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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-05-04 Daily Xml
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Cherry Gardens and Clarendon Bushfires

11 The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (17 March 2021). Can the Minister for Environment and Water advise:

1. What is the extent of the environmental and biodiversity impact from the recent Cherry Gardens bushfire?

2. What is the extent of the environmental impacts of tree clearing and potential resulting soil erosion?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services): The Department for Environment and Water has advised:

1. The Cherry Gardens bushfire burnt approx. 2,600 hectares of native vegetation, including two-thirds of the largest continuous area of intact heath in the southern Mt Lofty Ranges.

Important areas of habitat were burnt for 13 nationally threatened species (listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity and Conservation Act 1999) including regional strongholds for the Southern Brown Bandicoot, Mt Lofty Ranges Chestnut-rumped Heathwren, and seven threatened orchid species.

While the bushfire may have had an immediate, short-term impact on habitats and threatened species, in the medium term the impact of fire can provide some habitat benefits, as the vegetation recovers. This recovery is supported on national parks by the National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia through activities such as weed management, herbivore control and the reintroduction of critically endangered plants.

2. The clearance of native vegetation, including native trees, after a bushfire is regulated under the Native Vegetation Act 1991. The associated regulations allow for clearance in a number of scenarios, which can support landowners to recover after a bushfire, this includes clearance along fence lines and around built structures. Landowners may also apply for approval under the Native Vegetation Act 1991 to clear native trees on their property in other situations.

An assessment of soil erosion will be undertaken by the Department for Environment and Water as part of an assessment of the environmental impacts in national parks following the fire.

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