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 PCS consider reviewing and streamlining the sign-off process for road maintenance contractor works and recruiting or training additional road maintenance contract managers with the appropriate skills and qualifications to assist in the delivery of the road maintenance program.

The Committee recommends that the ACT Government ensure that senior PCS management (Director, planning officer, operations officer, prescribed burn officer) of the PCS Fire Management Unit have on-the-ground fire-fighting experience or training.

EPSDD and ESA work together to develop values officer training and accreditation.

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

That land managers ensure their staff are properly trained in the effective use of large bulldozers at wildfires and that staff are available to be assigned to supervise bulldozer operations

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

That the Emergency Services Agency review the level of understanding among firefighting personnel of the latest information available nationally and internationally about wildfire behaviour and suppression and provide additional training if warranted

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 training of all personnel involved with emergency services be under constant review

That the Australian Federal Police and the Emergency Services Agency ensure that personnel in their respective organisations are fully briefed on the agreed policy on evacuations

That public land management agencies ensure that their senior personnel have appropriate experience in fire management and are provided with adequate resources and suitable experienced and trained staff to effectively implement fire management programs

That a review be conducted of the adequacy of training and the numbers of firefighters experienced in performing effective, safe large-scale back-burning operations