The Committee recommends that the ACT Government continue to support and increase culturally-informed land management practices and cultural burns.

The Committee recommends that as part of the current review of the SBMP and development of the SBMPv5, EPSDD and the ESA review the criteria used for assessing appropriate conditions for prescribed burning.

The Committee recommends that PCS continue to utilise alternative fuel load management methods and techniques when it is not safe to conduct prescribed burning, and that they be appropriately resourced and supported by the ACT Government to enable this to occur.

The Committee recommends that the ACT Government consider bushfire risk and response, and resourcing when considering the development of areas along the western edge.

The Committee recommends that the ACT Government ensure tracks and trails are maintained, including increasing the annual funding level for maintenance of management trails from the current level of around 1% of the value of the asset, up to 2% or more, to address the increased impact of climate change and fires since 2020.

The Committee recommends that the ACT Government reinstate in full the Tritter program for clearing roadside vegetation.

The Territory and Municipal Services Directorate, in consultation with the Emergency Services Agency, should improve its management of Land Management Agreements, with respect to rural leaseholders’ fire management responsibilities, by:
a) maintaining an up-to-date record of current Land Management Agreements;
b) undertaking timely reviews of Land Management Agreements, at least every five years;
c) clarifying responsibility for identifying and monitoring bushfire risk through Land Management Agreements; and
d) specifying bushfire management requirements in Land Management Agreements, as required by the Emergencies Act 2004 and the Strategic Bushfire Management Plan, and aligning these with any requirements under the Farm FireWise Program (refer to Recommendation 16).

The Emergency Services Agency and the Territory and Municipal Services Directorate should improve information capture and sharing by:
a) recording accurately and efficiently personnel information and capabilities in relation to bushfire management; and
b) improving the coordination of the planning and use of bushfire preparedness maps between ACT Government agencies.

The Committee recommends that the responsibility for land management issues lie within a single portfolio, specifically the Minister for Territory and Municipal Services.

That the ACT Government consider taking measures to implement the provisions of Australian Standard 3959, Construction of Buildings in Bushfire Prone Areas, for the ACT urban area

That a program be implemented to ensure that existing fire tracks and trails are cleared and accessible at all times and that a network of additional fire trails be established so as to allow direct fire suppression operations without undue delay in the event of a wildfire

That responsibility for fuel management lie with the land management agency that controls the area and that land managers be given authority to implement prescribed fuel-reduction burns within their area

That before each fire season the Emergency Services Agency, in conjunction with the Bush Fire Council – after consultation with the relevant ACT agencies, the Bureau of Meteorology, relevant NSW agencies and the community – conduct a qualitative risk analysis of the conditions and circumstances prevailing and forecast and develop strategies to ensure heightened preparedness during seasons identified as severe

That consideration be given when building to the positioning of outbuildings around residential structures such that their potential impact on the main structure is reduced