Wednesday, 4 March 2020
NORTHERN Tablelands MP Adam Marshall has urged members of the community affected by the summer’s bushfires to share their experiences at a public meeting of the NSW Independent Bushfire Inquiry at Glen Innes next week.
Mr Marshall said on Monday, 9 March, the Heads of Inquiry, David Owens APM and Professor Mary O’Kane AC, will visit Glen Innes to hear firsthand what the community has lived through over the last six months.
“This is the first real opportunity the public has had to officially put forward what they experienced in the lead-up, during and after the fires,” Mr Marshall said.
“Whether you are a landholder whose property and livelihood was destroyed or a business operator who has seen a severe downturn in revenue due to lack of visitation the inquiry wants to hear from all who have been directly or indirectly affected.
“The Heads of the Inquiry will undertake a fly-over of the area to gain a personal understanding of the scale and terrain of the fire ground, they will also meet with emergency service personnel, Glen Innes Severn Council and me.
“The Inquiry is in its early stages and I’m very pleased the shire has been prioritised as one of the first stop offs, in what will be a very comprehensive listening tour.”
Mr Marshall said the Inquiry would inform future bushfire management and response in NSW.
“Never before has our region experienced a natural disaster of this magnitude, and now all the fires are out we have the opportunity to reflect on what was handled well and what can be done better,” he said.
“The terms of reference for this Inquiry are wide and will look at what all the factors which contributed to the ignition and ferocity of the fires.
“The only way our State will see real change to the way bushfires are managed is if people take the time to make a submission and so I urge as many people as possible to attend the meeting next week and make their voices heard.”
The meeting will commence from 5.30pm at William Gardner Conference Room, Glen Innes Severn Learning Centre, 71 Grey Street, Glen Innes.
For those unable to attend submissions can be made until Friday, 27 March 2020, by:
• Email: inquiries@bushfireinquiry.nsw.gov.au
• Post: NSW Independent Bushfire Inquiry, GPO Box 5341, Sydney NSW 2001
• Phone: Bushfire Customer Care Program 13 77 88; and
• In-person: at any Service NSW service centre
For details regarding how to make submissions to the Inquiry, please visit www.nsw.gov.au/improving-nsw/projects-and-initiatives/make-a-submission-to-the-bushfire-inquiry/