Low burn rates fuel fire season concern

A RED flag has gone up on next fire season following revelations the State Government has struggled to meet just half its planned burn target.

As CFA volunteers fret over the impact of fire service reforms on their ability to react to major fires, figures show the Government has burnt 49 per cent of its 230,195ha planned target for 2016-17.

The Otways region was one of the most neglected areas, with just 834ha subjected to planned burns this season — 15 per cent of its 8496ha target for the region.

“We’ve seen what can happen in the Otways, with Wye River and other fires in the past,” Opposition Emergency Services spokesman Brad Battin said.

“We need to know these targets can be met, because we may not be able to rely on the fire services that Daniel Andrews is determined to destroy.”

DELWP chief fire officer Stephanie Rotarangi said wet winter and spring conditions affected the ability to conduct planned burns, but mechanical treatments to reduce bushfire fuels took place where conditions allowed.

“The conditions leading up to burn season in the Otways district were not ideal,” Ms Rotarangi said.

With less than two weeks left in the burn season, DELWP has achieved just 7 per cent of its planned burn targets in the Mallee and Macalister regions, 38 per cent for the Tambo Valley, 44 per cent for the Hume region, 32 per cent for the Grampians and 58 per cent for the Yarra and outer Melbourne regions.

DELWP managed to lift its seasonal average to 49 per cent by delivering one above-target burn in East Gippsland’s Snowy River region.

The Victorian Government has already cut the 5 per cent of crown land (390,000ha) target set by the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission.