Question On Notice No. 6067 asked in the Legislative Assembly on 31 March 2020 by Mr D.T. Redman
Question Directed to the: Minister for Emergency Services; Corrective Services
Parliament: 40 Session: 1
Question
I refer to the Department of Fire and Emergency Services’
planned mechanical fuel reduction project in un-allocated Crown Land
surrounding the Wilga community in the Shire of Boyup Brook. Given that housing in Wilga has a Bushfire Attack Level
rating of 40, and that the planned work has the potential to substantially
reduce fire risk to the community through fuel load reduction, and I ask:
(a) Will this Government commit to progressing the Wilga Mechanical Fuel Reduction project as a matter of urgency in preparation for the next fire season (2020/21):
(i) If yes, when will work commence; and
(ii) If no, what actions are planned to reduce the risk of out of control bushfires in the community of Wilga?
Answered on 15 April 2020
(a)(i –ii) The McGowan State Government has invested unprecedented funding to conduct bushfire mitigation activities to treat bushfire risk, including on Unallocated Crown Land. Mechanical fuel reduction is one method to reduce fuel loads and mitigate bushfire risk. DFES conducts a comprehensive assessment prior to each mitigation activity to ensure that it is the most effective treatment method for the conditions and environment. Mechanical fuel reduction is not always the most suitable mitigation treatment. This includes reviewing vegetation type, flora and fauna, fuel load, soil dryness and weather conditions. DFES’ Rural Fire Division and the Bushfire Centre of Excellence will harness lessons learned from academia, science and traditional aboriginal land practices to improve bushfire management across the State to better protect the community from the threat of bushfire.
The following bushfire risk mitigation works have been completed within and adjacent to the Wilga townsite since July 2019:
DFES bushfire mitigation on unallocated Crown Land / un-managed Reserve
- 19ha planned burning1 km west of the Wilga townsite.
- 5 ha planned burning 300 m north of the Wilga townsite.
- 5 ha planned burning within the Wilga townsite.
- 1 ha parkland clearing behind houses south of Moore Rd.
- 4.5 ha vegetation slashing around houses north of Moore Rd.
- 2 ha vegetation slashing 150 m to the west of Wilga townsite.
- 2.1 km of firebreaks upgraded in the area surrounding the Wilga townsite.
Local Government works funded under the Mitigation Activity Fund (MAF)
- 7.6 ha parkland clearing and mulching around Wilga townsite.
- 3 ha planned burning south of Moore Rd.
The following planned burns are programmed to be undertaken in 2020/2021
- 13 ha west of Wilga townsite.
- 3 ha south southwest of Wilga townsite.
- 5 ha east of Wilga townsite.