Member for Northern Victoria Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell has called on the state government to allow public access to state forests to help reduce fuel loads that increase the impact of potential bushfires. Speaking during the adjournment debate, Ms Tyrrell asked the Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos to allow Victorians to assist with fuel reduction in state forests by implementing recommendation seven of the Inquiry into Climate Resilience report recently tabled in state parliament. Ms Tyrrell said the recommendation focused on mitigating the impact of bushfires by using strategic fuel reduction and planned burns, and fuel load removal to better manage fuel loads. “There are many state forests in my electorate and my constituents who live nearby regularly express concern regarding the bushfire risks they face from high fuel loads that have accumulated due to state government inaction,” Ms Tyrrell said. Ms Tyrrell said the reported plans to reduce DEECA staff by 350 officers in coming months increased the likelihood that even less fuel reduction work will be completed and said it made sense to allow Victorians to help reduce the risk of large bushfires. “Many of my constituents will be the victims of potential bushfires fueled by neglected forests floors littered with deadfall,” Ms Tyrrell said. “They want to help reduce the high fuel loads in our state forests and the minister should immediately open up the forests to allow them to do so.”
