Page 4979 - Week 16 - Tuesday, 26 November 1991
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MR JENSEN (10.57): Mr Speaker, I also would like to take this opportunity to comment briefly on some of the recommendations in that report, particularly as they relate to the fire service provided by the officers of the Environment and Conservation Bureau who operate from their depots. Some of those officers may well be in action out in the field at the moment; we are not sure about that. I suspect that the recent rains have made life a little easier for them.
People are expecting this current fire season to be one of the worst on record if we are unfortunate enough to get a series of high winds and other problems. Our large areas of open nature parks, hills and ridges that are one of the great features of our city cause a number of problems in relation to fire control, particularly in areas close to the suburbs.
There was a suggestion in that report that the fire appliances that are currently being used by this organisation could be moved into the Urban Fire Service area. I have no problems with some of the possible decisions in relation to the basic administration being put together, but we have to remember that the service provided by the Parks and Conservation Branch is a unique one. It is entirely different from the one provided by officers who are responsible for the urban service.
Not only do officers of the Parks and Conservation Branch have special and separate vehicles, but also they have a quite considerable amount of experience, built up over many years, of the environment in which they are required to fight fires and the way that fires operate in that environment. It is entirely different from the way they operate in the urban area.
Any member of the parks service who is involved in this area will tell you quite frankly that they really do not have the knowledge to fight a fire in an urban household situation; but they do have considerable experience in fighting fires in the rural areas of the ACT, particularly in our parks areas. It is this experience that enables them to control the fires.
They have three main roles. One is to carry out fire suppression measures - that is, to maintain the environment so that there is a reduction in the amount of fuel, et cetera. The best way to do that, as we know, is to mow, where possible. Occasionally, there may be a requirement to burn. I understand that they are able to do this because of their knowledge and experience. Many of them have 18 years' experience in the field.
They also know the environment in which these fires are likely to take place. They are very aware of the issues and the problems related to fire. They know the rare and endangered species that are affected by fire. The recent
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