Thursday, 30 November 2023

 Roma BRITNELL (South-West Coast) (14:55): (460) My question is for the Minister for Roads and Road Safety, and I ask: why is the state government failing in its obligation to ensure South-West Coast roadsides are safe for road users and maintained ahead of the peak fire season? The Department of Transport and Planning claims responsibility for coordinating state government bodies, local government and CFA to work cohesively to manage roadside vegetation for bushfire preparedness and road safety risk. For the last seven years I have attended the emergency management commissioner’s briefings armed with feedback from South-West Coast residents, CFA volunteers and local government who are concerned with overgrown and dangerous roadside vegetation and hamstrung to act due to bureaucracy. In 2018 the St Patrick’s Day fires saw overgrown roadside vegetation act as a wick and carry bushfire through the region, and we do not want to see a repeat. Preventative management is part of the state government’s role, and I look forward to being provided with the South-West Coast roadside vegetation management strategy ahead of the peak fire season.