Layman Ballan Fire BS120 October 2010

           Layman Ballan fire (Wiltshire-Butler and Blackwood River National Parks) October 2010

   Photographs taken off Crouch Road on Northern boundary of burn area October 2010                                   

The fire that cost the state $647 982                     

Layman forest 25km south west of Nannup was subject to a DEC planned fire (ID BS120) in spring 2010 with ignition occurring on the 16^th and 19^th of October 2010. DEC’s advertised primary objective for the fire was biodiversity conservation with specific reference made to the endangered Western ringtail possum and two species of fish: Balston’s pygmy perch and the Western mud minnow. (DEC, Prescribed Fire Plan, Layman Ballan, 2007)

What DEC planned

DEC planned to burn a total of 9772 hectares (7055 ha in Wiltshire – Butler NP and 2717 ha in Blackwood River NP). DEC outlined that the primary purpose of this fire was biodiversity management and the secondary purpose was strategic protection of nearby housing developments (DEC, Prescribed Fire Plan, Layman Ballan, 2007).  

The intention was to burn 60 – 80% of the riparian and forest areas of Agonis flexuosa, a species associated with the Western ringtail possum and in so doing reduce the risk of a wildfire negatively impacting on the possum population in the two national parks (WA Legislative Council, Questions on Notice, 2010 p9835). Similarly, DEC reported that burning the riparian vegetation at lower intensities than would occur in a summer wildfire would have less of an impact on the vegetation fringing the streams and therefore be less damaging to the 2 fish species (WA Legislative Council, Questions on Notice, 2010, p9836).

DEC planned for less than 30% crown scorch across the total forested area (DEC, Prescribed Fire Plan, Layman Ballan, 2007).

A cost of $74 373 is attributable to this planned burn (WA Legislative Council, Questions Without Notice, 2011, p4080b).

                                                        Photographs taken off Crouch Road on northern boundary of burn area October 2010

What happened

The fire burnt with a far greater intensity than was predicted and escaped. The total area burnt was 12 272 hectares (8302 ha in Wiltshire-Butler NP, 2717 ha in Blackwood River NP and 1266 ha in Rosa and Butlerforest blocks) (WA Legislative Council, Questions on Notice, 2010, p9836).

More than 90% of the riparian area containing Agonis flexuosa was burnt and approximately 70% of the forest canopy was fully crown scorched (WA Legislative Council, Questions on Notice, 2010, p9836).

The total cost of the burn and its consequences as at 26 May 2011was $647 982 (WA Legislative Council, Questions Without Notice, 2011, p4080b).

This includes the $74 373 that DEC planned to spend plus $573 608 detailed in the table below.

The entire amount attributable to salary and overtime was paid to staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation. $25 821 was paid in salary payments and the remaining $227 353 was in overtime payments.

Tabled Document 3342 for Question Without Notice – Layman Ballan BS120

Notes on flora and fauna

This fire’s planned primary purpose was recorded as biodiversity conservation with specific reference made to two fish species; Balston’s pygmy perch and the Western mud minnow and the endangered Western ringtail possum (DEC, Prescribed Fire Plan, Layman Ballan, 2007).

The two national parks are known to provide nesting and feeding habitat for locally endemic and endangered Black Cockatoo species as well as Western Ringtail Possums, Quenda and Western brush wallabies (DEC, Burn Implementation Plan, Layman Ballan BS120, 2010).

DEC was also aware of Declared Rare Flora, Daviesia elongata and seven species of Priority Flora; Acacia tayloriana, Astroloma sp. Nannup, Chordiflex gracilior, Hybanthus volubilis, Leptinella drummondii, Darwinia sp and Eucalyptus relicta (WA Legislative Council, Questions on Notice, 2010, p9837).

.The following is a direct quote from Hansard (WA Legislative Council, Questions on Notice, 2010, pp9836 -9837).

“There is no documented information available on fire response of Acacia tayloriana. Other Acacia species are known to regenerate following mild fire via resprouting or regeneration from the soil seed bank.

Astroloma sp. Nannupis a known disturbance responsive species. It is known to respond to physical soil disturbance, with large populations found on road shoulders and under power line clearings. Itsresponse to fire has not been documented but it is thought to resprout under mild fire conditions and regenerate from seed.

Chordifex gracilior has an unknown response to fire. Another species of priority flora in the same genus, Chordifex isomorphus, is known to regenerate from seed following a fire event.

Hybanthus volubilis has an unknown response to fire. Monitoring to test the post-fire response of this species has recently commenced. Other species of Hybanthus are known to regenerate from seed following a fire event.

Leptinella drummondii has an unknown response to fire.

Darwinia sp WhicherRangehas an unknown response to fire.

Mature Eucalyptus relicta trees are known to survive mild fire but may die as a result of hot fire.”

On 14 October 2010 the planned burn was referred to the Environmental Protection Authority for assessment under section 38 of the EP Act as a proposal, likely if implemented to have a significant effect on the environment. In answers given on 2 December 2010 in the WA Legislative Council it was reported that “DEC received a referral notice from the office of the Environmental Protection Authority dated 25 October 2010. The fire commenced on 16 October and concluded on 20 October.” (WA Legislative Council, Questions on Notice, 2010, p9838).

Comment

The Wiltshire Butler and BlackwoodRiverNational Parkscontain many threatened flora species as well as providing habitat to vulnerable and endangered birds and animals including the Western ringtail possum and Black Cockatoos. This fire had a significant detrimental effect on the habitat values of the two national parks and if the area recovers fully it will take many years to do so.

A flock of Carnaby’s and Baudin’s Black Cockatoos were scheduled for release in October 2010 – the same month that DEC lit this particular fire. The wildlife carers who have rehabilitated the birds were planning to release them into Helms forest but were seeking alternative locations for the release due to Helms being outside of the national park and scheduled for logging. DEC recommended the Wiltshire Butler National Park as an appropriate site where the birds would be able to find feeding and nesting habitat. The wildlife carers decided to wait until the result of the fire was known before releasing the birds and their release has been postponed indefinitely.

Dee Patterson inspecting a hollow destroyed in the fire alongside Denny Road on southern boundary of burn area November 2010. Many hollow bearing trees collapse in fires. This is reducing much needed habitat for the 26 bird and mammal species dependent on them for nesting, and therefore survival.  

Marri tree pushed over as a part of the operation alongside Denny Roado n the southern boundary of the burn area. Photograph taken Nov 2010

“Cockatoos rely heavily on the nuts of marri trees for their food, and fire interrupts the flowering and fruiting cycle of these trees.

Cockatoos also use the very large hollows that develop principally in marri trees, and prescribed burns burn out the butts of mature hollow-bearing trees and cause them to collapse. This deprives cockatoos of the hollows essential for their nesting and breeding, and hence threatens their survival. There are 26 species of birds and mammals in WA’s South-West that must have hollows in standing trees to nest and breed, and they compete not only with each other but also with feral bees for the decreasing numbers of hollow of suitable size and location. European land management (land clearing, logging, burning) has greatly reduced the number of hollow-bearing trees, and the further loss of such trees could lead to local and ultimately total extinction of Baudin’s and Carnaby’s black cockatoo.” (WAFA, referral letter to EPA, 2010)