During April 2020, the Mulloon Institute made submissions to both the NSW Inquiry into the Bushfires and to the Federal Royal Commission. In addition, Chairman Gary Nairn made personal submissions to both Inquiries from the perspective of being the Chairman of a Federal Parliamentary Inquiry into the Australian Bushfires in 2003. That Inquiry produced a report, A Nation Charred, that included some 59 recommendations. Sadly, many of the issues raised back in 2003 were still quite relevant in relation to experiences during the 2019/2020 fires.
TMI’s submissions predominantly raised the opportunity for future fire resilience that landscape repair and rehydration provide. During the recent fires we were aware of examples where intact hydrated valley systems, at the very least, acted to substantially slow fires and greatly reduce their intensity. The most destructive part of the recent fires was their sheer intensity. A hydrated landscape is overwhelmingly one of the most strategic deterrents to wildfire. We also know that a naturally functioning and hydrated landscape also gives resilience to drought and flood. Gary also had an online meeting with the NSW Inquiry’s joint leaders, Mary O’Kane and David Owens to further stress the importance of TMI’s work and his own personal experiences.
The Mulloon Institute submission to the Royal Commission into Bushfires – April 2020
NSW Inquiry into the Bushfires – TMI’s submission – April 2020
Video – Aftermath – Landtasia footage North Black Range Fire 2019
“Between 30 November 2019 and 3 January 2020, the North Black Range Fire destroyed 3600 acres of Landtasia’s forest, wildlife and watershed and over $1 million in improvements. In the following months, strong rains eroded the fragile landscape soils. Wildlife that survived the fire fled to the northern livestock grazing pastures, such as they were after a long drought. However, while the rains eroded, they also enlivened the seed bank enough to provide for both.”
Thanks to landholder Richard Graham of Landtasia Organic Farms who kindly shared this footage showing how this summer’s fires and consequent flooding rains have affected the landscape on his ‘Landtasia’ property, situated between Mulloon Creek Natural Farms’ ‘Home Farm’ and the Tallaganda National Park. This property is part of the Mulloon Rehydration Initiative but has not yet had any on-ground works undertaken.