The National Association of Forest Industries said today that the damage caused by recent bushfires in Victoria could have been lessened if adequate funding and resources had been allocated to national parks by the State Labor Government. Over the past decade there have been huge areas of new national parks created. At the same time, park managers were not provided with sufficient resources to maintain the existing newly proclaimed areas,” said NAFI’s CEO Catherine Murphy.

“There is strong evidence that national parks are improperly managed because they neither have the funds or the personnel to manage bushfire fuel loads.
“There is no questioning the valuable efforts of the volunteer fire-fighters. However, their task is made considerably more difficult and far more dangerous through the lack of fuel reduction measures in national parks as a means of reducing wildfire severity.
“A report written by the Victorian Auditor-General in May 2003 supports this view, recognising that proper fuel management is a key factor in reducing the possibility of uncontrollable bushfires occurring,” she said.
Part 4 of the 2003 report focused on controlling bushfire hazard. The report found:
On average less than 50 percent of planned fuel reduction occurs.
There is competition within the department for physical resources contributing to inadequate fuel management, with fuel reduction ‘not always the highest priority among competing priorities’ and ‘a limited number of trained staff available’
There is a failure to capitalise on fuel reduction opportunities in low-risk fire years, with a tendency for seasonal firefighter numbers to be reduced in these years instead of being employed in fuel reduction activities.
Other options, apart from hazard reduction burning should be employed to reduce the fuel loads in national parks. Following the release of this report there is no evidence to suggest that there has been a significant increase in funding for reducing fuel loads or commitment to sustainable forest management and protection.
“Obviously DSE does not have enough funding to carry out the necessary forest maintenance,” said Mrs Murphy.
“State Governments have created many National parks from forest land that was often formerly managed by state forest authorities.
“Fuel loads in state forests (which are used for timber production) are minimised through routine hazard reduction burning, timber harvesting operations, and in some cases post-harvest burning, which also encourages new regeneration.
“In addition, access for controlling fires is more readily achieved through well maintained roading networks which are self-funded through the timber production activities in these forests,” she said.
International expert on Bushfires, Athol Hodgson, also recently called for better management of National parks. The former fire chief wrote that The current fires burnt large areas with an intensity and uniformity alien to the natural processes that our native forests require for their biodiversity and sustainability.
“The recent wildfires in Victoria are unnatural and devastate native flora and fauna species,” said Mrs Murphy.
“It is often claimed that the forests ‘regenerate’ after these fires. However, a closer examination of the understorey and tree species that grow back indicate the current intense fire - limited fuel reduction regime is rapidly changing the forest ecosystems,” she said.
Catherine Murphy questioned recent decisions to create new National parks such as the extension of the Otways National park in Victoria.
“The Victorian State Labor Government makes decisions based on what it believes will buy city votes. At the same time, it ignores its responsibility of adequately funding and managing both existing and new reserves to prevent devastating bushfires,” said Mrs Murphy.
“The State Government should consider a broader framework for reducing the fuel loads in national parks and maintaining the health of our forests. A broader solution is required than inadequately funded hazard reduction.”
 
The Victorian Auditor-General’s report is available for download at: http://www.audit.vic.gov.au