Inquiry into fire season preparedness

Terms of Reference
Self-referenced by the Committee on 3 May 2016:

That pursuant to sessional order 6 —

1. the Environment and Planning Standing Committee inquire into and report on the preparation and planning for fire seasons by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and its agencies, including Parks Victoria and, in particular -
   1. the amount and nature of preventative burning undertaken to date;
   2. the measures in place to ensure preventative burning is undertaken safely
   3. the effectiveness of preventative burns in achieving community safety
   4. the impact of preventative burns on threatened species
   5. the impact of preventative burns on ecological vegetation classes
   6. the impact of preventative burns on the climate
   7. the targeting of preventative measures statewide;
   8. the resources available to ensure that adequate preparation is undertaken;
   9. the coordination of such planning and preparation with other departments and agencies across government;
   10. the nature and level of emergency response;
   11. the relevant administrative and organisational structures in place within the department and with other relevant government departments and agencies;
   12. and the impact of land tenure on the ability to provide fire prevention activities and the differences between types of land tenure such as national park, state forest, regional park and others.
2. the committee is to consider annual reports tabled by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and its agencies, including Parks Victoria, and any other relevant matter as determined by the committee;
   
3. the committee may present an interim report to the Legislative Council and may present further reports as necessary;
4. the committee is to commence the inquiry in May 2016 and present its final report to the Legislative Council no later than 8 December 2016.

The Committee has resolved to extend the reporting date for this inquiry to 22 June 2017.