Shire urges owners to give nature time to heal

The Shire of Augusta Margaret River has issued an important plea to local residents, following last summer’s significant vegetation die-off.

Shire officers are pleading with locals to focus on reducing ground fuel, and to give the region’s trees time to heal.

Shire Community Emergency Services Manager Adam Jasper emphasised the resilience of the region’s vegetation and said, much like trees after a bushfire, most of the affected vegetation was expected to recover.

“We saw a similar die-off event in 2011 where around 85 percent of trees recovered,” Adam said.

“While the recent event seems to be more widespread, there are already visible signs of recovery.”

The die-off occurred after an eight-month dry spell from spring 2023 to autumn 2024 and affected private and public land, including reserves managed by the Shire, and national parks overseen by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions (DBCA).

In response to community concerns about a perceived increase in the bushfire risk following the die-off, and after consultation with DBCA and Nature Conservation Margaret River Region, the Shire has produced an information sheet to provide guidance for managing bushfire risk.

“It’s important to remember a bushfire can happen anywhere and at anytime in our shire,” Adam said.

“The total fuel load in areas affected by this event hasn’t increased although there will be more dry leaves, branches, and other dead vegetation on the ground which is the first to ignite in a bushfire.

“Every property owner in our Shire should focus on clearing ground fuel before summer to reduce the risk of bushfire affecting their homes and to keep our loved ones, our community and the environment safe.”

“This means, wherever you live you need to reduce the amount of flammable materials around your home by raking leaves, clearing gutters, mowing long grass, and if you’re on larger property your firebreaks need to be maintained from 30 November 2024 to 12 May 2025.

“And if you haven’t got a bushfire plan – make one.”

He also urged private property owners to avoid prematurely removing any affected trees.

“The recovery process can take several years and it’s crucial that we give nature a chance to heal,” he said.

“Even during recovery, these trees and the surrounding vegetation provide essential breeding and foraging habitats for native animals.”

The newly released vegetation die-off information sheet and other useful resources about managing bushfire risk can be found at the Shire website, www.amrshire.wa.gov.au