New plan to stop bushfires in SA
New plan to stop bushfires in SA
02 August 2013
published by www.skynews.com.au
Australia — A 10-year plan has been developed to manage bushfire risk across South Australia.
The state’s land management agencies and the Country Fire Service say the plan is the first of its kind and will reduce the threat of bushfires in some of the highest risk areas.
It covers more than 20,000 hectares of public parks and reserves and will also protect commercial forestry plantations and the state’s biodiversity and consider threats to community infrastructure and Adelaide’s drinking water catchment.
“As well as identifying priority high risk areas, this plan considers on-ground works and activities such as prescribed burning in strategic locations to reduce fuel levels and other strategies to reduce the impact on life, property and the environment from bushfires,” spokesman Richard De Groot said.
“These reserves are vital to maintaining the state’s environmental biodiversity and ensuring land use such as livestock grazing, forestry, cropping, viticulture and tourism are protected.”
Mr De Groot said the plan reflected a continued commitment to reducing the risk of a large-scale bushfire such as the 1983 Ash Wednesday blaze.
About 9000 hectares of parks and reserves were burnt during the Ash Wednesday fires.
The new bushfire plan will be open for public comment until the end of August.
