It is my contention that Fire Permits are the cause of very little hazard reduction of fires in country areas of NSW. They simply provide jobs.
Sixty years ago, Hugh Bell, the Head Forester in Casino, told me not to burn any of the Ewingar forest country. So I proceeded to tell him that our family controlled that area for fifty years, with never a major fire. We always burnt in January or February, as long as the open country was green. About every ten years, a fire would come through from the Rocky River, which never caused any problem.
In 1942, we went out on horses to put a fire out, with green bushes, and landed home at 2am in the morning, with no problems.
Yabbra State Forest was controlled by Clive Hayward for twenty years, without a major fire. Every day he could burn a patch, he did. Now it is a National Park.
When the lightning strikes from a dry storm, millions of beautiful trees will die. All the animals that are living there will die. Birds will not have food, as they live on the seed on the trees. Flying fox will go back near the towns, as that is the only place that has not been devastated by wild fires, thus causing more problems. Bees will have all been destroyed by the wild fires, but we need bees to pollinate the grasses and crops for food for animals and country life.
Three years ago, a fire started near Stanthorpe, Qld, heading east. By the time it stopped, there was very little not burnt on the western side of the Clarence River, right through to Grafton. At the same time, local brigades were battling here, at Legume. The old farmers wanted to burn back, but the Captain said Head Office would not allow this. The fire would have been out that night, instead of lingering for many days. Eventually, some old farmers did burn back to slow it down.
With the cataract fire at the same time, a local wanted to burn back at 9pm, and the fire chief would not allow it. The next day, by 11am, some two thousand acres of good red soil was burnt. The Tenterfield Shire had to pay $11,000 to cater for all the other brigades’ expenses. These brigades were housed in motels, out all day, and home at night, when they should have been burning back to save the grass and trees. Dry storms are the problem, as on the Darling Downs Qld, recently, nine fires were started from lightning strikes. Another way these are started is from broken glass, reflecting through water. I was in the bush with the sun burning through my boot in this way, through a broken glass bottle.
Bob Carr transferred five forests to National Parks to satisfy his friends on the North Coast. Then to satisfy the sawmills, the Govt paid the freight from Eden, and north to the Casino area for timber. These put logs on the tracks to stop people driving in? Or is it just another area for the alternate lifestyle to enjoy the bush. All the coast, from Ballina to Iluka should have houses on, instead of building on beautiful farmland around Alstonville.
The older farmers joined the Fire Brigades originally, now they have left, as they cannot stand the bureaucracy that goes on. So, a lot of brigades have mainly alternate lifestyle people, who love the drama. As it is now, we could fly to London quicker than lighting a fire. One National Park Ranger took two years to get approval for hazard reduction. The day was perfect to burn, but some bureaucrat decided to put a fire ban on. At times, I have had a series of three fire permits, and have not burnt, as the conditions were not suitable. Now you have to ring Head Office two days before you burn.
Years ago, the PP Board and Shires were able to burn along the roads, which was a lot cheaper than slashing, and could be done at the right time.
It is a joke that Govt is supplying funds to spray lantana when years ago we controlled noxious weeds with fire at the right time.
Paralysis ticks are a problem now, as very few farmers burn. Short grass has protein to feed the animals. Old grass has none. (Panel beaters like the long grass beside the road, so the kangaroos can keep them in a job).
Every area of the State is different, as you can put cattle in the snow country in the summer, and out in the winter. In the north, the “March flies” control when the cattle go into the timbered country. So the cattle go into the trees in winter for warmth.
I congratulate the people who suggested this survey. It hasn’t gone far enough, as only a few people have been told about it. I would suggest you contact more of the older generation, and hear of their experiences, (I could talk for another hour about my life and common sense in country living.)
W Hamilton
Legume
