Spring being well and truly upon us, it is time for farmers to start hazard reduction burning on land they own or manage.
I am sure many of us can remember 20 years ago each spring and autumn when one would see smoke rising across the landscape, as farmers lit a mosaic of burns across their land.
However, over recent times economics, changing enterprises and community attitudes have seen a reduction in the number of burns across the rural landscape. This has allowed fuel loads to build up with the potential, under the right conditions, of creating bushfires.
As farmers, we know the importance of performing fuel reduction burns and we applaud the State Government’s $28.5 million fuel reduction program, which was launched in March.
It is a cross-tenure program that aims to reduce bushfire fuel in identified areas of high risk. The program conducts fuel reduction burns throughout the state in autumn and spring.
The TFGA has been consulted widely and it supports this program, not only because it is a good program, but also because 42 per cent of land that is suitable for bushfire risk reduction treatment is privately owned.
We have an important role to play in not only protecting ourselves but also our local community. This can be done as part of the statewide fuel reduction program.
We should have a high degree of confidence in the program as it is based on science and is matched with on-ground input from 10 local area committees, some of which have TFGA members.
The program uses computer modelling to identify risk areas and to strategically plan burns to reduce the bushfire risk. Important strategic burns have been undertaken throughout Tasmania, including sites at Strahan, Sisters Beach, Coles Bay, Scamander, Trevallyn, Rossarden, Mt Nelson, Howrah and Coningham.
The program uses the resources of the Tasmania Fire Service (TFS), the Parks and Wildlife Service, Forestry Tasmania, local councils and private landowners to mitigate bushfire risk in a strategic, systematic way in urban, semi-rural and wilderness areas.
If you are confident in burning areas of bush on your land, do it now or plan for an autumn burn. Remember to register the burn with the TFS on 1800 000 699. It is only a phone call and will prevent local brigades being called out.
For those who are uncomfortable, for whatever reason, when it comes to burning there is help available. There are programs called red hot tips, there is information on the website or call the fuel reduction unit.
No amount of burning will ever end the threat of bushfires. However, we have to prepare ourselves as best we can. This government program goes a long way to mitigating much of that threat. We, as land managers, want to make sure we contribute to it as best we can.
You cannot stop a major bushfire, but you can, through fuel reduction and other mechanisms, reduce the impact a fire can have on our community. I encourage more farmers and private landowners to participate in this potentially life-saving work.
For further information, visit the Tasmania Fire Service website on www.fire.tas.gov.au
THIS ARTICLE FIRST APPEARED IN THE TASMANIAN COUNTRY ON 18TH SEPTEMBER 2015
TFGA president Wayne Johnston
