Country Fire Service, Cold Burns

In reply to Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) ((22 June 22).). (Estimates Committee B)

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS (Cheltenham—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services): I have been advised:

The South Australian Country Fire Service works with the Department for Environment and Water, which is the lead agency for prescribed burning in South Australia, to support the delivery of bushfire hazard reduction activities.

For the first time in 2022, Bushfire Management Committees (BMCs) are preparing bushfire risk reduction plans which will document works for 2022-2023 proposed by all agencies involved in the BMCs to reduce risk to assets identified in Bushfire Management Area Plans as being at very high and extreme risk from bushfire. These activities are not limited to but include prescribed burning. As such, the plans will include prescribed burns scheduled for 2022-2023.

The risk reduction plans will be drafted during July and August and following endorsement by the chief executives of member agencies undertaking the activities, will then be reviewed and endorsed by both the relevant BMC and the State Bushfire Coordination Committee (SBCC). The plans will then be published on the SBCC website later in the year.