Forest sector 'keen' to curb fire threat

Victoria's forestry industry says an inquiry into the Black Saturday bushfires needs
to look at reducing the devastating impact of fires through forestry management.

The Victorian Association of Forest Industries (VAFI) says a contraction of the
forestry industry over the past 15 years had increased the risk of severe bushfires
in populated areas.
VAFI was earlier denied the right to appear before the bushfires royal commission
underway in Melbourne, but on Monday it lodged a submission outlining its concerns.
The royal commission is looking at the Black Saturday fires that killed 173 people
in February.
VAFI chief executive Philip Dalidakis said one of the best defences against
bushfires was a sustainable forest industry.
"Our forest communities are never going to be free from the threat of bushfires, but
through the appropriate use of forest industries, we can help to reduce the severity
of that risk, both before and after bushfires strike," Mr Dalidakis said.
"If we are going to help our forest communities increase their bushfire preparedness
and have a fighting chance in the event of another fire, there must be a greater
level of support for our forest industry."
Among its recommendations, VAFI has urged greater integration of forest industry
services and fire management, as well as an end to the reduction in areas available
for commercial harvesting in public native forests.
Mr Dalidakis said the forest sector was a solid employer, with 32,000 people working
in the industry, which was worth $6.5 billion to the Victorian economy.
He said it was imperative that the Teague royal commission examined measures to
limit the devastation caused by bushfires.
"It's all well and good to focus on making buildings safer and improving
communication systems," he said.
"But if that occurs without focusing on preventing the fire and its intensity in the
first place, then the Victorian community will have been short-changed by this royal
commission and it will become an exercise in window dressing."