A REPORT by inquiry head Mick Keelty on the November fires around Margaret River, which destroyed 34 houses and nine holiday chalets and damaged another 22 properties, has been handed to the Public Sector Commissioner.
A spokeswoman for the Commissioner, Mal Wauchope, confirmed Mr Keelty submitted his report on Monday.
The spokeswoman said Mr Wauchope would provide Premier Colin Barnett with a copy of the Keelty report “as soon as practicable”.
The report is believed to be critical of the Department of Environment and Conservation’s management of its prescribed burning program in that it had too many burns going at the one time, impacting on resources available for any one fire, and that its crews did not maintain an adequate watch of the fire in the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park south of Gracetown the day before the fire escaped.
Mr Barnett is due back in Margaret River on Saturday to officially open the shire office.
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