-Caveat Lector- Print this article | Close this window The burning issue: Sydney would choke of smoke throughout winter, warn experts By James Woodford January 27 2003
Sydney risks being shrouded in smoke throughout winter if intensive hazard reduction burning is undertaken in the ring of forest surrounding the city, experts have warned. The Premier, Bob Carr, was confronted at Queanbeyan at the weekend by National Party MP Peter Webb, demanding more hazard reduction burning. But if hazard reduction burns were stepped up it would result in public health and environmental problems, according to the Environment Protection Authority and ecologists. Also, the level of burning demanded by those opposed to national parks would require an army of firefighters and would mean that every clear, cold day - the worst times for pollution - would lead to a dense smoke haze descending on the city. The Environment Protection Authority cited a large hazard reduction burn in the Avon Dam catchment to the south-west of Sydney in August 1995, which sent city pollution levels soaring. The Regional Pollution Index in the east and south-west soared to 231 and 222 respectively. According to the EPA: "There continued to be some smoke influence over the following few days. The 'average' value in Sydney would be less than 25. Anything over 50 is high. The top end of the scale is about 237, so this is basically record-level pollution; equal to what we get from the worst bushfires." Last week smoke levels in Albury hit record highs and the director of the Centre for Public Health of the Greater Murray Area Health Service warned: "Very high pollution levels over the past 48 hours have further raised health concerns. The level of particulate matter reached levels which are considered a significant health hazard to everyone, not just people with existing heart or lung disease." Concerned, the South West Area Health Service turned to United States health authorities for advice. "The effects of smoke run from irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract to more serious disorders, including asthma, bronchitis, reduced lung function and premature death," according to a US health bulletin. The push from Coalition ministers and timber industry lobbyists to ramp up hazard reduction burning in national parks is not about making homes safe, say those who understand fire. It is an anti-conservation backlash by forces that oppose the public enjoyment and protection of beautiful and delicate places, they claim. No matter how much controlled burning is undertaken, a firestorm will not be stopped by the removal of leaf litter on a forest floor. The only way to stop such a conflagration would be to strip the landscape of trees. Ecologists such as John Benson, from the Royal Botanic Gardens, warn that, while the Australian environment has adapted to burning, fire is disastrous if it hits some plant and animal communities too often. Areas such as the Blue Mountains and the alpine regions would have their plant and animal biodiversity drastically reduced if huge areas were burnt every couple of years. Logistically, however, such extensive hazard reduction burning would be almost impossible to organise, NSW fire authorities say. "What happened in Canberra was a freak occurrence," says Mr Benson. "A lot of areas that are burning haven't been burnt since 1939, when two million hectares went up in the Victorian and NSW alpine and sub-alpine areas." This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/01/26/1043533953935.html Forwarded for your information. 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