Friends of Harewood grateful after Shire of Denmark throws support behind prescribed burning concerns

Calls for tighter prescribed burning conditions by a Denmark environmental group have been actioned this week as the Shire of Denmark council voted through a series of motions on Tuesday. Five motions, all arising from last month’s special electors meeting led by Friends of Harewood, were debated and largely endorsed by councillors, reflecting growing concerns about the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attraction’s prescribed burns program. Key resolutions included requests for the DBCA to improve consultation and transparency with the community, provide clearer notifications, research findings and public justification of burns conducted during prohibited burning periods. Councillors also urged the State Government to clarify liability and compensation safeguards for residents affected by escaped burns, and to expand emergency funding to cover rapid response projects. A motion to cease the planned burn of Harewood Forest was withdrawn and replaced with one advocating for the publication of fire management research. The decision to push through the motions came after several members of the public implored the council to “take their concerns seriously”. One spokesperson was Denmark Environmental Centre convenor Catherine Spaggiari, who asked council to consider the “gentle burns” used by Indigenous people for thousands of years, rather than the current “broad scale” strategy employed by DBCA. Cr Clare Campbell put forward a series of amendments to the motions, most of which were approved, in efforts to “find a middle ground” between the electors’ voices and the actions recommended by shire staff. “All of these motions are modest, but I really feel like they matter,” she said. “The (motions are) sending a really clear message that our community expects more, and we value both our safety and our natural assets. “I hope that we can continue to lead the way on bringing about change on this issue, which is clearly very important to our community.” Speaking to the Advertiser after the meeting, Friends of Harewood founder Sheree Webb said the decision marked a “significant moment” for the Denmark community. “The council’s decisions highlighted our community’s substantial concerns about prescribed burning and its impact on the environment and public health,” she said. “It was gratifying to see nearly all motions pass with support, demonstrating our collective advocacy. “Although these results may not fully meet the expectations of Harewood residents and our group, they signal that our voices are being heard.”