Funding for Australian bushfire fuel reduction trialsFriday 11 Mar 2016 Fight against bushfires finally using all of the tools in the shed The fight against bushfires has taken a step forward with the Australian and NSW Governments on Monday announcing an AU$1.5 million national tender to fund three mechanical bushfire fuel reduction trials.The Australian forest, wood and paper products industry has applauded the Federal Government for taking an innovative approach to fighting bushfires, which cost the industry hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost trees each summer, as well as the millions of dollars to the economy in damages to homes and property and often tragic loss of lives. The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) Chief Executive Officer, Mr Ross Hampton, said "There is more than one way to reduce the fuel load in our bush. Matches and fuel reduction burning has its place, but so do mulchers. Removing fallen timber and lower level scrub, known as 'mechanical fuel removal' is a widely accepted bushfire mitigation tool which we have not been utilising in this country." A report by Deloitte Access Economics (DAE) into the economics of 'mechanical fuel removal' found that removing fuel from the bush, in combination with fuel reduction burning, could dramatically reduce the damage caused by bushfires and save the community tens of millions of dollars each year. “In the United States, for example, there is a 10 year, $400 million program into mechanical fuel reduction to improve forest health and reduce bushfire risk,” Mr Hampton said. Source: AFPA |
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