This burn was carried out very professionally with a 50 metre wide strip of Dooragan National Park being cleared right to the side of the access road in this area. 

A letter of appreciation was then forwarded to the office of the area manager of National Parks, thanking those people and the local fire brigade for carrying out a very professional operation in a time of serious drought and fire danger.

These drought conditions and danger of serious fires are again upon us and I have again applied to the National Parks to carry out another operation similar to that done in 2015.

I have also sought the assistance of our Local Member, Mrs Leslie Williams who made inquiries on my behalf in this matter. 

She has been informed that the subject strip of Dooragan National Park Reserve is classified as a strategic management zone, and as such did not meet the requirements of yearly hazard reduction burning. 

National Parks say that to protect the ecological environment of the park and to ensure public safety is maintained in the event of a bush fire, a hazard reduction burn is scheduled for approximately every seven years under the requirements of the Rural Fire Services’ Bush Environmental Assessment Code. 

That suggested time is four years away. With very serious drought conditions with us now, I submit that we cannot wait for another four years.  There must be something within the rules and regulations that allows for URGENT AND IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.

Graham Williams,

Laurieton