Member for Roe and Deputy Leader of the Nationals WA Peter Rundle MLA questioned the Minister for Energy Hon Amber-Jade Sanderson MLA this week on whether reports following a serious fire near Wagin will be shared with the community to help them understand the cause and mitigate dangerous fires in the future.
A fire sparked on January 24 that started in the Shire of West Arthur and continued through the Shire of Wagin, destroyed 7000ha of farmland and road reserve, sheds, farming equipment, livestock and 3 homes; a burning path of up to 4km wide over a distance of 23km, with witnesses claiming the fire was started by Western Power wires.
Mr Rundle said, “With the next fire season already upon us and nearly one year on, the people of Arthur River and Wagin are still waiting for information about what started the fire.”
The cause of the fire has still not been confirmed despite Western Power and Department of Fire and Emergency Services being onsite in the days following the fire.
The office of Building and Energy (B&E) within the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety (DLGIRS), are responsible for investigating this incident, and visited Wagin recently to interview shire members and landowners, but told the Shire a report into the incident will not be made publicly available.
Mr Rundle said, “While I’m glad a thorough investigation is underway, I would like any causes, conclusions and recommendations following this investigation to be made publicly available as soon as possible to help plan against incidents like this in the future.
The pattern of the Cook Labor Government continues; a lack of transparency, slow processes and a lack of publicly available reporting.”
Mr Rundle reminded the Minister it is been nearly 4 years since the February 2022 fires that swept through 18,000ha of bushland and farmland near Narrogin and Wickepin, a devastating fire which started when Western Power’s high-voltage overhead electricity conductors clashed between two power poles.
It has also been 10 years since the Esperance fire that claimed 4 lives but took this government 3 years to agree to take on recommendations from the Coroner’s inquest.
“I don’t want to see the delays and disappointments that faced the communities of Esperance, Narrogin and Wickepin, happen to the Wagin community. The Minister can do more to improve transparency and give information to affected landholders and Shires to prevent this type of event in the future,” said Mr Rundle.
Mr Rundle added, “Regardless of whether the fire was started by faulty Western Power infrastructure, I would like the Minister to work with the community of Wagin and Arthur River to reassure them that Western Power infrastructure is maintained and safe heading into this fire season.
Prosecution of Western Power places the blame but does not lead to improvements in planning for wildfires caused by Western Power infrastructure. The Labor Government need to do more to keep our regional communities safe and well prepared during this and every fire season.”