PRESCRIBED
BURNING — SOUTH WEST
992. Hon DIANE EVERS to the Minister for Environment:
I refer to an article in the Augusta–Margaret
River Times of 31 July that stated —
The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation
and Attractions previously said it aims to have 45 per cent of fuels in South
West forests burnt within the last six years or less rather than specific
quotas.
(1) Was the
statement true?
(2) Does the
statement imply that the aim of DBCA's Parks and Wildlife Service to
prescribe burn at least 200 000 hectares each financial year in WA's
south west forest is no longer the intention?
(3) Does this
imply that when naturally occurring fires burn throughout parts of the south
west forest, those areas would contribute to
the aim of having 45 per cent of the landscape with a fuel age of six years or
less?
Hon SUE
ELLERY replied:
On behalf of the Minister for
Environment, I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) Yes.
(2) To achieve
the 45 per cent target, the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and
Attractions aims to conduct prescribed burning over at least 200 000 hectares
per annum.
(3) Yes.
Naturally occurring fires contribute to the aim of having 45 per cent of the
landscape with a fuel age of six years or less.