Foresters fire up for 2016 bushfire season

Managing natural landscapes and plantations in Australia’s fire prone environment is a problem that demands the attention of the finest minds in the country.

Mount Gambier is to host some of the finest minds in forest fire management at a one-day forum on 7 October which includes presentations from Euan Ferguson, a former head of country fire agencies in South Australia and Victoria and Dr Kevin Tolhurst, an experienced fire ecologist based at the University of Melbourne.

Rob de Fégely, National President of the Institute of Foresters of Australia said, ‘Sadly, most of what we hear from our political leaders are calls for more public money to be spent on fire-fighting helicopters but the best way to stop a wildfire is to never allow it to get out of control in the first place.

‘This Forum provides a wonderful opportunity for policy makers from across the country to hear straight from the mouths of experts just what we need to be doing to manage fire risk right across the country.

‘Community expectations and aligning public policy with operational requirements are likely to be two key topics for discussion’, said Mr de Fégely.

Senator the Hon Anne Ruston, Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources will also address the Forum

More information is about the forum is available from https://consec.eventsair.com/QuickEventWebsitePortal/ifa-fire2016/home

Media contact: Rob de Fégely. Tel: 0415 486 201