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Bush Fire Risk Management

Following the 2019/20 summer bush fires, it is understandable there is a high level of interest in bush fire hazard management.

Council is a member of the Far South Coast Bush Fire Management Committee (BFMC). The BFMC includes representatives from land management agencies across the region and is responsible for preparing, coordinating, reviewing, and monitoring the Plan of Operations and Bush Fire Risk Management Plan for their area. The committee is administered by the Rural Fire Service (RFS) under the NSW Rural Fires Act 1997. Hazard reduction works by all agencies across the Shire are proposed and reviewed by the committee. The outcome is the Far South Coast Bush Fire Risk Management Plan which is endorsed by the committee. Hazard reduction works across the Bega Valley align with this plan. This is so works programs and available resources can be coordinated considering risk areas and conditions.

It is acknowledged that bushland and natural areas are highly valued by many in the community and these spaces are a key reason why many live in the Shire and visit the area. Mindful of this, there is a balance in managing bush fire risk while retaining benefits provided by bushland areas.

Preparation

There is a lot of useful information on the RFS Plan and Prepare webpage. It is strongly recommended that all residents have a look at this information.

In particular:

Asset protection zones


An Asset Protection Zone (APZ) is an area surrounding a built asset or structure that has reduced bushfire fuel loads in order to reduce the level of hazard to the asset or structure.

An APZ is designed to provide:

  • a buffer zone between a bushfire hazard and an asset;
  • an area of reduced bushfire fuel that allows suppression of fire:
  • an area from which backburning may be conducted; and
  • an area which allows emergency services access and provides a relatively safe area for firefighters and homeowners to defend property.

The APZ should be located entirely with in your land. If you intend to undertake any vegetation removal works for the purpose of creating or maintain an APZ you must obtain the written consent of the landowner.

You can reduce the intensity of a bushfire by reducing the available fuel loads, here are some methods that you could utilise:

  1. raking or manual removal of fine fuels
  2. mowing or grazing of grass
  3. removal or pruning of trees, shrubs and understorey
  4. slashing and trittering
  5. plough and grading
  6. burning (hazard reduction burning)
  7. burning (pile burning).

The Bega Valley Shire Council currently slashes, and hand clears 91 Asset Protection Zones (APZ) across the municipality.

Council is part of the Far South Coast Bushfire Management Committee (BFMC). The BFMC includes representatives from land management agencies across the region and is responsible for preparing, coordinating, reviewing, and monitoring the Plan of Operations and Bushfire Risk Management Plan for their area. The review of current and future APZs is part of this process.


Bush Fire Hazard Reduction Enquiries

The NSW Rural Fire Service is the agency responsible for inspecting and assessing bush fire hazards and issuing notices to land owners / managers to undertake bush fire hazard reduction activities. If you have concerns about bush fire risk or hazard reduction works it is best for those to be made direct to the RFS. The easiest way to do this is by using the RFS website Reporting a bush fire hazard page or contacting the Bega Valley South Coast office on 02 6494 7400. Once an assessment is done, the RFS will direct the land manager to undertake works if required.

Related information

 

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