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.

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 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 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.

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

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.

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

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

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 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