Prescribed burning – a priority for the regions
Prescribed burning - a priority for the regions
MEDIA RELEASE - Prescribed burning - a priority for the regions
March 2015
Before the Northcliffe bushfire had even been contained, Shire President Wade DeCampo was advocating with the Hon. Albert Jacob MLA - Minister for Environment, along with The Hon. Terry Redman MLA - Minister for Regional Development, for additional funding to go towards an increase in prescribed burning across the State.Minister Redman, who is also the State Member for Warren-Blackwood, last week made a pledge to dedicate a portion of Royalties for Regions funding to that purpose.
Cr DeCampo has spoken out in defence, of Minister Redman, who has found himself defending the validity of the use of Royalties for Regions money for prescribed burning and also rejecting the suggestion that this funding source will replace the State's general budget allocation towards prescribed burning. "Comments questioning the validity of the use of Royalties for Regions funding for prescribed burning are both frivolous and unhelpful," said Cr DeCampo.
Royalties for Regions funding has been aimed at improving the quality of life in the regional communities and making them more sustainable. "If, for example, Royalties for Regions funding is utilised to put a roof on a community hall to protect and preserve that asset for the community, then putting that money towards prescribed burning is no different as it can essentially protect several assets and often entire communities," said Cr DeCampo.
The prescribed burning target of 200,000ha per year hasn't been achieved for many years. Cr DeCampo also agrees with Minister Redman's rationale of using Royalties for Regions as a platform to meeting the State's prescribed burning targets, explaining "this will help get the prescribed burns back on track, and will hopefully assist the State Government with getting future spending priorities on target as well. When it comes to community safety, one would assume that bipartisan support will prevail."
"If anything good is to come from this 100,000ha fire that saw Northcliffe under imminent threat and had three other communities on alert, we hope it is that people across the state become more aware of the importance of prescribed burning, and that the 200,000ha of prescribed burn per annum target is exceeded."
"It's about doing something to reduce the risk and likelihood of another wildfire, through prescribed burning, in order to protect the increasing population of regional communities all over Western Australia."
-ENDS-
Authorised by Andrew Campbell, Chief Executive Officer, Shire of Manjimup.
Contact: 9771 7777
Contact for comment: Wade DeCampo, Shire President.
Contact: 0427 094 081
Contact Gina Nieuwendyk, Public Relations Officer, Shire of Manjimup
Contact: 9771 7777