The Hodgman Liberal Government is committed to protecting lives and property in Tasmania from the risk of bushfires, which is why we have committed over $55 million for our Fuel Reduction Program since coming to Government.
The success of the Program has been confirmed with a recent remodelling of the bushfire risk analysis for Tasmania showing that the statewide bushfire risk has reduced by 4.5 per cent over the last three years.
Significantly, areas prioritised for strategic risk reduction work such as the northern suburbs of Hobart, areas around the North West and East Coasts and on Flinders Island, are showing a notable decrease, with some having their bushfire risk halved since the start of the program.
The effectiveness of the program was demonstrated earlier this year when a lightning strike near Rossarden caused a serious bushfire that had the potential of impacting the town, but it was significantly limited due to a fuel reduction burn conducted in the area in Autumn 2015
It’s fantastic news for Tasmanians who know full well the devastating toll that bushfires can have on the community, and was badly needed after Labor, captive to the Greens, ignored proper investment during their time in Government.
This was especially underlined after the 2015-16 bushfire season that saw over 700 reported bushfire incidents that required a response, and while fuel reduction cannot completely eliminate the risk of bushfires, it does reduce the potential for serious damage and increases safety for firefighters and the community.
Bushfire risk reduction examples in four case study areas:
http://www.premier.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/word_doc/0008/332999/Fuel_Reduction_Program.docx
Maps:
http://www.premier.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/332985/HSA_Relative_Risk_Change_Hobart.pdf
More Media Releases from the Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management