Pollies call for community-led fuel load reduction relief

MEMBER of the Victorian Legislative Council (Northern Victoria) Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell has called on the State Government to allow public access to state forests to help reduce fuel loads that increase the impact of potential bushfires.

Ms Tyrrell has urged the Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos to implement recommendation seven of the Inquiry into Climate Resilience report recently tabled in State Parliament.

She said the recommendation focused on mitigating the impact of bushfires by using strategic fuel reduction and planned burns, plus fuel load removal.

“There are many state forests in my electorate and my constituents who live nearby regularly express their concerns of the bushfire risks they face from high fuel loads that have accumulated due to inaction,” Ms Tyrrell said.

“(They) want to assist with fuel reduction so why not allow locals to help clean up our forests?”

Fellow Member for Northern Victoria Gaelle Broad agreed, claiming the State Government’s bushfire management policy is flawed in its application.

“It has failed to deliver adequate levels of fuel reduction through planned burns and mechanical methods,” she said.

“This shortfall leaves vast areas of vegetation unmanaged, increasing the likelihood of intense bushfires and undermining the core objective of protecting communities.

“We have record fuel loads in the bush and debris everywhere, but government policy denies it being collected and used,” she said.

“The Nationals want to see firewood collection periods extended, more areas opened to the public, and firewood coupes returned back to contractors who hold a commercial firewood licence.”