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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 2 Hansard (5 March) . . Page.. 580 ..

MR WOOD (continuing):

I concede that it is probably a good idea to look around the ACT more broadly, beyond the schools, to see if we have got a really concerted approach to education. I know-and I reported this in response to a question today-that around about September I did the obligatory early summer promotion stunt of alerting the community to bushfires and the need to clean up their backyards and that sort of thing. It was a big event. On that occasion we launched a substantial manual which contained several years of work on who is responsible for hazard reduction in all the areas of Canberra. So we had a big launch.

Not only that, but Environment ACT did a great job around Canberra. I know that at the back of Mugga Way, for example, there was very significant growth which was often contributed to by residents. So we took out the pines that were close to fences and we cleared the underbrush. We told some of the lessees who had infringed onto the nature park area, "Get rid of it."They all complied, and subsequently after the January event they were very happy that they had.

So there is a lot of informal education. As I say, it may not be as clearly expressed, outlined and established as it might be. So by all means let us do a bit of that. I think if we can look at it and work those issues through there might be some great benefit.

There is a deal of other activity. The ACT Fire Brigade has been delivering a fire education program in schools. I cannot tell you just how extensive and consistent that is, but it is very much about personal safety. The program was developed from a Melbourne initiative which was progressed through a good, sound education background. It is basically aimed at what children should do in the case of fires in homes.

From time to time, ACT bushfire volunteer brigades do their bit, and that is probably random, ad hoc; it is probably not heavily organised. As much as a promotional effort as anything else, they go to community events and they sometimes visit schools. Over the years ABC television has done some programs in this area. So there is that deal of activity.

I understand that Chapman residents-and this is a part of what Mr Pratt was talking about-did invite their local rivers brigade to advise them ahead of the bushfire season and that session informed the residents of the measures that they could take. Mr Smyth, I do not know what the outcome of that was, and I do not know whether in some circumstances it might have saved some properties-

Mr Smyth: It saved a life.

MR WOOD: It did, you reckon?

Mr Smyth: I know it did.

MR WOOD: Mr Smyth might have something more to say about that program. But that is the sort of thing that has been happening. Admittedly, it is not a widely organised thing covering the whole interface, if I can use that word, between the bush and the urban areas.

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