Fire plan ‘flawed’ — Black, Shauna, 2013.02.28

On the matter of the Kangaroo Island Bushfire Management Plan 2009-2014, the following differing views of Mayor Jayne Bates and Dr Gabriel Bittar were published by Editor Shauna Black in The Islander of 28th Feb. 2013, under the title

Fire plan ‘flawed’

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By Shauna Black

Feb. 28, 2013, 10:23 a.m.

American River resident Gabriel Bittar believes Kangaroo Island should “get rid” of its Bushfire Management Plan and start again and he has called on the State Government for a ministerial inquiry into bushfire management on the island.

The KI Bushfire Management Plan 2009-14 is overseen by the KI Bushfire Management Committee created by legislation in 2008. The comSmittee members represent the Kangaroo Island Council, the Department of Environment Water and Natural Resources and the CFS.

The plan is “tenure blind”, so it applies across the whole island, regardless of who owns the land.

Mayor Jayne Bates said the plan was developed as a pilot project by the State Government after the 2007 bushfires and the council could not have afforded to do the plan without State Government assistance.

She said under the risk-based plan, every asset, including native vegetation, was given a risk rating based on the consequences and likelihood of bushfire and treatments to mitigate risk.

Dr Bittar says the plan is flawed because it does not put any value on human life and most of it has not been implemented because of funding issues. “The council needs to stop hiding behind a plan which is useless. The community needs a plan that is practical and in which communities can have a say,” he said.

“There is no feedback from the committee, its meetings are closed and after three years when you see nothing happening…

“What is the use of a plan that is fatally flawed (it implicitly gives zero value to human life), which is underfunded and which, after three years, has brought no material improvement in bushfire risk, prevention and mitigation for 16 ‘extreme’, ‘very high’ and ‘high risk’ communities scattered across the island.”

Ms Bates said the plan contained about $800,000 of proposed works when it was drawn up after community consultation.

She said the works had been prioritised. For example, Mitchell Drive at Island Beach had been one of the first projects when it was upgraded to meet “GAFLC standard” to get a fire truck in and out.

Likewise, Hanson Bay Road had been renovated and widened to meet its GAFLC standard.

Under the plan, different works and areas of responsibility fall to the different agencies.

“Each year we budget to do some of the works that are our responsibility. The plan is strategic, it’s something I believe in and it is not flawed. No other council area has one because the State Government has not funded them,” Ms Bates said.

“I believe our community is prepared. That fire [Cygnet River] could have and should have destroyed houses but it didn’t.

“In the end, fire responsibility is a community issue and each individual must address their own risk. There is plenty of information out there about what you can do.

“The plan is not perfect. We can always improve it and we continue to do so.”

At its recent meeting the Kangaroo Island Council did not pass any of eight resolutions put forward by Cr Graham Walkom regarding bushfire works, funding and reporting.

Ms Bates said there had been respectful debate for more than two hours about the resolutions with some receiving support from several councillors.

A subsequent resolution to confirm the council’s commitment to KIBMC and the implementation of its plan was successful.

This followed a series of questions on notice to the council from Cr Graham Walkom, most of which have been referred to the KIBMC for answers.

“This totally negative outcome for logical and well thought out motions is somewhat bizarre, all the more so considering that two years earlier, on February 2, 2011, a motion by councillors Denholm and Walkom directing the CEO to tackle these same fire issues, was carried, thus becoming legal and binding on council to implement,” Dr Bittar said.

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See also:

Time for a ministerial enquiry into Kangaroo Island bushfire matters — Dr Bittar, Gabriel, 2013.02.18

Council disregards bushfire expert opinion and votes: NO to community input, NO to improved communication, NO to Council responsibility, NO to improved fire safety – 2013.02.13

Does Council understand its legal and moral fire obligations? – G. Bittar on Cr Walkom’s unanswered QoN, 2013.01.26

Bushfire risks: Sapphiretown/Island Beach Association demands Council action — Carey, Ian, 2013.02.22

A bushfire expert comments on Kangaroo Island fire prevention situation — Fenwick, Roger, 2013.02.13

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