Wingecarribee Shire Council mayor Duncan Gair has welcomed an independent, state inquiry into the 2019/20 bushfires.
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Mayor Gair said he would like to see recommendations about appropriate hazard reduction practices as well as planning proposals/building houses in bushfire prone areas
He said bushfire season was "a learning experience for every level of government".
"We must learn from our experiences. Hopefully out of this we can put together a better practice for major and extreme emergencies," he said.
The six-month inquiry, announced by the state government recently, will look into 11 key areas:
1. The causes of, and factors contributing to, the frequency, intensity, timing and location of, bushfires in NSW in the 2019-20 bushfire season. This includes the consideration of any role of weather, drought, climate change, fuel loads and human activity.
2. The preparation and planning by agencies, government, other entities and the community for bushfires in NSW, including current laws, practices and strategies, and building standards and their application and effect.
3. Responses to bushfires, particularly measures to control the spread of the fires and to protect life, property and the environment.
4. Any other matters that the inquiry deems appropriate in relation to bushfires.
And to make recommendations arising from the inquiry as considered appropriate, including on:
5. Preparation and planning for future bushfire threats and risks.
6. Land use planning and management and building standards, including appropriate clearing and other hazard reduction, zoning, and any appropriate use of Indigenous practices.
7. Appropriate action to adapt to future bushfire risks to communities and ecosystems.
8. Emergency responses to bushfires, including overall human and capital resourcing.
9. Coordination and collaboration by the NSW Government with the Australian Government, other state and territory governments and local governments.
10. Safety of first responders.
11. Public communication and advice systems and strategies.