Page 1281 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 3 April 2019
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week of temperatures above 40 degrees, followed by storm activity producing lightning, high winds and patchy rain. These weather events, particularly in the mountains to the west of the ACT, posed a significant threat of bushfires and grassfires in the ACT and surrounding region. A slight reprieve was felt when the fire danger index, the FDI, reduced from late December 2018 to January 2019, but it rose steadily after this period. This resulted in three days of total fire ban and 16 very high fire danger days. These conditions were a strong reminder of the risks that Canberra faces as the bush capital.
MR PETTERSSON: Minister, how does this year’s season compare to others?
MR GENTLEMAN: The 2018-19 ACT bushfire season has seen Canberra experience conditions of bushfire risk greater than in 2003. With the extension I mentioned earlier, we have also seen the longest season since 2003. However, the benefit of 15 years of strategic planning and actions undertaken to mitigate our most extreme risk through the strategic bushfire management plan, or SBMP, has seen many of those risks prevented or quickly responded to.
The SBMP provides a planned and measured approach to managing the risk to the territory and is reviewed every five years and presented to this Assembly. All actions in the current version are in the final stages of completion, which culminates five years of work from across numerous areas of government. The ESA is currently consulting the community on what the next SBMP should look like, and I encourage all Canberrans to have their say. Go to yoursay.act.gov.au.
I note the warning of the ESA commissioner that, with the influence of climate change, our fire seasons are becoming longer. In the past, incidents such as the Pierces Creek fire, which was in early November last year, would not normally have been seen until after the Christmas period and well into summer.
MS CODY: What investment has the ACT government made to help prepare for the threat of bushfires?
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Ms Cody for her question. I am delighted to get a question from her on her special day. I want to thank the hardworking staff across our agencies who have kept Canberra safe this season and who continue to do so. The work is led by the commissioner and the dedicated staff across the various services that make up the ESA and also through our hardworking parks and conservation service. They are supported by all directorates, and I want to thank them all.
The ACT government continues to invest in preparing for the threat of bushfires. This season the ESA contracted a specialist intelligence gathering helicopter. The helicopter significantly enhanced bushfire fighting operations by allowing key decision-makers to better understand the extent of situations as they unfolded.
To further improve incident management, the ACT government invested in an upgrade to the incident management facilities at ESA headquarters, which were successfully used to fight the Pierces Creek fire. We are also rolling out new personal protective clothing, including for our ACT Fire & Rescue staff. Madam Speaker,
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