Letter to the Editor: Response to bushfire proponents

At approximately the same time as Bushfire Front proponents were using reassuring words like “low-intensity patch burning” (Roger Underwood, The West Australian Letters, 26/10) and “low-intensity fuel reduction burning” (John Clarke, The West Australian Letters, 27/10) and calling to bring back planned burning in Kings Park, prescribed burns that were anything but cool were taking place in Denmark and Albany reserves, the former resulting in sections of hot canopy burn and the latter out of control, in rising temperatures and strong winds.

In addition, many other Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions-approved burns were on the go in the South West.

In the department’s desperation to meet the 200,000ha per annum target, burns happen whenever it’s dry enough to burn, and that includes November and December.

The Walpole Wilderness burn in late November last year took out 25,000ha, including peat swamps that take thousands of years to form, and stunning forest in our internationally recognised biodiversity hotspot.

Blackened to the treetops.

As for Kings Park and the implementation of the “no burn” policy, that rationale was comprehensively and independently examined by an external review of the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority Fire Management and Response Plan (2010), incorporating detailed investigations and the practical experience of many well-qualified participants.

Dr Carole Peters, Convenor, Fire & Air Forum 2023 (UWA)

Letters to the editor must contain the author’s full name, address and daytime contact number. Letters may be edited for space, clarity or legal reasons. Email news@albanyadvertiser.com or post to PO Box 5168 Albany, WA, 6332.