INQ155

TitleLong
Inquiry into the Impact of Public Land Management Practices on Bushfires in Victoria
INQAuthor
Victorian Parliamentary Environment and Natural Resources Committee
Year
InquiryType
DisasterType
State
Status

Recommendations for this Inquiry

INQ-ref REC-UID CODE SubCode SrcNUM Recommendation
INQ155 REC155-3464 B - Preparedness 5 - Hazard reduction burns Recommendation 1

That the Department of Sustainability and Environment implement remote sensing imagery as a routine part of its pre-burn and post-burn assessment process for prescribed burning.

INQ155 REC155-3475 A - Responsibility 9 - Community education Recommendation 12

That in relation to Fire Operations Plans, the Department Sustainability and Environment extends the number of community meetings during the public consultation period to a minimum of one meeting for each Fire District, with the possibility of repeat visits to particular areas.

INQ155 REC155-3476 A - Responsibility 38 - Agency/Department Reporting Recommendation 13

That finalised Fire Operations Plans be made publicly available in their entirety (with the exception of any private information) on the Department of Sustainability and Environment’s website and in hard-copy, and that this requirement be clearly stated in future Codes of Practice.

INQ155 REC155-3477 A - Responsibility 38 - Agency/Department Reporting Recommendation 14

That the details of any variation or amendment of a Fire Operations Plan, including: the carrying forward or postponement of burns within the three-year period covered by a Fire Operations Plan; the carry over, removal or rescheduling of burns between past, present and future Fire Operations Plan

INQ155 REC155-3478 A - Responsibility 38 - Agency/Department Reporting Recommendation 15

That all information pertaining to current and planned prescribed burns be published more prominently on the Department of Sustainability and Environment’s website, with a single prominent link to this material on the website homepage.

INQ155 REC155-3479 E - Agency Organisation 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform Recommendation 16

That a process of year round community engagement in the preparation of Fire Operations Plans be established. In addition a record of year round community engagement, as contained in the Gippsland Fire Operations Plan, should be a requirement of all Fire Operations Plans.

INQ155 REC155-3480 B - Preparedness 1 - Land-use and building regs Recommendation 17

That the Integrated Fire Management Planning framework establish zones in the interface between public and private land in which bushfire risk management is the shared responsibility of the Victorian Government and private landholders.

INQ155 REC155-3481 D - Recovery 6 - Insurance and legal liability Recommendation 18

That the Victorian Government establish a clear and consistent Bushfire Fencing Policy for damage caused by all future bushfires and prescribed burns. The Bushfire Fencing Policy should include the following provisions:

INQ155 REC155-3482 E - Agency Organisation 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform Recommendation 19

That the Victorian Government, and responsible agencies, expedite the implementation of the Integrated Fire Management Planning framework.

INQ155 REC155-3474 A - Responsibility 24 - Govt responsibility Recommendation 11

That the Victorian Government consider all available means, consistent with conservation values, for substantially increasing the access of apiarists to the public land estate.

INQ155 REC155-3473 A - Responsibility 24 - Govt responsibility Recommendation 10

That the Victorian Government expedite the implementation of its 2006 election commitment to provide four wheel drive clubs with access to management vehicle only tracks.

INQ155 REC155-3465 B - Preparedness 5 - Hazard reduction burns Recommendation 2

That in order to enhance the protection of community and ecological assets, the Department of Sustainability and Environment increase its annual prescribed burning target from 130,000 hectares to 385,000 hectares.

INQ155 REC155-3466 A - Responsibility 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review Recommendation 3

A comprehensive review of the effectiveness of the increased prescribed burning target in meeting ecological and bushfire suppression needs should be conducted every three years.

INQ155 REC155-3467 A - Responsibility 38 - Agency/Department Reporting Recommendation 4

The Department of Sustainability and Environment should report its performance against the increased prescribed burning target in its annual report, which should also include the following details:
- the total area treated within each fuel management zone for each region;

INQ155 REC155-3468 A - Responsibility 38 - Agency/Department Reporting Recommendation 5

That the Department of Sustainability and Environment, Department of Primary Industries, Parks Victoria & VicForests separately cost, and report, annual expenditure on fuel reduction burning, ecological burning and regeneration burning in their Annual Reports.

INQ155 REC155-3469 E - Agency Organisation 37 - Funding Recommendation 6

That the Victorian Government establish a five year rolling fund which allows unused prescribed burning monies to be rolled over into future financial years for the purpose of subsequent prescribed burning activities.

INQ155 REC155-3470 E - Agency Organisation 37 - Funding Recommendation 7

That the Victorian Government provide recurring funding for a significant increase in regionally-based, permanent, or long-tenured, fire management personnel dedicated to the prescribed burning program.

INQ155 REC155-3471 D - Recovery 6 - Insurance and legal liability Recommendation 8

That the Victorian Government replace or compensate for water taken from domestic, stock and irrigation dams, or water needed for essential use, in the event of a fire, regardless of where the bushfire starts.

INQ155 REC155-3472 F - Research and technology 26 - Research Recommendation 9

That the Department of Sustainability and Environment and its partner agencies conduct or commission research, and a possible trial study, to determine the potential of thinning and other silvicultural practices – whether alone or in combination with prescribed burning – as a means of reducing fu

INQ155 REC155-3483 A - Responsibility 9 - Community education Recommendation 20

That the Department of Sustainability and Environment and its partner agencies continue to develop a proactive approach to engagement with the local and wider media to achieve continuous improvement in the standard of community information and education.