A leading Professor is calling for a ban on building homes in bushfire-prone areas.
Associate Professor at Curtin University of Technology, Grant Wardell-Johnson, said planning rules must change to prevent building in bushfire zones.
Wardell-Johnson, who has more than 25 years experience studying WA’s south-west forests, said prescribed burning alone was not a viable solution to protecting against fire.
“Although prescribed burning can protect communities near flammable bush in moderate conditions, it will not solve the problem of extreme conditions when even very young, green wood becomes fuel,” he said.
“We have to establish new strategies such as changing planning rules to avoid building in fire risk areas, better social support systems in the bush, and strategic prescribed burning.”
Urban sprawl around the edges of cities, bush and agricultural areas is increasing the risk of fire damage to properties and endangering lives, he said.
“Despite societies’ best efforts, increasing property and biodiversity losses are inevitable.”
It is “imperative” that society adapt to the impacts of climate change, he said.
