Dalgarup National Park—Burn
222. Hon Jess Beckerling to the Minister for the Environment:
I refer to the burn preparations in and around Dalgarup National Park, burn ID BWD086, where multiple mature marri trees have been cut down and left on the ground and the local environment group has been informed by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) that the action was a part of the agency's burn preparations.
(1) How many mature trees have been cut down as a part of the burn preparations?
(2) When was the practice of cutting down mature trees as a part of burn preparations introduced?
(3) How many further mature trees are planned to be cut down as a part of the burn preparations?
(4) Does DBCA engage cockatoo nesting experts to conduct habitat assessments of mature trees planned for removal?
(5) If yes to (4), how many of the trees to be cut down in BWD086 contain known or potential nesting hollows?
(6) If no to (4), why not?
Hon Matthew Swinbourn replied:
I thank the member for some notice of the question. I understand it is her first question. The questions she asked were not the same as the ones that were submitted. The member made reference to something in a question that was not part of my answer. In any event, I have an answer for the member.
(1)–(6) The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions undertakes a range of environmental, safety and risk assessments prior to conducting prescribed burns. Trees identified as hazardous present a significant safety risk to fire personnel and the public as they are adjacent to roads or thoroughfares and could become compromised during the prescribed burn and fall or drop limbs onto roads, potentially injuring fire personnel or members of the public, and blocking roads or escape routes. Falling trees and limbs can also be a primary source of fire escapes. The falling of large trees for safety and burn security reasons are assessed on a case-by-case basis and trees are only fallen as a last resort and left in situ as potential habitat. Trees containing hollows near burn boundaries are identified and wherever possible are protected as part of burn preparation to reduce the likelihood of them becoming hazardous.
