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ABC News
7 days ago
- General
- ABC News
WA government steadfast on prescribed burns despite mass tingle tree felling
A prescribed burn that is estimated to have felled hundreds of rare trees found only in a pocket on Western Australia's south coast has been labelled a success by the department responsible, despite acknowledging it failed to protect the under-threat trees. The burn in WA's Valley of the Giants, about 400 kilometres south of Perth, in mid-December drew public attention after it was revealed it killed a tingle tree believed to be about 400 years old. Red tingles can live for more than 500 years, reaching heights of 75 metres, and only grow in a narrow 60-square-kilometre envelope in WA's South West, making them a popular attraction for visitors in the region. But conservationists and academics who assessed the site say the fire burned beyond guidelines set by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), which manages WA's prescribed burning program. It is now estimated the fire felled or damaged hundreds of trees listed as near threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Prescribed burning is the government's primary method of reducing bushfires in fire-prone forests across the state, with a particular focus on heavily forested land in the South West and Great Southern. Internal DBCA documents, obtained by the ABC under Freedom of Information (FOI), show no post-burn actions had been completed at the Giants Block site as of April 23, four months later. The burn closure and evaluation summary, including post-burn actions, burn evaluation summary, lessons learnt, and post-burn checklist, were blank or all listed as incomplete. DBCA initially declined to release of the documents, saying the process took "many months" to complete, but was compelled to release them under FOI laws. Responding to subsequent ABC enquiries, a DBCA spokesperson said an assessment was completed a month later, on May 30. Two weeks after the December burn, members of the Walpole-Nornalup National Park Association (WNNPA) and the WA Forest Alliance (WAFA) assessed the damage. Uralla Luscomb-Pedro compiled the group's findings into a report. "After the burn, I went into the burn site and counted the fire-felled trees over an area of around 28 hectares … I counted 60 fire-felled trees." WNNPA and WAFA have long opposed prescribed burns in the area, arguing the practice causes more environmental damage than it protects. But conservationists said the department had turned a blind eye to the damage. "There's been a very strong, continued public push to try and get this issue acknowledged by the department, and that hasn't happened," Ms Luscomb-Pedro said. "They have been perhaps brick-walling us and not acknowledging the issue." The DBCA spokesperson said the burn met three criteria for a successful burn, including burning a minimum of 80 per cent of the area, and defoliating no more than 10 per cent of mature tingle and karri canopy. But they conceded the burn scorched more than the targeted 40 per cent of acceptable karri and tingle tree crowns. A report following a trial burn of the same plot in 1997, conducted by the then Department of Conservation and Land Management, stated 10 trees per 100 hectares was the highest acceptable loss. DBCA's criteria appear to place no cap on felling of trees during burns. As part of the burn program, a research collaboration between DBCA and Perth-based research institutions has been launched to look at the effect of fire on the state's biodiversity. Murdoch University ecologist Joe Fontaine is managing the flora evaluation and challenged the department's findings. "How DBCA are structured, in terms of the resources they have, there's not currently invested in doing post-burn monitoring," Dr Fontaine said. "There's monitoring to make sure [the fires] are not going to escape or it's not still burning, but there's no regular monitoring program in terms of fire effects on plants and animals." Dr Fontaine said an assessment completed by his team found hundreds of trees had been felled in the fire, and scorching of canopies went beyond department guidelines. Dr Fontaine said for decades, the department knew tingle forests were susceptible to fire damage, but resisted calls to reform the practice for fear it would impact on burning in other areas. "If you let one thing go, then you're going to have to start letting other stuff go, and it's going to unravel the whole system." DBCA's 2023–24 annual report shows over 100,000 hectares of forest in the department's three south-west forest regions were burnt as part of its prescribed burning program. A further 5,000,000-plus-hectares were managed under prescribed burning conditions in the Kimberley, Pilbara, Goldfields, Midwest, Wheatbelt and South Coast. Dr Fontaine said prescribed burning had proven to be an effective tool in some parts of the state, including jarrah-rich forests, but was less practical in tingle-rich areas where the mitigation benefits were fewer. "In the late 90s, there was an exploration of [prescribed burning] and the recommendation was no more than 10 trees per 100 hectares," he said. "In this case, depending on how you calculate it, it's over 100 trees per hectare." Minister for the Great Southern Reece Whitby, who was environment minister when the burn took place, defended the department's approach. But he conceded a better balance was needed. "There have been some devastating fires in this part of the world that have actually claimed lives in recent years, so there needs to be that balance between keeping the community safe but also protecting the natural environment," he said. "DBCA, through its mitigating program, is also investing and getting involved with universities to research what the right balance is." However, Dr Fontaine said there was a political element to the government's decision making. "It's fascinating to me that DBCA haven't quite grasped that they could just let this one go. "They could say, 'You know what, we're going to let red tingle go through to the keeper and stop burning it'. 'The amount of political goodwill they would get from that would be massive. "But this is the hill they're going to die on."
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Yahoo
Major crackdown coming to Aussie travel hotspot amid surge in illegal camping
Authorities in one of the country's most popular travel destinations are preparing for a more coordinated crackdown on illegal camping ahead of the 2025–26 summer season. It follows a noticeable spike in unauthorised stays and local complaints during peak tourism months. The Shire of Augusta-Margaret River council, south of Perth, said the new approach will see rangers working more closely with Western Australia's Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), to crack down on illegal camping, bad behaviour and littering. "DBCA faces similar peak season challenges as the Shire — managing larger areas, multiple responsibilities and limited resources," Shire President Andrea Selvey said this week. '"To protect our region's unique environment, we're working more closely with DBCA and plan to coordinate our response to peak season in future. We're also engaging with the community to identify measures to address illegal camping and increased day use at popular sites." A Shire representative told Yahoo News on Wednesday further details would become available in the coming months. The move comes amid growing community frustration over the environmental and social impacts of illegal camping, which has in the past included increased public defecation and heightened fire risks. Despite the problem, WA's Parks and Wildlife Service reportedly issued fines in fewer than 10 per cent of its interactions with campers last summer, prompting renewed scrutiny of enforcement practices. Back in February, Yahoo News reported on locals' frustration over what they described as a lack of action in managing the annual surge. After the Shire posted to social media urging tolerance and environmental responsibility among residents, locals hit back and argued that the call for responsibility should be directed at visitors, not the rate-payers. "It's like Groundhog Day at the Shire. Every year, without fail, the issue of illegal camping, waste disposal, sanitation and bushfire risk catches the Shire by 'surprise'. It's long past due that the Shire got proactive and managed this annual problem," one passionate man wrote. "It's not the Shire residents causing the issues, it's the travellers. They're the ones who need this message,' a local woman said, adding that most visitors likely don't follow the Shire's social media pages. The council said it is also working to involve the broader community, consulting locals to develop solutions around illegal camping and overcrowded day-use areas. A DBCA spokesperson said the department is committed to upholding the laws and preserving the area. "The department continues to work closely with stakeholders like the shire to strike the right balance between welcoming visitors, keeping them safe, and protecting the region's environmental and cultural values," the spokesperson said. Residents erupt at council as illegal tourist act soars Illegal camping spirals as council takes 'compassionate' approach Aussies warned over new $464 fine for 'common' camping act "Ahead of the 2025–26 peak visitation season, DBCA will continue to identify and implement compliance priorities and strategies, including focusing on illegal camping hotspots, coordinating efforts with local government, and disrupting large-scale illegal gatherings in collaboration with WA Police." The region, known for its natural beauty and growing popularity with tourists and van travellers, has faced increasing strain on public spaces, prompting mounting calls for clearer regulation, better signage, and more sustainable planning. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
ABC News
26-05-2025
- Science
- ABC News
WA melon-headed whale stranding investigation findings 'inconclusive'
Marine researchers have been unable to determine why 10 whales stranded themselves on Western Australia's far north earlier this year. The melon-headed whales were found by residents at Crab Creek, east of Broome and about 2,000 kilometres north of Perth, in January. Melon-headed whales are small, toothed whales belonging to the oceanic dolphin family. The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) collected scientific information from the dead mammals to investigate the incident. But it has since confirmed the cause of the stranding would remain unknown. Marine scientist Holly Raudino said the species had only stranded twice previously in WA, so the incident was unusual and concerning. She said research team members had done everything they could with the samples available. "We hadn't anticipated how quickly the head and the soft tissues would decompose," she said. "By the time we received the head, it appears that decomposition had already set in. "We're always trying to improve on our efforts as much as we can and as funding permits." Findings initially suggested the stranding was caused by intense noise, due to severe damage to the mammals' ears. But because of significant decomposition, results regarding the ears were comprised and deemed inconclusive. "Elsewhere in the world when this species is stranded, it's been suspected to be in relation to exposure to an intense noise source," Ms Raudino said. The species is primarily found in deep water worldwide. The whales travel in pods ranging from 100 to more than 1,000 members. While the ultimate cause of the stranding is undetermined, Ms Raudino said the team's findings would help inform broader global understanding and research into strandings generally. Envrions Kimberley executive director Martin Pritchard said the stranding had shocked residents. He said it was disappointing the cause would not be fully understood. "We have a world-class marine environment here and there's a responsibility on the government to make sure we know what's going on and to manage it properly," he said. "We're a wealthy country; surely we've got the resources to monitor our marine life so we can understand what's been going on in our oceans." Mr Pritchard said at the time of the incident there were reports of "very large noises" in the area cause by "pile drivers". "We were concerned that could have had a direct impact on the whales," he said. "Now we'll never know."
West Australian
13-05-2025
- General
- West Australian
Prescribed burns to continue in South West after firefighting industrial action concludes with new offer
The State's bush firefighters have accepted a new pay offer with members to return to work on prescribed burns and load management in regional areas. Australian Workers' Union and Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions delegates met in Bunbury last week to endorse the agreement to allow more inclusive time off and better pay. It comes after shadow minister for forestry and Warren-Blackwood MLA Bevan Eatts raised concerns about 150 preventative burns would be impacted by industrial action, and he is also pushing for better fire management strategies in the regions. 'I understand why these workers are taking a stand. They're on the frontline of our fire seasons and deserve both respect and resources,' he said. 'I'm committed to working with government, local brigades, forest managers and environmental groups to get this right. 'We need a regional fire strategy that values local input and takes account of environmental as well as community risk.' The bush firefighters undertake controlled prescribed burns and are responsible for frontline bushfire management outside of the metropolitan area. Industrial action was paused on May 8 once the negotiations were nearing conclusion, with workers to return to work for good now the agreement has been accepted. AWU WA branch president Andy Hacking said the crews worked 'work long hours in dangerous conditions' with the landmark pay offer constituting a 'substantial and meaningful increase to their base rate of pay'. 'This new offer means that our members are able to return to undertaking their vital work of prescribed burns and load management to keep our regional communities safe,' he said. 'The AWU's members and delegates from across WA including Manjimup, Margaret River, Busselton, Kirup, Nannup, Collie, Walpole and surrounding areas have strongly endorsed this new enterprise bargaining agreement.' A DBCA spokesperson said with negotiations now settled, prescribed burning would take place when it was safe to do so. 'DBCA values the work of its 344 AWU-represented frontline bush firefighting staff,' they said.
Miami Herald
09-05-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
7 false killer whales are stranded on ‘remote' beach — then help arrives. See it
A rescue mission recently took place on an Australian beach after a group of false killer whales became stranded on the shore. The incident occurred at House Beach, a 'remote' area about 300 miles southeast of Perth, according to a news release from the Parks and Wildlife Service, Western Australia. On the evening of May 5, officials were notified that seven false killer whales had gotten stuck on the beach. In response, a team of more than a dozen expert first responders traveled to the area 'at first light' on May 6. 'Sadly, four of the false killer whales had passed away overnight,' according to the release. But, responders managed to stabilize the remaining trio of survivors and transport them into the open water. Photos show the individuals in action, pouring large buckets of water over one of the whales and carrying them back into the sea. Two of the rescued whales stayed offshore 'swimming freely.' But, one re-stranded and was euthanized 'to avoid prolonging its suffering.' As of May 7, there had been no additional sightings of the two surviving whales, indicating they had not become stranded again. 'A huge thank you to the members of the public who reported the incident to DBCA (the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions) and assisted staff throughout the response,' the release said. False killer whales — which are found throughout all the world's oceans — are distinguished by their dark complexion, slender frame and lack of a beak, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). They can measure up to 20 feet in length, weigh up to 3,000 pounds and live into their 60s. The species is named after killer whales on account of their skull shape, which resembles that of orcas, according to the International Whaling Commission. Several other mass stranding events have been recorded involving the species. Other threats to false killer whales include environmental contaminants, hunting and lack of sufficient food, according to NOAA.
