of 132 940 hectares of prescribed burning across its three south west forest regions for the financial year ending 30 June 2020. Despite some limitations in 2019–20, including drier than usual spring conditions, resource commitments to large bushfire events in summer and COVID-19 restrictions in autumn, 49.5 per cent of the landscape had a fuel age of less than six years at 30 June 2020.

(2) DBCA aims to maintain 45 per cent of the forested area across its three south west forest regions at a fuel age of less than six years since last burnt. Depending on the area affected by bushfire, this equates to achieving approximately 200 000 hectares per financial year across that area.

(3) DBCA has approximately 920 staff available for bushfire suppression for the coming bushfire season. This figure includes frontline fighters, fire management staff and support staff who participate in fire management activities in addition to their core role.