Should unemployed people be working to reduce bush fire hazards in our communities? 

That’s what the Independent Bushfire Group (IBG) is asking all levels of government to consider – “tapping into the huge pool of unemployed people across the country to make communities safer from bushfires”.

IBG spokesperson Dave Darlington said “now is the perfect time to assist the unemployed by providing meaningful and essential work to reduce hazards on the edge of communities”.

“The NSW Bushfire Inquiry identified that hazard reduction works were likely to be most effective when carried out close to assets,” Mr Darlington said.

“From experience we know that management of bushfire risk close to schools, aged care facilities and houses can make a big difference between saving buildings and occupants versus tragic losses. 

“We also know that this work often gets put to one side because it is so labour intensive.”

Hazard reduction is often thought of only as burning but it also includes manual removal of shrubs and leaf litter and vegetation thinning.

“Sadly, in this COVID pandemic we have a huge number of unemployed people that could be put into jobs managed by local, state and territory governments. We just need to accept that this makes perfect economic, social and environmental sense right now.

“With the drought broken in many areas we are seeing potential fire hazards growing up to and within communities. We fear the lessons from last summer’s fires may be forgotten unless we start to identify and manage the problems of forest and grass fuels close to assets.

“The Federal budget used infrastructure projects as a way of recharging the economy, but these projects have long lead times. The fuel management works we would like to see can happen straight away, so people can be placed in work quickly.

“We should not go into another bushfire season without a concerted effort to protect assets and there is no better way to do this than by giving people jobs.”

Your opinion

Considering the extent of last year’s bushfires in the Northern Rivers area, what do you think? Let the Lismore App know. Contact The App