Reviewing and rethinking the impacts, costs and risks of inadequate fire mitigation measures and ongoing major bushfires across Eastern Australia. Source: Timberbiz
In relation to the 2019/ 20 bushfires and follow up inquiries/commission, it is apparent that the impacts, costs and risks of inadequate fire mitigation measures and consequent ongoing major bushfires across eastern Australia haven’t been adequately thought out.
Low intensity burning programs in eastern states are still around 1% or less.
As an example, areas of annual hazard reduction burning and mechanical reduction in NSW are both at very low rates and vary by year. The areas of fuel reduction in NSW and estimated percentage of forested area based on 20 million hectares of forest in NSW were:
- 147,625 hectares in 2017/ 18 (estimated 0.7 % of NSW forested area);
- 199,248 hectares in 2018/ 19 (estimated 1 % of NSW forested area);
- 55,548 hectares in 2019/ 20 (estimated 0.3 % of NSW forested area);
- 176,499 hectares in 2020/ 21 (estimated 0.9 % of NSW forested area); and
- 44,642 hectares in 2021/ 22 (estimated 0.2 % of NSW forested area).
Only 3.1 % of the NSW forested landscape has received fuel treatment over five years, this is extremely low and inadequate to reduce bushfire fuel loads, bushfire areas and bushfire risk and keep communities as safe as possible. Over time, shortfalls and inadequate fuel reduction add up and result in build-up of very high fuel loads and fuel strata across forest landscapes.
The low rates of low intensity burning puts infrastructure at risk, including key industries, road structures, utilities, plantations, orchards, forests, residences and farm infrastructure. The impacts on these types of infrastructure during the 2019/ 20 bushfires alone were huge.
It is important to consider the fact that the 2023/ 24 bushfire season is going to be difficult in many areas in eastern Australia, with high fuel loads, frosts and dry conditions likely imminent.
A checklist has been prepared for consideration by all levels of governments, oppositions, agencies and the community and this is outlined in Annexure 1. This checklist has been prepared in good faith to assist in reducing the likelihood of further intense and disastrous bushfires across eastern Australia, as well as considering new risk areas.
Other important fire mitigation considerations
Other important fire mitigation considerations include:
- Do other states and organisations provide role models for safe and effective fire management and mitigation?
- Are there better ways to manage fire in forests such as used in the USA under bipartisan legislation? Are there other country role models?
There are 33 assessment issues identified within Annexure 1 for consideration to assist in reviewing and rethinking the impacts, costs and risks of inadequate fire mitigation measures and ongoing major bushfires across Eastern Australia. Consideration and actioning of issues in this checklist would be an important step in reducing bushfire impacts, costs and risks, especially considering the disastrous impacts of recent bushfires. It is important that bushfire management is reviewed on an ongoing basis and issues from the community are adequately considered in order to optimise community, fire fighter, infrastructure and environmental safety and consider new risks.
Any person or politician, member of government/ opposition/ government agency, auditor, community member, farmer, forester, land manager or fire manager can use this checklist, allocate scores and identify potential action/s needed. The checklist provides a good base to discuss issues with local bushfire authorities, local members and also within communities and organisations.
You can download Annexure 1 here.
This article was prepared by John O’Donnell for Timberbiz.
