BUSHFIRE PRESCRIBED BURNING

The Hon. S.W. KEY (Ashford) (16:39): My question is directed to the Minister for Environment and Conservation. Could the minister advise the house of what measures are being taken by the government as part of our state bushfire management strategy?

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for the River Murray, Minister for Water) (16:39): I thank the honourable member for her very, very important question. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is now commencing the spring season of the prescribed burning program across all lands under my care and control as the Minister for Environment and Conservation under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972, the Wilderness Protection Act 1992 and the Crown Land Management Act 2009. This will be followed by further burns in autumn next year. Subject to suitable weather conditions, more than 19,600 hectares of public land is expected to be burnt by undertaking 125 burns through a coordinated operation between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, SA Water and ForestrySA with support from the South Australian Country Fire Service.

Most members will understand that prescribed burning is a critical component of bushfire management. Reducing fuel loads through prescribed burning is very important because it can make it easier to control a bushfire, it can help to prevent a bushfire from spreading to residential areas and ultimately it can save lives and property.

This program of prescribed burns will focus on high-risk areas, including the Mount Lofty Ranges (where 31 burns are planned, covering approximately 680 hectares), as well as the Lower Eyre Peninsula, the Southern Flinders Ranges, the South-East and Kangaroo Island; and, of course, it is important to focus on these high-risk areas.

Earlier this year the government allocated $23.1 million in additional funding over the next four years to help protect our state against the ongoing risk of bushfire. This significant funding boost will allow DENR to employ an additional 62 people to assist in the bushfire management strategy, which includes 15 ongoing and 47 seasonal firefighters, as well as ongoing funding of more than $1 million per year to buy firefighting equipment such as appliances and bulk water carriers.

By 2014-15 the state government will be providing an additional $7.3 million per year indexed for our important long-term program of prescribed burning. This reflects the government's commitment to increasing prescribed burns on public land following a key recommendation arising from the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission.

The reduction of fuel loads through prescribed burning is critical to South Australia's bushfire preparedness measures ahead of our typically hot and dry summers. Members might like to know that, depending on the weather conditions being suitable today, DENR will be undertaking a prescribed burn in the Belair National Park this afternoon. I do understand that it did and is currently taking place. This, indeed, is an important program, and I trust that all members recognise it as such given the protection it affords to South Australians right across our state.

I think it is timely to remind all South Australians that being bushfire ready is a shared responsibility and that all landholders must ensure that they are bushfire ready.