Page 1001 - Week 03 - Thursday, 30 March 2006
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(3) What are the fuel loads in the area of Namadgi National Park that are north of the NSW region of Shannons Flat;
(4) When was the last time that prescribed burning took place along the southern border of Namadgi National Park, in particular the area north of Shannons Flat;
(5) What are the current identified fuel loads across Namadgi National Park and if any fuel loads are above the level identified in part (2), when will they be reduced and why have they not been reduced to date;
(6) When was the last time that prescribed burning took place anywhere along the southern border of Namadgi National Park, what areas were targeted, who undertook the program and what level of success was achieved;
(7) Has the ACT Government received any complaints regarding bushfire fuel loads in Namadgi National Park; if so, how many complaints were received and what action has been taken regarding the complaints.
Mr Stanhope: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) The current policy is to undertake prescribed burning as required to achieve the fuel and other standards specified in the ACT Strategic Bushfire Management Plan (SBMP).
(2) The current acceptable bushfire fuel loads for ACT National Parks, and all other areas, are specified in Appendix 4 of the SBMP and vary from location to location.
(3) Overall fuel hazard was assessed in this area in 2005 and was found to be at or below high (the standard in the SBMP) in 100% of the sites assessed.
(4) There is no record of prescribed burning having been undertaken along the southern border of Namadgi National Park in the last decade. Despite this, the overall fuel hazard in 2005 was found to be at or below high (the standard in the SBMP) in 100% of the sites assessed (this included many areas that were not burnt in the 2003 bushfires).
(5) Based on the 2005 fuel hazard assessment, the fuel standards specified in the SBMP are met throughout Namadgi National Park and hence no areas of the park were identified for prescribed burning in Environment ACT’s 2005/06 Bushfire Operations Plan (BOP).
Environment ACT is currently undertaking further fuel hazard assessments across the ACT and if this identifies any areas where SBMP standards are not being met these areas will be listed in Environment ACT’s BOP for treatment in 2006/07.
(6) There is no record of prescribed burning having been undertaken along the southern border of Namadgi National Park in the last decade. Despite this, the overall fuel hazard in 2005 was found to be at or below high (the standard in the SBMP) in 100% of the sites assessed (this included many areas that were not burnt in the 2003 bushfires).
(7) The ACT Government has received no formal complaints regarding bushfire fuel loads in Namadgi National Park this financial year.
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