ANY moves to increase fuel-reduction burning are a step in the right direction, writes MAX RHEESE
Recommendations handed down by the Bushfires Royal Commission for an increase in prescribed burning to a minimum of 5 per cent of public land reflect calls by the Victorian Lands Alliance and its member organisations for many years before and since the Black Saturday fires.
At a dozen public meetings across the state held by the VLA, motions calling on the Premier to adopt such a policy were overwhelmingly passed.
Anger was evident at these meetings over what was seen as government indifference.
There was no response to the 2003 Auditor General's report on fire preparation and preparedness, which stated: "There has been a consistent failure to achieve all of the DSE's hazard reduction targets over the last eight years."
And the Victorian Government's failure to honour its 2004 promise to increase DSE firefighters by an extra 200 has only fanned the flames of discontent.
Rural and outer Melbourne communities clearly wanted more active management of public land and this was reflected in much of the evidence given at the commission hearings.
The expert fire panel convened by the royal commission was clear that Victoria needed prescribed burning of 5 to 10 per cent per annum of public land to reduce risk and help in the suppression of bushfire.
The panel was explicit that this increased level of prescribed burning should be implemented without delay.
The recurring theme of all bushfire inquiries over many decades has been the recommendation for an increase in prescribed burning to reduce the risk to lives, property and the environment.
We are still waiting.
- Max Rheese is Victorian Lands Alliance secretary
