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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-11-14 Daily Xml
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BUSHFIRE PREVENTION

The Hon. A. BRESSINGTON (14:45): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation questions about bushfire prevention.

Leave granted.

The Hon. A. BRESSINGTON: As you may be aware, it was recently Bushfire Awareness Week, which is designed to encourage our constituents to prepare their bushfire survival plan and to ensure their properties are prepared, including reducing the vegetation fuel load on their properties. This event is jointly promoted by the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, a fact that many in our farming community find deeply ironic, given their role in the recent out of control bushfire in Wirrabara Forest that was as a result of a prescribed burn they jointly coordinated with ForestrySA.

As I understand it, the local community, including farmers and even the ForestrySA staff on the ground, urged for the prescribed burn to be put off, given the weather conditions. It went ahead, regardless, and was out of control within 15 minutes of ignition and burnt some 800 hectares. Many also see it as ironic, given that the department seems to consistently work contrary to sound bushfire prevention principles in its interaction with farmers.

As an example, I recently met a farmer who had inadvertently contravened the Natural Resources Management Act 2004 by not having a $45 permit before undertaking a water-affecting activity, namely, desilting the creek running through his property to restore water flow as it had started to stagnate, an activity he has undertaken on his property for 30 years, and that source of water is also water that is used by bushfire fighters, when needed. Despite notifying the relevant natural resources management board prior to undertaking the work and not being informed of the requirement for a permit, this farmer was subsequently threatened with a $35,000 fine, and I have read the letter.

However, he was told that if he voluntarily undertook to plant some 500 shrubs and trees and fence off this creek, they would overlook his breach of the act. Many of these were the notorious Acacia paradoxa bushes which burn rapidly and intensify a bushfire and are labelled a 'fire risky' plant by the Adelaide Hills Council and which, given they will line the creek, would potentially prevent Country Fire Service access to the main source of water in a bushfire.

Another example is that of a landholder who is engaged in an ongoing dispute involving the natural resources management board and his local council. Given the restrictions being placed on the landholder concerning the clearing of near-surface fuel, such as dead trees and scrub, the landholder sought from the local Country Fire Service branch a bushfire risk assessment, a service they usually offer.

However, given the involvement of the NRM, the Country Fire Service officer was told to 'back off' and, as a result, the bushfire risk assessment did not go ahead. I might add I have been to that property—and this landowner lives in a gully where access is via a road that would be used by fire trucks—and I could barely get my car through because of the undergrowth and overgrowth covering that road. My questions to the minister are:

1. What coordination occurs between the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, natural resources management boards and the Country Fire Service for bushfire risk assessments?

2. Given the experience of my constituent, will the minister undertake a review of what is occurring and take steps to clarify who is both qualified and authorised to give directions to farmers on bushfire preparedness?

3. What influence does the NRM exert in such matters and by what authority are NRM officers acting to force farmers to plant known fire-risky bushes and plants on their properties that are actually declared noxious weeds in other states?

4. Why would NRM officers be instructing farmers to then fence off their creeks to prevent stock and native animals, such as kangaroos, from drinking from these creeks until the vegetation is fully established?

5. Why should farmers have to bear the cost of erecting fences, often tens of thousands of dollars, on their own creeks preventing their own stock access to their water?

6. Who will bear the responsibility for houses lost in bushfires because of no access to water during bushfires?

7. What formal training do these NRM officers have to be giving such directives to farmers who have successfully managed their land and water use for generations?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (14:51): I thank the honourable member for her very important questions around the issues of NRM and fires. I have some advice which the council might find useful in this regard. I am advised that the scope of the fire management activities of the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR), (formerly known as DENR) extends across all lands under the care and control of the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972, the Wilderness Protection Act 1992 and the Crown Land Management Act 2009 and covers over 23 per cent of the state.

I am further advised that, in addition, DEWNR supports the South Australian Country Fire Service response to bushfire events through the provision of experienced and trained incident management personnel, firefighters and equipment. I am advised that comprehensive fire management plans developed by DEWNR for public land are risk based and provide the strategic direction for fire management activities necessary for mitigating the risks and impacts of bushfire on life, property and the environment. I am also advised that 14 fire management plans have been adopted across the state, covering approximately 49 per cent of DEWNR managed parks and reserves, a total of about 154 parks and reserves, I am advised.

I am further advised that four fire management plans are currently in development, covering the South Para area of the Mount Lofty Ranges, the central Eyre Peninsula, the northern Flinders Ranges and the Alinytjara Wilurara region. I am further advised that DEWNR successfully gained funding through the federally funded Natural Disaster Resilience Program (NDRP) to develop the Phoenix bushfire simulation model for South Australia to assist with modelling fire spread impacts and risks. I am advised that prescribed burning is a primary tool used by DEWNR to reduce fuels to modify fire behaviour and attempt to mitigate the impact of bushfires on life, property and the environment and to promote biodiversity and ecological sustainability.

I am advised that prescribed burning is conducted during the spring and autumn seasons when conditions allow for burn objectives to be met and operations can be conducted safely and responsibly. So, that goes to some of the issues raised by the honourable member in terms of mostly public land. Many of her questions go to private land, and those questions I will take on notice to the minister in the other place and bring back a response.

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