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Parliamentary Questions


Question On Notice No. 1017 asked in the Legislative Council on 13 October 2022 by Hon Martin Aldridge

Question Directed to the: Minister for Emergency Services representing the Minister for Environment
Parliament: 41 Session: 1
Tabled Paper No: 1818- View tabled paper


Question

I refer to the implementation of the Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS) on 1 September 2022, and I ask:
(a) please identify and table any relevant Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions policies that reference the rating system;
(b) please identify the threshold and related policies for National Park closures during periods of significant fire risk;
(c) please table any document identified in (b); and
(d) please summarise the policy which existed prior to 1 September 2022 and how this was amended to reflect the new AFDRS?

Answered on 15 November 2022

(a)          Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), Regional and Fire Management Services - Divisional Procedure No. 4 Closure of Parks and Recreation Sites October 2022.  See tabled paper no #.

(b)          The threshold for consideration of park closures due to fire danger ratings, is a Fire Danger Rating (FDR) of High and above.

(c)          Refer to (a).

(d)          Prior to 1 September 2022, the threshold for consideration of park closures was an FDR of Very High and above. This was outlined in the previous version of Divisional Procedure 4.

A working group consisting of DBCA fire management and parks and visitor services staff from across the south-west, considered the FDR changes and determined that the new threshold would become an FDR of High. DBCA regions and districts then reviewed the current closures for their area and adjusted where required.

Park closures due to FDR ratings will be monitored by DBCA over the 2022-23 summer period to see whether the changes impact parks in terms of the number of, or frequency of, park closures due to change associated with the Australian Fire Danger Rating System. Post summer 2022-23, DBCA will review the park closure threshold and determine whether any further changes are required prior to 2023-24.