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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 3 Hansard (13 March) . . Page.. 1036 ..

MR STANHOPE

to provide both drought relief and some fire fuel reduction. For example, members will be aware that land at Red Hill and Gungahlin has been identified for this purpose. Announcements have also been made by my colleagues about land rent and rates relief.

Considerable damage was caused to fencing in the January fires, a large proportion of which is government owned. The cost of replacing or repairing this fencing is estimated to be as high as $500,000, although it is anticipated that insurance will ultimately cover the cost. Despite the fact that the insurance issues have not yet been resolved, work on replacing affected fencing is underway, with the first priority being to secure roadsides.

Mr Speaker, these are examples of assistance the government has already offered to rural lessees suffering drought and bushfire-related losses. However, in recognition of the extent of serious damage inflicted on rural businesses by the January fires, the government decided earlier this week-and indeed in cabinet on Monday-to extend the range of assistance. The government has now decided that, as a result of the proliferation of weeds, there is a significant threat to landscape recovery in the 155,000 hectares of rural land recently burnt out. The government has decided o provide an immediate $80,000 to commence a priority autumn weed control program, targeting weeds such as Paterson's Curse and nodding thistle, which are expected to flourish in the absence of competition in burnt and drought- affected areas.

As a result of extreme heat in some areas affected by the fires, ground cover, root systems and organic matter in the soil has been totally removed. This has effectively made the ground sterile. Without some restoration work, soils will be easily lost to erosion. Environment ACT will work with rural lessees to determine the best means of stabilising the soils. In addition to that, we have made arrangements for the purchase of up to $30,000 worth of seed, to reseed areas which have been totally denuded.

In addition, large areas of tree plantings on rural leases-in particular wind breaks planted by rural lessees-have been badly burnt. Many will die, and significant replanting is necessary. The government will allocate an immediate $10,000 for the purchase of seedlings, to allow for the restoration of rural plantings of trees and bands of trees. It is anticipated, Mr Speaker, that these seedlings will be available in spring and will be planted with the assistance of community groups.

In cooperation with Greening Australia, the government has also decided to support a rural recovery project to address problems of erosion control, water quality, land management and protection and re-establishment of vegetation. Greening Australia has submitted a significant proposal to the government. It proposes that funding be sought from a number of sources, including the Commonwealth.

In order to enable this particular project with Greening Australia to proceed, the government has decided to allocate $50,000 this financial year for start-up work on major environmental erosion control, water quality, land management and a protection regime for the affected areas. Other priorities the government will look at in its support for rural lessees are in dam cleaning and the appointment of additional resources to the department.

Just as the government moved swiftly to provide assistance to those suburban residents who lost houses, and to business people who suffered losses in the January fires, it has

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