NEWS RELEASE 30/10/13 Prescribed burn planned at Penola Conservation Park MEDIA CONTACT Rebecca Baker Senior Media Adviser Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources A prescribed burn is planned for Penola Conservation Park in the state’s south east this Thursday, 31 October 2013, weather conditions permitting. Phone (08) 8204 9081 Mobile 0417 794 116 Email rebecca.whitfield- The burn was planned for earlier in the month but was postponed due to unsuitable weather conditions. www.environment.sa.gov.au www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au If the burn is able to proceed, smoke is likely to be visible from Rifle Range Road, Cave Range Road and the Penola-Robe Road, and may be seen for up to 48 hours.     The prescribed burn is planned to begin at 12 noon and should be completed by 8pm The burn will affect about 25 hectares a in the north-western section of the conservation park, 12 kilometres west of Penola The activity is unlikely to affect any roads or traffic however access to the park will be restricted for the duration of the burn Signage will be erected for the duration of the operation and it is important motorists and walkers abide by any instructions that are given to them The Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR) will carry out the burn on behalf of the South Eastern Fire Co-operative. Crews will monitor the fire grounds until the area is declared safe. Fire Management Officer, Kay Richardson, says weather conditions are closely monitored ahead of any planned prescribed burn activity. “In addition, extensive hazard and risk assessments are carried out before a burn is conducted,” she said. “Prescribed burning on public land is a key component of fire management in the south eastern region. “This burn is aimed at helping reduce vegetation loads in the area to try to limit the risk and spread of landscape fire this summer.” A list of the week’s planned burns is available on the DEWNR website at, www.environment.sa.gov.au/firemanagement/Burns_and_bushfires. Prescribed burns will only be carried out when it is deemed safe to do so and may be cancelled at short notice. baker@sa.gov.au