Fuel loads: Budget burnt up by bureaucracy
An annual report has shown just how little of Victoria’s fuel management budget went into on-the-ground burning or removing dangerous fuel loads in 2018-19.
BUREAUCRACY burnt up 85 per cent of Victoria’s fuel load management budget in 2018-19, leaving just $18.2 million for on-ground work to curb the risk of fire in the lead-up to this summer.
Forest Fire Management Victoria’s 2018-19 annual report shows just 15 per cent of the $121.6 million spent on fuel management in 2018-19 went into on-the-ground burning or removing dangerous fuel loads across 130,000ha.
The remaining $103.4 million was spent on “indirect” costs, which FFMVic’s report describes as covering “business management, capability, engagement, equipment and infrastructure, operational planning, resource management, monitoring, plus evaluation and reporting”.
The fact that 85 per cent of fuel management spending went into policy, paperwork, preparation and indirect management in 2018-19 sits in stark contrast to previous years, when $40-$50 million was spent on fuel reduction burns.
Past FFMVic reports show that in:
2017-18 No report was available, with just 74,728ha treated.
2016-17 $40.4 million was spent on direct and $67.9 million on indirect fuel management (125,052ha treated).
2015-16 $44 million was spent in direct and $88.9 million was spent on indirect costs (197,940ha treated).
2014-15 $50 million was spent in direct and $63 million was spent on indirect costs (234,614ha treated).
One of Australia’s leading former fire chiefs said the small spend on “actually walking into the bush and striking a match” showed the Government and its bureaucrats were “tying themselves up in knots with endless planning, rather than getting on with the job.
“It’s time for bold action, rather than constantly undertaking community and media engagement, planning and biodiversity work,” he said.
Opposition Emergency Services spokesman Brad Battin said with just 15 per cent of the hazard reduction budget going to protecting communities and 85 per cent in reporting and planning, it was no wonder fuel loads across Victoria were at extremely dangerous levels.
M ORE:
“(Premier Daniel) Andrews’ cuts to hazard reduction burns put Victoria at a higher risk of major fires this season.”
FFMVic Chief Fire Officer Chris Hardman said “the fact is, it is harder and harder to find enough days for safe and effective planned burning”.
The revelation that so little was being spent in on-the-ground fuel reduction comes as Mr Andrews refuses to release maps showing the build-up of fuel loads, for fear they could be used by arsonists.
The Premier’s claim has been branded “ludicrous” and “a load of rubbish” by leading bushfire scientists.
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