RAPID response to fires in south-west Victoria is critical to keeping them small and to limiting the impact on industry and the community.

This will now be quicker following the announcement last Friday of the largest installation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered bushfire detection cameras to be set up throughout Australia’s Green Triangle – the six-million-hectare area across the South Australian and Victorian border area, where Hamilton is central.

Spanning 14 locations across one of Australia’s major forest regions, the cameras will be operational ahead of the 2023/24 fire season.

Owned by US based company, Pano AI, the cameras offer precise fire detection by using high-definition cameras, satellite feeds, artificial intelligence, and modern cloud software.

The technology enables cameras to identify and pinpoint new ignitions, thus, will greatly assist fire crews to get to the scene of a fire faster and safer, within minutes.

Timber Towns Victoria chair and Glenelg Shire councillor, Karen Stephens, said this investment in technology will protect communities and plantation forests, a crucial industry for the south-west region of Victoria.

“It’s critical to protecting the 365,000 hectares of plantation forestry in the Green Triangle,” she said.

“That’s worth $860 million.

“On an Australian scale - it is very important to the economy.

“The Green Triangle supplies over 85 per cent of building materials throughout Australia.

“We need to protect that part of the supply chain into the future.

“The forestry industry has invested heavily - over $1 million - into this technology and that goes with the South Australian Government’s investment of over $2 million.”

Ms Stephens said the 2020/2021 bushfires took out $14m worth of plantation in the Green Triangle.

“If you think about it - it takes 30 years to grow a pine tree - early detection of fire is one way we can secure that resource,” she said.

Ms Stephens is also a board member of the Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub (GTFIH), who collaborated with the South Australian Government on the project and is leading the camera installation.

GTFIH chair, Cameron MacDonald, said that it was a priority to utilise this leading technology that will be a key protection measure once operational.

“This tool from Pano AI provides us with the best opportunity to detect ignitions early so we can extinguish threats before they threaten lives, property and our industry,” he said.

Green Triangle Fire Alliance (a subcommittee of the GTFIH) manager, Anthony Walsh, said the timing of the installation was critical especially with La Niña over.

“This new technology will protect one of Australia’s most important forestry regions … the timing couldn’t be more critical.

“We look forward to working closely with Pano AI to have the system in place and operating before the coming fire season,” he said.

South Australian Primary Industries, Regional Development and Forestry minister, Clare Scriven, made the announcement in Mount Gambier.

She said the cameras were not just for the benefit of the Green Triangle Forest region but for all other landscape users, primary producers and local communities.

“Unfortunately, fire doesn’t recognise boundaries,” she said.

“So this collaborative State Government/industry initiative in utilising this ground-breaking technology helps us to ensure the best fire management tools are at our disposal.”

Pano AI chief commercial officer, Arvind Satyam, said the collaboration of government and the GTFIH was commendable and would help combat the growing threat of bushfires.

Local CFA representatives were contacted for comment but did not reply before deadline.