South-East Fire Towers

The Hon. R.B. MARTIN (14:46): My question is to the Minister for Forest Industries. Can the minister please advise the council if the commitment to upgrade fire towers in the South-East with new AI technology to protect the state's forest assets has been delivered?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:47): I thank the honourable member for his question. I am delighted to update this place with the exciting news that the state government has now delivered on its election commitment to upgrade fire towers in the South-East with AI camera technology to provide landscape-level fire detection coverage across the Green Triangle.

As members in this place know, we are a government that keeps our promises, and it is particularly pleasing to see the rollout of all fire towers to be completed in time for the upcoming fire season in the Lower South-East. Prior to the election—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —we committed $2 million to upgrade fire towers with new AI technology, which was a key wish from the forest industry here in South Australia.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: This forms part of our over $20 million investment in the forest industry here in South Australia. I'm not surprised that those opposite are seeking to interject and not allow this to be heard—

The PRESIDENT: Interjections are out of order; don't respond to them.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Indeed—but it's not surprising given that they went to the last election without any forestry policies of note whatsoever, that they did not have a policy and they had no interest in the forestry industry despite its importance to the Limestone Coast and the number of workers it employs. I am advised that over the last two weeks the seventh and final fire tower, at St Mary's, has been upgraded—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —with AI technology and is now in full operation. This means that all fire towers are now upgraded and in full operation. We know that early detection is key, and it is critical to identify and extinguish any potential fire as quickly as possible to protect the region's 130,000 hectares of plantation estate. We have seen previously that a delay in identifying fires can and does lead to significant damage to plantation estates and obviously potential consequences for surrounding communities. If a fire was to start in any forest plantation in South Australia it would present an immense risk to the industry and regional South Australia.

Not only that but fire also puts at risk the 18,000 people employed both directly or indirectly in the industry in South Australia. Fire puts at risk the $3 billion contribution that the industry makes to the South Australian economy every year and fire puts at risk the over 4.5 million tonnes of CO₂ that is sequestered each year from the atmosphere which contributes towards a cleaner and greener future.

In addition to the recently upgraded fire tower at St Mary's near Lucindale, fire towers at Mount Benson, Furner, Comaum, Mount Burr, The Bluff and Carpenter Rocks have also been fitted with the AI technology that quickly identifies potential fires and allows a quick and efficient response to investigate the fire and contain it. I am advised the fire towers that have been installed are already playing a significant role in protecting our forest plantations, which during the most recent fire danger season, 2023-24, detected 25 unplanned fires in the region.

We know the South-East has experienced a dry winter and spring and that we will need to be on high alert as we head into an expected dry summer. The Green Triangle Fire Alliance will oversee the operational use of the fire towers and will continually monitor the cameras for suspected fires across the Green Triangle.

In addition to the seven fire towers fitted with AI technology across the Limestone Coast, I also understand that another seven have been installed just over the border in south-west Victoria, ensuring that the Green Triangle is one of the most protected plantation regions in the country.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my thanks to the Green Triangle Fire Alliance for their incredible hard work over the past two years to ensure the rollout of this technology occurred, along with Andrew from Pano AI, which is the company that has been developing the technology and working so closely with industry to ensure a smooth transition.