The Parks and Wildlife Service at the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions has just completed 4000 hectares of prescribed burning around the Kalbarri town site and across Kalbarri National Park together with the Kalbarri Volunteer Fire Brigade (KVFB) and other stakeholders.
The week-long operation involved more than 50 staff and volunteers from Parks and Wildlife Service, KVFB, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services, Western Mulga, the Shire of Northampton, Water Corporation WA, and the Midwest Aboriginal Ranger Program.
A video of the successful operation is available at: Kalbarri prescribed burning
Senior operations officer Michael Raykos said the burning was the culmination of recent efforts by Parks and Wildlife Service and KVFB to develop a tenure-blind bushfire mitigation plan to protect Kalbarri town site.
“Prescribed burning was carried out across various tenures surrounding Kalbarri, including Kalbarri National Park, to create a strategic buffer that will protect the local community, tourists and critical infrastructure from damaging bushfires,” he said.
“The week was a great success and highlights the benefits of collaboration to protect the town site of Kalbarri from the devastating impacts of summer bushfires.
“The department has limited opportunities to undertake prescribed burns, as it is highly dependent on weather conditions, and the milder weather during autumn provided ideal conditions to safely conduct these burns.”
The prescribed burning program involves careful planning and monitoring, and community consultation at a local level with local government authorities, as well as providing information to residents prior to burns being conducted.
Media contact: DBCA Media 9219 9999
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