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 PCS adopt a policy and practice that all planned prescribed burning activities be carried out to the greatest extent possible, unless there are compelling reasons relating to inappropriate weather conditions, firefighter safety or lack of resources to not carry out a proposed burn, or to suspend mid-burn.

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 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 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.

If it is not part of the proposed version 2 of the Strategic Bushfire Management Plan, that the plan be revised to provide for a fuel-reduction burning regime in the ‘Land Management Zone’ that is equivalent to that contemplated for the corridors designated as the ‘Landscape Division Zone’ and that the regime involve burning areas in rotation to achieve an appropriately varying fire age spectrum across the entire landscape

That clarification be provided and information be made public in connection with the hazard reduction proposed under the Strategic Bushfire Management Plan for the area designated ‘Land Management Zone’, which appears to cover about 70 per cent of the ACT landscape and might be excluded from fuel-reduction burning

That a hazard-reduction program be introduced, involving regular and strategic burning in all areas of the ACT – including the catchment areas – with a view to having fuel-reduced areas in a pattern across the landscape, excluding only small areas of particular ecological or conservation importance

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 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 prescribed burning operations be conducted according to agreed standard burning prescriptions

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