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.