Central Eyre Peninsula Fire Management Plan

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (16:17): My question is to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation. Can the minister inform the chamber about the recently released Central Eyre Peninsula fire management plan and advise how this plan will help protect the area from potential bushfire risks?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change) (16:17): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. It is a particularly important question at this time of year, with our state being affected by bushfires, and the bushfire season is not yet over. Bushfires have the potential to have significant impacts on the lives and property of local communities. Whilst the weather we are experiencing at the moment might have people thinking that the bushfire season is over, it is not yet, and until we have some sustained rain events across the state we need to be ever vigilant.

We all saw the impact of the Sampson Flat bushfire that we faced in January this year, and recently had cause to remember the Black Tuesday bushfire on Eyre Peninsula, which just passed its tenth anniversary. Each time we face such events we learn more about the importance of fire preparedness and fire management. The Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources plays an important role in fire management, including drawing up and consulting on fire management plans for all fire-prone reserves in the protected area network of South Australia.

Fire management plans are a means of addressing the risk posed by bushfires to life and property, whilst conserving the natural and cultural heritage of the land. As part of this important work, the Central Eyre Peninsula fire management plan 2014 to 2024 has recently been released. This plan was developed by the DEWNR fire management unit, with the involvement of regional Country Fire Service officers, local councils and local landholders.

The planning process commenced in 2011. The plan was released for public consultation over a six-week period ending in January 2014, with feedback included in the final draft where appropriate. The Central Eyre Peninsula fire management plan covers over 216 hectares of DEWNR managed land, including 23 reserves in the Central Eyre Peninsula, and also covers selected crown land and participating heritage agreements.

Private heritage agreement owners who have previously advised an interest in adopting the plan for their land will be sent formal invitations, and current plans for private heritage agreement areas will remain current for 10 years. However, it is the responsibility of the landholder to undertake any proposed works on their land in relation to bushfire management.

The Central Eyre Peninsula includes large connected areas of remnant native vegetation in the area where historically there has been widespread clearing for agricultural purposes. For this reason, the area was identified as a priority for fire management planning due to the potential for bushfires to start and build in the large connected areas of native vegetation.

There is also the danger that bushfires may impact on grazing and cropping land and threaten species, of course, in ecological communities. The plan recommends numerous strategies to reduce the risk of bushfires, including fuel reduction, upgrading fire access tracks and prescribed burns for asset and landscape protection.

The plan also outlines coordinated fire management between the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources and adjacent landowners through the bushfire management area plans. All the recommendations will be considered by the region for incorporation in the annual works program, depending on fire management priorities and the allocation of regional resources.

Mr President, it is important to note that, while this is a 10-year plan, it will be continually updated and open to community input during that process. We must make every effort to ensure that communities do not suffer the devastation and trauma of bushfires impacting on people's lives and the livelihoods of individuals and communities. We have seen that such measures really can make a difference. Preliminary analyses of the fire spread and intensities following the Sampson Flat bushfire indicate that DEWNR's ongoing effort regarding fire management and control was a contributing factor to the fire not causing more damage than it otherwise would have done.

The lessons learned from this and other bushfires will be used to ensure that the prescribed burning program is implemented strategically across the state, as is reflected in the Central Eyre Peninsula fire management plan. I commend all those who are contributing to the development of this very important plan for their local communities. I express my hope that they will continue to contribute to the Central Eyre Peninsula's fire preparedness into the future. As I said at the beginning of my answer to the question, we can never drop our vigilance.