Burn more roadside: call

By Kath Gannaway
YARRA Ranges environment champion Franc Smith says a plan to increase fuel reduction burning from 1.7 per cent to five per cent across the state wasn’t enough.
He said the recommendation – which was released as part of the Bushfire Royal Commission report – could have been a lot higher.
The recommendation has received support from individuals and groups as diverse as environment groups to the Timber Communities Australia (TCA) and politicians.
Mr Smith said initially there were talks of an eight to 10 per cent increase. Based on five per cent, it will take more than 20 years for most public land to be burnt at least once on a rotational basis.
He said if it were increased to eight to 10 per cent it would only take between 10 and 12 years.
TCA spokesman Trevor Brown said fuel reduction burning was one issue that raised the ire of many country residents in the months after the Black Saturday fires with many saying not enough had been done by the government in recent years.
He said there was evidence effective fuel reduction burning slows a wild fire significantly, and that the recommendation supported those made by the Victorian Government’s 2008 all-party parliamentary committee inquiry into fuel reduction.
Liberal MP Christine Fyffe was a member of the committee, along with Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato.
Ms Fyffe said the recommendation was almost identical in total area to their recommendations. “What they create are fire breaks and if they are done properly, as a mosaic, then they are effective in slowing down fires,” she said.
Yarra Ranges mayor Len Cox said burning off had its uses, but it would depend on where and when they would do it.
He said in some areas it could be detrimental to the environment.
Cr Cox hopes the council will be included in the discussion on where the increased fuel reduction would take place.
Yarra Ranges councillor Samantha Dunn said it was great to see the commission also recommending mapping studies be undertaken into the biodiversity impacts before any fuel reduction is undertaken.
“We need to have the science around what is going to protect communities, which is what is really important here – the actions must protect communities,” she said.
But Cr Dunn said it was a very complex issue, especially considering the nature of the wet and dry vegetation in much of the Yarra Ranges.
“It comes back to making sure the right bits are being burnt,” she said.
Cr Dunn said burning off posed a problem in the Yarra Ranges, with many residents concerned over the increased smoke in the air.
In the Yarra Valley the impact of smoke from controlled burns is also a huge issue for grapegrowers.
Cr Dunn said it was important all these factors were taken into consideration when planning the increased fuel reduction.
The commission’s recommendation for a fresh look at roadside vegetation has also been widely applauded.
In the Dandenongs, Dandenong Ranges Bushfire Group spokesperson Mel Gajdek said roadside clearing was vital especially as there are very limited emergency exit options.
“If you were trapped in bumper to bumper traffic trying to escape and the roadside had fuel loads capable of developing significant fire and radiant heat, we know what we would prefer – reduced roadside fuel,” she said.
Cr Cox said the council was already looking after thousands of kilometres of roadside vegetation.
“I think we have been doing a pretty good job over the past few years,” he said.
“The commissioner’s report covers the whole of the state and I think we’ve got it pretty close to being right.”
But Cr Dunn agreed there needed to be some kind of guidance on resolving the tensions over the reduction of roadside vegetation.
She said it was an incredibly grey area.
“We hear a lot about roadside vegetation without the science behind it on whether it should stay or go. It had to make those decisions…some guidance would be great,” Cr Dunn said.
“It all comes back to needing evidence, because it would be pointless removing it if it’s not going to protect the community,” she said.