Thursday, 14 November 2019

In reply to  Mr BOURMAN (Eastern Victoria) (12 November 2019)

Mr JENNINGS (South Eastern Metropolitan—Leader of the Government, Special Minister of State, Minister for Priority Precincts, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs):

RESPONSE TO SUBSTANTIVE QUESTION

Since 2009, more than 6,090 planned burns have been delivered covering 1.75 million hectares on public land, with a further 80,000 hectares fuel reduced by mechanical methods such as slashing and mowing. This equates to approximately 23 percent of public land treated to reduce bushfire fuels over the past decade.

In addition to the 1.8 million hectares treated by fuel management, 1.49 million hectares of public land was burnt by bushfires during this period.

The window of suitable weather conditions for planned burning to be safely undertaken is small, and getting smaller with our changing climate.

It is of note, that in 2012, the Bushfire Royal Commission Implementation Monitor, Neil Comrie advised that delivering an annual planned burning target of 5 per cent of public land may not be ‘achievable, affordable, or sustainable’.

In 2015, the Inspector General Emergency Management (IGEM) reviewed performance targets for bushfire fuel management on public land, and recommended that the Victorian Government move to a risk-reduction target.

This recommendation was accepted and a bushfire risk target of 70 percent adopted. Risk has been maintained below the 70 per cent target, and is currently at 69 per cent.

The risk target drives us towards more effective planned burning—burning that protects communities and our environment. So far this year (to 13 November 2019), 63 planned burns have been undertaken, treating 3,475 hectares.

RESPONSE TO SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION

Planned burning remains a core part of our approach to reducing the risk of bushfire on public land. Other activities being delivered under the $273.23 million Reducing Bushfire Risk program include:

• Mechanical fuel treatments, such as slashing, mowing and mulching, with 20,000 hectares of mechanical treatment planned for 2019-20

• Improving access and egress to public land for fire fighters to respond quickly, to fires when they occur with more than 6,358 kilometres of road maintenance since July 2017, and a further 5,420 kilometres planned for 2019-20

• Removal of hazardous trees to improve fire fighter safety, with 1,238 kilometres treated since July 2017, and a further 162 kilometres planned for 2019-20

• Road side vegetation management, with 3,336 km kilometres treated since July 2017, and a further 723 km kilometres planned for 2019-20

• More front line forest fire fighters, with 340 permanent and 627 seasonal fire fighters for the coming fire season.

• Better firefighting equipment, with 107 Large Unimog Fire tankers, 498 G-Wagen light tankers and 53 pieces of heavy plant (bulldozers and excavators) in the Forest Fire Management Victoria fleet this year, and additional heavy plant available under contract.

• The largest contract firefighting aviation fleet we have had, with 50 aircraft under contract to Victoria and a further 100 on a call when needed list.

In addition, Forest Fire Management Victoria continues to work with the fire services, local government and communities to ensure we are well prepared for the fire season.