DSE must heed local bushfire advice

Source: Liberals National Coalition Media Release - 06.08.08

Greater delegation in the Department of Sustainability and Environment’s decision-making process is a key step in better managing the region’s bushfires, according to The Nationals Member for Benalla Bill Sykes.

Dr Sykes said decentralising the decision making process would enable the agency to take local knowledge into account when addressing the bushfire risk.

“The present reporting structure is far too cumbersome, particularly when fire crews are so often dealing with minute by minute situations and require virtually instantaneous responses,” he said.

“There are six managers between officers in charge on the ground and the department’s secretary in Melbourne.

“The approval process for prescribed burns is also unduly complex. Given the limited number of days suited to undertaking controlled burns, the government needs to streamline the process to make it more efficient.”

Dr Sykes said he hoped remedying the ineffectual emergency management procedures would help resolve the resentment harboured by many communities towards the department.

“During the 2002-03 bushfire season in particular, DSE and Parks Victoria failed to listen to local residents.

“I believe this situation was largely caused by the strictures of management, rather than crews on the ground.”

Greater delegation would also enable crews to increase the number of hot changeovers and place resources where they were most needed, Dr Sykes said.

“During the 2006-07 bushfires, valuable time was wasted in conducting cool changeovers, which meant fire fighters taking a break from the front line were not immediately replaced by other crews.

“As a result, fires were left unattended by ground crews sometimes for several hours at a time and often in the evenings, when the most effective progress is generally made.”