In preparation for the Bendigo Meeting of April 18 [see our post below], Environment Groups were supplied with a briefing by the Environment Defenders Office on the various legal obligations governing DSE’s fire management. The document is printed below, slightly edited, for members’ information:
Fire Management on Victorian Public Land and Community Consultation
This document briefly outlines the legislative basis for fire management on public land in Victoria. It has a particular focus on the role of prescribed burning and community consultation. It provides answers to the following questions:
- Who is responsible for fire management on public land in Victoria?
- What is the Code of Practice?
- What are they key requirements of the Code?
- What are the community consultation requirements of the Code?
- What are the DSE’s biodiversity protection requirements?
The purpose of this memo is to help individuals concerned about the environment to understand how the law surrounding fire management, especially prescribed burning, and what place community consultation holds in this process.
Who is responsible for fire management on public land in Victoria?
The Department of Sustainability and Environment (the DSE) is the government body largely responsible for managing fire on Victoria’s public land.
Public land includes National Parks, State Parks, State forests and Crown Reserves.
The DSE is headed by the Secretary of the DSE, who is currently Greg Wilson.
The DSE’s specific responsibilities are set out in the following Acts:
- The Forests Act 1958:
- Section 62(2) states that the Secretary must carry out ‘proper and sufficient work’ for the immediate ‘prevention and suppression of fire’ and for the ‘planned prevention of fire’ in States Forests, National and State Parks, wilderness areas and Crown Reserves.
- Sections 63 to 69 sets out the Secretary’s general powers in relation to fire suppression and prevention. These include powers to order landowners to carry out burning off activities.
- National Parks Act 1975:
- Section 17(2)(b) states that the Secretary shall ensure that ‘appropriate and sufficient measures are taken to protect each national park and State park from injury by fire’ (s17(2)(b)).
The DSE’s fire management responsibilities are balanced by other responsibilities, such as its responsibilities to protect biodiversity, which are set out below.
Continue reading →
The poster, pictured at left, was produced by FOBIF and Connecting Country late last year. It contains 63 photos highlighting the beauty of our local bushlands. The first edition sold out but there are now more copies available from The Hub 14/233b Barker St (entry through glass door on Templeton Street). The cost is $15 dollars for FOBIF and/or Connecting Country members. The poster is also available from Legion Office Works, Stoneman’s Bookroom and the Castlemaine Tourist Information Centre in the Market Building. Click here to see a larger version of the poster.
Click on image for info/order page
Click on image for info/order page
Click on image for info/order page
