Co-ordinated approach needed to prevent repeat catastrophe, Trenorden
Author: Max Trenorden
Published on: 15-January-2010
The devastation of the recent Toodyay fires should provide a valuable lesson to Government if a repeat performance is to be avoided, according to Hon Max Trenorden MLC, Member for the Agricultural Region.
Mr Trenorden today called upon both Government and non-Government agencies to come together in a co-ordinated, holistic approach to fire preparedness in the wake of the December fires that destroyed more than 30 homes and saw over 200 animals lost.
“I call upon the Minister for Planning, Hon John Day MLA and the Minister for Local Government, Hon John Castrilli MLA, to lead stakeholders in a comprehensive and wide ranging discussion on bush fire preparedness,” he said.
“There are parts of regional Western Australia that are arguably some of the most fire-prone areas in the country and this means there is a range of planning issues that need to be considered.”
Mr Trenorden said co-ordination was the key to discussions if a meaningful outcome is to be achieved.
“We were fortunate on this occasion that lives weren’t lost,” he said. “However, there was significant damage to property and in light of this issues like housing specifications, block development, road design and water access all need to be examined closely if we are to minimise future losses.
“Regulations for the clearing of land, for example, need to be streamlined and the time taken for approval reduced significantly. It may well be that if you live in a bush fire risk zone your application for clearing is expedited or perhaps even assessed by a local authority.
“After visiting Toodyay last week I’m adamant that a roundtable approach to fire prevention is necessary. My visit convinced me that there was too much of the left hand not knowing what the right hand was doing, something that benefits no one.”
Mr Trenorden said he had a number of ideas in mind to start a public debate and believed there may well be lessons to be learned from Victoria’s Black Saturday Royal Commission.
“Spending an extra $25,000 in the building stage of a house is a serious burden on anyone but if it means there’s a good chance your house might be standing after a bush fire then perhaps it’s something we need to consider,” he said. “It may even mean a discount on insurance premiums.
“I am asking the respective Ministers to pull together a broad range of agencies with responsibilities in areas like water and power, as well as companies like the Insurance Council of Australia and Telstra.
“Agencies must work together now to plan for disasters so when they do occur the response is co-ordinated and harmonised.
“It is not something that should be left to chance,” he concluded.
