Fuel load maps kept hidden by Andrews Government

The Andrews Government is doing all it can to block the release of fuel load maps that expose the build-up of extreme fuel loads.

Ready to burn: The Government is refusing to release maps shwoing where fuel loads have built up. Picture: Andy Rogers

PREMIER Daniel Andrews and state Attorney-General Jill Hennessy have dodged releasing critical fuel load maps in the midst of the one of the state’s most dangerous fire seasons, despite an order from Parliament’s Upper House.

The Coalition passed a motion through the Upper House last month calling on the Andrews Government to release the fuel load maps by December 11.

But Ms Hennessy failed to release the maps, informing the Upper House the “date for the production of the maps does not allow sufficient time for the purpose of responding to the order”.

Upper House leader David Davis said it was outrageous that the Government claimed it needed more time, when they already had the maps.

Mr Davis’ claim is backed by evidence showing Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning bureaucrats have done all they can to block The Weekly Times’ requests for the maps.

In September last year DELWP responded to The Weekly Times’ request for the maps by stating: “fuel load data is only published to Business Level Data (an internal system), which means it is only available to internal DELWP users”.

Then in July this year The Weekly Times tried again, with DELWP media adviser Michael Pollock stating: “This information is not something that DELWP typically provides and the Department has some concerns with this information being made publicly accessible”.

The Weekly Times then lodged an FoI request on September 3 requesting the fuel load maps covering the most populous and high risk East Central fire zone — from Kinglake to Gippsland — for the last five years.

MORE:

FIRE MAPS COVERED UP

OPINION: SECRECY ABOUT FUEL LOADS MUST STOP

FUEL LOADS HIT ‘EXTREME’

DELWP FoI officer Stuart Atkin responded by stating it would take 30 hours of staff time to compile the maps at a cost of $1294.80.

The Weekly Times then revised its request seeking the most recent of the five maps, with DELWP agreeing to charge $258.96 and releasing the East Central zone map on October 24, which showed the build-up of extreme fuel loads.

But The Weekly Times was stunned to discover DELWP appeared to have fabricated the whole costing process, given the production date on the map was August 8, almost a month prior to The Weekly Times lodging its FoI request.