Ms O’CONNOR question to Minister for PARKS and ENVIRONMENT, Mr DUIGAN
This is a follow-up question following our conversation in this Chamber yesterday. Does the minister have more information relating to the coming fire season in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area and reserve lands, and possibly some more information on what kind of fire conditions our emergency services and Parks is expecting this season?
ANSWER
Mr President, I thank the member for the question and the opportunity to update the House on the sort of fire season that we might be expecting here in Tasmania. I acknowledge that the Tasmanian multi-agency pre-bushfire season briefing is actually underway as we speak in Launceston today, so it is very timely to provide an update on conditions ahead.
Representatives from Tasmania’s Parks and Wildlife Service, Tasmania Fire Service, the State Emergency Service, Sustainable Timbers Tasmania, and the Bureau of Meteorology are attending the session in Launceston today. The briefing is an opportunity for experts in the field to get together and share information on a wide range of topics and provide updates ahead of bushfire season. I note the substantial amount of rain we have had over the last week, but we are expecting a normal season at this stage, which means bushfires will occur. Continuing drier and warmer conditions will increase the risk towards summer.
Although winter delivered some cold days, Tasmania has continued to experience higher than usual temperatures. In June, much of the state had below-normal rainfall, with the north‑east being the exception. The eastern half of the state was wetter than normal in July, and average in August. The rainfall from the storm which I referenced at the end of August has increased soil moisture across the state. It is pleasing that root zone soil moisture levels are not high, with normal levels in the east of the state and below normal in the west of the state. The temperature and rainfall climate outlooks are for relatively warmer days and nights with normal spring rainfall.
We are encouraging the Tasmanian community to be ready for bushfire season by making or reviewing bushfire plans, preparing their homes and properties, and by increasing their awareness of conditions around them as spring progresses. The fire permit period has not yet been declared and is dependent on fuel dryness and bushfire risk. Should a permit period be declared, further information will be provided in due course. Tasmanian constituent inquiries to members here can be directed to fire.tas.gov.au for more information on bushfire plans.
As I said yesterday, fighting bushfires is a combined effort from all our state’s fire agencies, and Tasmania Parks and Wildlife has the resources required to respond to a typical fire season, along with the systems and escalation arrangements to respond to events that are beyond typical. I will continue to receive updated briefings from the department as the season draws closer. Thank you.
