NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE: MOUNT LOFTY RANGES FIRE MANAGEMENT

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (16:24): I move:

That the report of the committee on Prescribed Burning, Fire Management in the Mount Lofty Ranges, Fact-Finding Visit, 7 June 2013 be noted.

The Natural Resources Committee has maintained an interest in fire management in the wake of its 2009 inquiry into bushfires. This inquiry produced an interim report, tabled in November 2009, followed by a final report, tabled in July 2011. Since then the Natural Resources Committee has requested regular updates on bushfires and has undertaken a number of fact-finding visits.

A previous fact-finding visit to Mitcham Hills on 17 February 2012 with the member for Davenport considered areas of high fire risk. The committee prepared a report based on the evidence collected that day, which was tabled in September 2012. The committee received a further briefing at Parliament House from officers of the fire management branch on 12 April 2013, when committee members were invited to view a prescribed burn.

While conditions did not allow members to observe an actual burn, members were still able to visit the Black Hill Fire Operations Centre on 7 June 2013 and view sites both recently burnt and subject to future prescribed burns in and around Cleland Conservation Park. The aim of prescribed burning is to reduce fuel loads in parks, reserves and other public lands.

Members heard that in recent years the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources has been largely successful in reducing the incidence of large destructive fires by implementing a schedule of prescribed burns that build a mosaic of vegetation of differing age and density within a whole-of-landscape context. This mosaic reduces the chance of a fire spreading to neighbouring residential areas and farmland. Reduced fuel loads lower the intensity of a bushfire and also the likelihood of spot fires which are caused by embers igniting bark and thick understory vegetation. The mosaic pattern burns also benefit wildlife, stimulating new growth and producing a range of different habitats.

Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources officers responsible for preparing fire management plans for the state's eight NRM regions and implementing the prescribed burning program greatly impressed the committee with their knowledge and experience. It was acknowledged that even with appropriate safeguards, sometimes mistakes could be made and prescribed burning operations could go wrong. Some burns have clearly broken through control lines. However, it was clear that the majority of prescribed burns (97 per cent we were told) were successful in reducing bushfire risk and increasing biodiversity.

Members heard that some residents are opposed to prescribed burns because they consider the ecological and aesthetic impacts to be greater than the benefits of a reduced fire risk. The Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources has responded to such opposition through community engagement, the success of which was demonstrated to committee members at Crafers West, where initial opposition was extinguished once residents witnessed the benefits of a textbook low-intensity prescribed burn.

This burn cleaned up the country, left native vegetation intact, increased biodiversity and removed bark, weeds and excess fuel loads. More of these highly visible demonstrations seem certain to improve community acceptance of prescribed burning over time.

I acknowledge the valuable contribution of the committee members during the year. The Presiding Member, the Hon. Steph Key MP, and members, Mr Geoff Brock MP, Mrs Robyn Geraghty MP, Mr Lee Odenwalder MP, Mr Don Pegler MP, Mr Dan van Holst Pellekaan MP, the Hon. Robert Brokenshire MLC, the Hon. John Dawkins MLC, and the Hon. Gerry Kandelaars MLC have all worked well together, and I look forward to a continuation of this spirit of cooperation in the coming year. Finally, I would like to thank members of the parliamentary staff for their assistance. I commend this report to the council.

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (16:28): I rise to support the motion moved by the Hon. Mr Wortley and commend him for the words he has just delivered to this council. I will be very brief. The Natural Resources Committee, I think, has for some period of years shown a consistent interest in, and concern for, issues relating to bushfires across the state, particularly in the Mount Lofty Ranges. The committee continues to pursue those issues in a range of ways.

Obviously, our concern about these issues has been replicated in our continuing support for the establishment of a natural disasters committee. Very recently this council supported my bill without dissent before sending it down to the House of Assembly.

The Natural Resources Committee, I think, has benefited from a number of site visits. As a member of various committees over a number of years, I think site visits are always valuable in determining the position. You can get evidence, you can see maps, you can have a look at things on the internet, but seeing is believing and the committee has been prepared to do a lot of that work. With those few words, I support the motion.

Motion carried.