Mr McCARTHY - 1998-04-29
Towards the end of each dry season, the Top End is subjected to extensive grass fires which not only damage large tracts of crown land, but also threaten and often damage private property. All members with electorates in rural areas take a keen interest in this matter and in any measures devised to limit the occurrence of uncontrolled fire. What action has the minister taken to reduce the uncontrolled grass fire problem in the Top End?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the honourable member would be aware from his constituency of the implications for landholders, particularly in rural areas, of these problems. A change has occurred in the fire regime with different grasses taking control of different areas. Members will recall the very large fires that occurred in the Darwin rural area last year. In some circumstances, these were accompanied by very strong winds and difficult conditions. Such fires threaten not only the bushland environment, but also property, particularly in an area that is experiencing a high level of horticultural development and rural living.
As a result, the Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service has developed a new process for fire control, combining wet season and early dry season burning. That was trialled earlier this year on crown land, in cooperation with the Department of Lands, Planning and Environment. A demonstration will be given at Knuckeys Lagoon at 12.30 pm today for members who may be interested in this matter - and I am sure a number are - by officers of the Fire and Rescue Service. They will demonstrate the implementation of fire-reduction programs and the burning-off that can be done to reduce the fire threat and the difficulties associated with fuel burdens before the peak of the dry season later in the year when very hot and fast-moving fires are experienced, threatening lives and property. These fires place great demands on the firefighters, both those permanently employed and the auxiliaries who work hard to protect our property. I suggest that members who wish to see a demonstration of the fire hazard reduction program go to Knuckeys Lagoon at 12.30.
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High levels of investment have been put into horticultural properties. That includes not only investment in orchards and plantations that are now contributing to the economy through the production of mangoes and other crops, but also the capital investment in irrigation systems and other requirements of the horticultural industry. That investment requires protection. This new regime of fire management and pre-dry season burning and protection does not mean that people should not implement their own measures to protect their properties. Firebreaks need to be installed and maintained and fire-reduction measures will still be required on private property. What will be demonstrated today are new measures of hazard reduction by reducing the fuel load on crown land, to ensure that we have the best possible mechanism to try to control wildfires in the rural areas of the Northern Territory, for the protection of property and, indeed, people's lives.
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ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the honourable member would be aware from his constituency of the implications for landholders, particularly in rural areas, of these problems. A change has occurred in the fire regime with different grasses taking control of different areas. Members will recall the very large fires that occurred in the Darwin rural area last year. In some circumstances, these were accompanied by very strong winds and difficult conditions. Such fires threaten not only the bushland environment, but also property, particularly in an area that is experiencing a high level of horticultural development and rural living.
As a result, the Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service has developed a new process for fire control, combining wet season and early dry season burning. That was trialled earlier this year on crown land, in cooperation with the Department of Lands, Planning and Environment. A demonstration will be given at Knuckeys Lagoon at 12.30 pm today for members who may be interested in this matter - and I am sure a number are - by officers of the Fire and Rescue Service. They will demonstrate the implementation of fire-reduction programs and the burning-off that can be done to reduce the fire threat and the difficulties associated with fuel burdens before the peak of the dry season later in the year when very hot and fast-moving fires are experienced, threatening lives and property. These fires place great demands on the firefighters, both those permanently employed and the auxiliaries who work hard to protect our property. I suggest that members who wish to see a demonstration of the fire hazard reduction program go to Knuckeys Lagoon at 12.30.
Page 222
High levels of investment have been put into horticultural properties. That includes not only investment in orchards and plantations that are now contributing to the economy through the production of mangoes and other crops, but also the capital investment in irrigation systems and other requirements of the horticultural industry. That investment requires protection. This new regime of fire management and pre-dry season burning and protection does not mean that people should not implement their own measures to protect their properties. Firebreaks need to be installed and maintained and fire-reduction measures will still be required on private property. What will be demonstrated today are new measures of hazard reduction by reducing the fuel load on crown land, to ensure that we have the best possible mechanism to try to control wildfires in the rural areas of the Northern Territory, for the protection of property and, indeed, people's lives.
Page 223
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016