An independent report into the response from fire agencies to Tasmania’s summer World Heritage Area bushfires confirmed fears that a partly constructed replica hut was protected ahead of ancient forests, The Wilderness Society says.
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According to the Australiasian Fire and Emergency Services Authority Council’s report “there was evidence to show that backburning to protect assets with little heritage significance may have subsequently led to impacts on nearby sensitive plant communities (for example at Sandy Lake).”
“Given the number of interstate crews who may have lacked detailed knowledge of Tasmanian environmental assets, we are not surprised to learn of incidents of this nature…”
The Wilderness Society Tasmanian campaign manager Vica Bayley said the report demonstrated the need to ensure firefighting and management priorities were clear, and confirmed concerns of a delay in calling for interstate assistance.
