The Victorian Auditor General’s long-awaited report into Reducing Bushfire Risk released last Thursday has revealed the State Government has not reached half of its arguably already low fuel reduction burn target over the past four years.
Gippsland East MP, Tim Bull, said the independent report showed what most East Gippslanders already knew, not anywhere near enough fuel reduction burning is taking place, which was a major contributing factor in last season’s fires.
“This government has set itself a target of reducing the fire risk to 70 per cent of what the risk would normally be if left untreated, and states that to achieve this it must treat between 200,000 and 270,000 hectares annually,” he said.
“However, this explosive report states the government has been treating an average of 86,744 ha over the past four years, just 43 per cent of the lower level of its own target. If we used the upper level of its target it is less than 33 per cent.” Clifton Creek fireman and bushman, Ken Stuart, agreed with Mr Bull’s comments.
“There is still a lot of un-burnt country to the west of our area,” Mr Stuart said.
“Clifton Creek, Tabberabbera and the Mitchell River National Park at Glenaladale in particular haven’t been burnt for many years which makes Bairnsdale particularly vulnerable.”
Mr Stuart also believes it’s not too late to burn.
“Considering the large lines of back- burning done in late December and early January in the face of fire, spring is not too late to burn,” he said.
“When 90 per cent of the targeted area is burnt properly it’s successful at any time of year.
Mr Bull said it was little wonder locals familiar with the bush were reporting fuel loads had been allowed to build up to record levels prior to last year’s fires and forecasting the disaster that lay ahead.
“There has been much debate whether the 200,000ha target is enough,” he said.
“But when you are delivering just 43 per cent of what is already arguably a low target, it is setting us up for disaster.”
Mr Stuart’s concern lies with the system itself.
“Well meaning department staff members are hampered by the restrictive practices they have to work to and it’s the same for volunteers,” he said.
“Over the past 10 years the restrictions have become harder and harder.
“We need regular burning to maintain grass cover which aids water penetration and allows cool burns.”
Mr Bull said the government also had a get out of jail card with the Auditor General pointing out that when these targets were not met, the government then added the area burned by bushfire to help make up for the planned burns it did not complete.
“What this means is that over several years the government does not reach anywhere near its targets, we then get wildfire as a result and they count that as treated area,” Mr Bull said.
“This is not right, they should be achieving their target up front to provide the required level of protection to communities in the first place, not counting the wildfires that occur after they have not met their own targets.” The Auditor General also reported:
* Fuel management reduces the intensity of fires and makes them easier for firefighters to control;
* The government has not recorded the reasons its targets are not met and why planned burns are not completed;
* The government has a key role in reducing the risk bushfires pose to people, property and the environment;
* The government does not clearly demonstrate the impact of its planned burns (positive or negative) on the environment and ecosystems;
* Limited assessments occur after the planned burns it does complete, impacting the government’s ability to assess how quickly fuel re- accumulates.
* The government reports the number of ecosystem resilience assessments it conducts, but not the results or outcomes of these assessments.
IMAGE:
CFA member of more than 50 years, Ken Stuart, of Clifton Creek, in an area burnt by the summer bushfires. Mr Stuart was featured in the Primary Producer in May, calling on authorities to start planning the next cool burns. He says the system that department staff and local CFA members are required to work to is too restrictive.
