Ms SCRYMGOUR - 2011-08-11
The Alice Springs area has faced a severe and serious bushfire threat this week. Could you please provide details to the House of the fire containment efforts in the Alice Springs area?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. I am sure all members join me in congratulating and thanking the volunteer workers who, over the last day or two, have been working hard to control the fires. To update the House on the current situation Alice Springs is facing, there was a serious threat to the town of Alice Springs, particularly on the western side, over the last day or two.
I am informed the patrols are keeping a watching brief on the fires west of Alice Springs as we speak, but the threat has eased. In fact, the crews were working until 1 am this morning containing the situation where two fires in the west joined, due to the easterly winds, and became a real threat to Alice Springs.
At midday today, the Incident Controller declared the area controlled and contained. There will be further backburning at the perimeter areas where the fire is still going, in anticipation that the fire safe situation will be called later today.
Although Alice Springs now has an outstanding firebreak on the western side of the town, there is still the north, east, and south sides of the town that need to be controlled and firebreaks put in. I understand about 60 people from various organisations were involved, as well as volunteers and residents on the western side of Alice Springs. I am also pleased to advise the House the controller reports there have been no injuries to people or damage to property.
I am pleased to say the preparations commenced late last year have paid off in this situation. I convened a meeting in December last year with stakeholders. Earlier this year, with the Chief Minister, I met with people from the Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services to discuss the plan for the upcoming fire season. With record rainfall over the last 12 to 18 months, there are enormous fuel loads around Alice Springs and Central Australia.
Part of that planning involved the town of Alice Springs itself, ensuring it was well protected by a series of firebreaks, and that paid off for us in this situation. Again, I thank the people of the Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service, Bushfires NT, the volunteers, the police, parks staff, as well as people from Ingkerreke Resource Centre and the Alice Springs Town Council. I have called the Mayor this morning and thanked him for his outstanding work, and Scotty McConnell from Ingkerreke. It is important, though, that landholders are also taking care of their properties and managing the fire threat that is everyone’s responsibility.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. I am sure all members join me in congratulating and thanking the volunteer workers who, over the last day or two, have been working hard to control the fires. To update the House on the current situation Alice Springs is facing, there was a serious threat to the town of Alice Springs, particularly on the western side, over the last day or two.
I am informed the patrols are keeping a watching brief on the fires west of Alice Springs as we speak, but the threat has eased. In fact, the crews were working until 1 am this morning containing the situation where two fires in the west joined, due to the easterly winds, and became a real threat to Alice Springs.
At midday today, the Incident Controller declared the area controlled and contained. There will be further backburning at the perimeter areas where the fire is still going, in anticipation that the fire safe situation will be called later today.
Although Alice Springs now has an outstanding firebreak on the western side of the town, there is still the north, east, and south sides of the town that need to be controlled and firebreaks put in. I understand about 60 people from various organisations were involved, as well as volunteers and residents on the western side of Alice Springs. I am also pleased to advise the House the controller reports there have been no injuries to people or damage to property.
I am pleased to say the preparations commenced late last year have paid off in this situation. I convened a meeting in December last year with stakeholders. Earlier this year, with the Chief Minister, I met with people from the Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services to discuss the plan for the upcoming fire season. With record rainfall over the last 12 to 18 months, there are enormous fuel loads around Alice Springs and Central Australia.
Part of that planning involved the town of Alice Springs itself, ensuring it was well protected by a series of firebreaks, and that paid off for us in this situation. Again, I thank the people of the Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service, Bushfires NT, the volunteers, the police, parks staff, as well as people from Ingkerreke Resource Centre and the Alice Springs Town Council. I have called the Mayor this morning and thanked him for his outstanding work, and Scotty McConnell from Ingkerreke. It is important, though, that landholders are also taking care of their properties and managing the fire threat that is everyone’s responsibility.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016