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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-02-17 Daily Xml
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NATIVE VEGETATION CODE OF PRACTICE

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for Early Childhood Development, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister Assisting the Premier in Cabinet Business and Public Sector Management) (16:23): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Although it is well-known that fire is a natural occurrence in the Australian landscape, the ferocity of the bushfires across Victoria has left all of us shocked and numbed. Sadly, some people have lost their lives, with their family and friends now suffering immeasurable grief. Many others have lost their life's work following the destruction of their homes and personal possessions.

We must maintain our vigilance to manage the risks that bushfire poses to life and property. The importance of planning to manage bushfire risk is something that has been long recognised by this government. Since the Premier's bushfire summit in 2003, policies in this state have been reviewed and we have been active in our efforts to help reduce the risks presented by bushfires. Planning and development controls have been reviewed and there have been significant increases in areas designated as 'bushfire-prone areas'.

In bushfire-prone areas, the CFS is the referral authority, and recent regulatory changes also give the CFS power to veto a particular development application. People living in high-risk areas have also been provided with an informative DVD to help guide them through how and why they need to prepare a bushfire action plan, and the CFS has recently established a trial of the use of sirens for community warnings in the Mitcham Hills.

With respect to native vegetation, our laws provide for landowners to clear for fire protection purposes. This includes clearance around houses and other buildings, the establishment of firebreaks and other fire protection works, including controlled burns, consistent with a bushfire prevention plan.

Importantly, within certain limits, the law provides scope for landowners to undertake clearance of native vegetation without the need for approval. For example, no approval is required to clear understorey vegetation or small trees within 20 metres of a dwelling and, where specified by the CFS, this can be extended to up to 50 metres and can apply to larger trees.

In addition to this, the Native Vegetation Council has established a fire subcommittee which includes the Deputy Chief Officer of the CFS as one of its three members. This committee has the authority to approve clearance of native vegetation for fire protection purposes, including urgently when necessary, and the Chief Officer of the CFS is on the record saying that he is satisfied that these arrangements are working effectively.

Most recently, the government, the Native Vegetation Council and the CFS have developed the Code of Practice for the Management of Native Vegetation to Reduce the Impact of Bushfire in response to recommendation 33 arising from the coronial inquiry into the 2005 Eyre Peninsula bushfires.

The code adopts a zoned approach to the management of fuel loads around built assets and clarifies the existing arrangements for clearance of native vegetation for fire protection purposes. Copies of the code are currently being made available. Application of the code at the local level will be through delegations to authorised CFS officers and will support local decision-making about clearance necessary for fire protection works.

The government's bushfire preparedness policies have been based on the best available science and developed with input from leading environment, planning and fire service leaders, local government, the Conservation Council and the South Australian Farmers Federation. It is important to note that the natural environment in which the Victorian tragedy took place is significantly different from the typical South Australian landscape.

However, we need to watch carefully for the lessons to be learned from the unprecedented fire behaviour and the weather conditions associated with the Victorian bushfires. Accordingly, I have requested a review of current arrangements for managing the interaction of native vegetation and bushfire, with a particular emphasis on developments near urban areas and townships.

The review will be led by the Chief Executive of the Department for Environment and Heritage, the Presiding Member of the Native Vegetation Council, and the Chief Officer of the CFS, Mr Euan Ferguson. The review will include consideration of the roles played by local government, the CFS and environmental agencies in bushfire protection.

It is prudent to undertake this review, but we should also recognise that many of our bushfire policies have been developed over many years and have served us well. Many have been adopted nationally and are reviewed regularly, and they are supported by field evidence and scientific research. In this highly emotional time, we need to avoid the risks associated with knee-jerk reactions that could have unforeseen consequences.

With just 20 per cent of native vegetation remaining in agricultural areas of the state, it is estimated that, without careful management, 30 to 50 per cent of our terrestrial biodiversity could be lost by the year 2050. Clearly, in conducting this review, the government will ensure that any change to key policies is done carefully and is evidence-based. However, the government's primary concern will always be for the safety of its citizens.

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