- Office of Bushfire Risk Management established under FESA CEO
- Assistance up to $190,000 available for victims
- All 10 recommendations of Mick Keelty's report to be urgently implemented
Premier Colin Barnett today tabled in State Parliament Appreciating the Risk - The Report of the Special Inquiry Into the November 2011 Margaret River Bushfire.
Mr Barnett said the State Government would establish a new Office of Bushfire Risk Management to oversee changes to the prescribed burns program following the release of the report.
Mr Barnett also announced the Government would provide assistance to help householders affected by November's Margaret River bushfire.
"An Office of Bushfire Risk Management will be established to sign off on each Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) burn, once DEC has completed its own assessment of the risk," he said.
"This office will report directly to Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) CEO Wayne Gregson to ensure DEC's role in the process is independently scrutinised before ignition of the burn.
"The new office has the authority to direct, subject to specific criteria, that any prescribed burn not occur or be delayed if risks are seen as too great."
The Premier said the Government accepted in full the findings of the report into the fire, commissioned in December and undertaken by Mick Keelty AO.
The report's 10 recommendations and additional measures would be urgently implemented.
"Mr Keelty fully understands the complexity and risk that inevitably surround prescribed burning but found DEC's planning in relation to this fire, in particular, had been inadequate," he said.
"His report also found shortcomings in DEC's planning and implementation of its overall prescribed burning program.
"Today Environment Minister Bill Marmion has directed DEC to temporarily suspend further burns within five kilometres of town sites and rural subdivisions until a complete risk assessment is undertaken.
"The Government believes prescribed burning is vital. To not undertake prescribed burning is too great a risk to the community, a conclusion unambiguously reached and stated by the Victorian Bushfire Royal Commission.
"The prescribed burning program will continue under more rigorous management and oversight."
The Premier said the assistance scheme would be similar to the one that applied to those directly affected by the Toodyay fire of 2010.
"The scheme will entitle property owners whose houses, outbuildings or property were destroyed or damaged in the fire to up to $190,000 for any uninsured losses, net of any assistance they have received under the Lord Mayor's Disaster Relief Fund to which the Government donated $500,000," he said.
"Any assistance will not preclude individuals from taking legal action if that was their intention."
Other actions to be taken:
- The Office of Bushfire Risk Management to oversee all prescribed burns within a designated South-West bushfire risk zone, acknowledging the region's urban growth
- Full details of the Assistance Scheme, including criteria for entitlement, will be finalised and announced within the next week. Scheme to be administered by Riskcover
- Management of major fires (Level 3 or above) to automatically come under control of FESA CEO Wayne Gregson
- Gazetted fire districts to be established in the South-West and the Bunbury district expanded to include Eaton and outer urban areas currently outside city boundaries
- New access roads will be urgently considered for Prevelly, Yallingup, Gracetown and the College Grove area, providing reasonable and alternate evacuation routes in the event of future bushfires.
Mr Barnett said the Margaret River bushfire had left indelible scars on the community but assigning blame was not the Government's response.
"No single person or any single decision resulted in the destruction caused by this bushfire," he said.
"Dedicated firefighters risk their lives to make our communities safer and little can be gained by singling out an individual as being responsible for what has happened.
"Numerous stories emerged of heroism and dedication by firefighters in this bushfire and I convey the Government's thanks, deep respect and appreciation for their efforts.
"DEC and the Government have accepted full responsibility for the mistakes and errors that were made when this prescribed burn went wrong.
"More than 3,400ha of coastal heath land and bush was burned and 32 houses, nine chalets and four outbuildings destroyed as well as other property damage.
"I apologise to all those people whose property was destroyed or damaged."
Fact File
- Gazetted fire districts in South-West:
- - Area broadly bounded from Redgate to Witchcliffe to Cowaramup to Gracetown
- - Area broadly bounded from Busselton to Vasse to Smith's Beach
- - Augusta and the strip adjoining Bussell Highway north to Karridale
- These gazettals mean FESA (either through a career Fire and Rescue Service station or a volunteer Fire and Rescue Service Brigade) becomes the hazard management authority within the boundaries of the gazetted district and will have direct responsibility for primary response
- State Emergency Management Committee, chaired by Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan, will oversee the implementation by DEC of the recommendations
- Appreciating the Risk - The Report of the Special Inquiry Into the November 2011 Margaret River Bushfire available at http://www.publicsector.wa.gov.au
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Premier's Statement (Hansard)
