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Bushfire Management

Council is committed to managing the ever-present threat of bushfire throughout the local government area. 

Council's fire mitigation activities include:

• Bush Fire Management Plans for MT Gibraltar, Gibbergunyah and Mt Alexandra Reserves. Recommendations as per management plans for the three reserves.

• Inspecting bush fire hazard complaints relating to Council managed land with the RFS and Implementing Asset Protection Zones's.

• An ongoing program of fuel reduction works on Council managed land to provide greater protection for vulnerable residences, Strategic Fire Advantage Zones, Ecological burns and Asset Protection Zones Mechanical. Also track/trail maintenance.

• Pre and Post hazard Reduction Weed Control.

• Bushfire risk management assessment for Mt Gibraltar & Mt Alexandra Reserves.

• Community education - Emergency Services Expo.

Preparing Your Property for the Bushfire Season

While the management of fuel loads on public land is an important aspect of bushfire mitigation, Wingecarribee Shire Council believes that the best defence against loss or damage as a result of bushfire is a well prepared home with an adequate and well maintained asset protection zone. Results of scientific studies conducted by the CSIRO have shown that ember attack (embers blown by the wind) was responsible for the majority of houses damaged or destroyed by bush fire. You can minimise the effect that ember attack will have on your home by undertaking a few simple tasks. These include:

• Regular cleaning of gutters to prevent a build up of leaves and sticks

• Removal of flammable materials such as woodpiles, recycling crates containing paper products and dead/dry plants and grass from around your home

• Fitting wire mesh screens to windows and doors

• Enclosing spaces where embers could enter the structure of your home such as underfloor areas and under eaves

Implementing these simple measures will reduce the probability that embers will settle on and ignite either your home or materials adjacent to it.

Creating an asset protection zone around your home will also reduce the chances of the fire front actually reaching your house (direct flame contact) and will reduce the effects of radiant heat. An asset protection zone is an area of ground that has been cleared and maintained to minimise the amount of fuel available to a fire. When a fire approaches a well-prepared asset protection zone, it runs out of fuel and the intensity of the fire diminishes. In some cases a fire may even self extinguish.

An asset protection zone needs to be suited to both the vegetation surrounding your property and the aspect and slope of the land. An asset protection zone does not need to be cleared to bare earth, but it should aim to reduce the amount of fuel available to a fire as the fire front approaches.

It is recommended that all property owners throughout the Wingecarribee Shire take appropriate action to prepare their own properties for the effects of bushfire. It is also recommended that further information regarding preparation of your property be obtained from the Rural Fire Service at Mittagong.

Making a Bushfire Hazard Complaint

Wingecarribee Shire Council has conferred its responsibility for managing bush fire hazard complaints to the NSW Rural Fire Service. Therefore, all bush fire hazard complaints within the Wingecarribee local government area need to be directed to the Rural Fire Service. Please refer to the Online Services section below to download the Bush Fire Hazard Complaint form as a PDF document. Complaints should be forwarded to the Rural Fire Service at:

Wingecarribee Fire Control Centre Cnr Priestly & Etheridge Street Mittagong

or

PO Box 337 Mittagong 2575. Ph: 4871 2666

Upon receipt of your complaint, the matter will be investigated and a determination made as to whether a bush fire hazard exists on the land you have specified. If a bush fire hazard is found to exist in your area of concern, there are two options for mitigating that hazard: The land must be mapped as Bush Fire Prone Land, except under extreme circumstances. If the area of concern is not mapped as Bush Fire Prone land in accordance with the Wingecarribee Bush Fire Prone Land Maps the complaint may be forwarded to the WSC Rangers for further review under the Local Government Act.

• If the land is privately owned, a notice under section 66 of the Rural Fires Act will be issued requiring the owner or occupier to reduce the hazard within a specified area.

• If the land is managed by Council, the area will be added to Council's fuel reduction program and the hazard reduced using appropriate methodologies.

Once an inspection and hazard assessment have been completed, you will be notified in writing of the outcome of your complaint.

Applying for a Bush Fire Hazard Reduction Certificate

As of 1 July 2003, all bush fire hazard reduction work conducted in NSW requires a Bush Fire Hazard Reduction Certificate. The aim of these certificates is to streamline the assessment process for hazard reduction work whilst maintaining adequate protection for the environment.

Should you wish to undertake bush fire hazard reduction work on your own property, you will need to make an application to the Rural Fire Service for a Bush Fire Hazard Reduction Certificate.

Application forms and guidelines for completing your application are available from the Wingecarribee Fire Control Centre Cnr Priestly & Etheridge Street Mittagong NSW 2577 ph: 4871 2666.

Upon receipt of your application, the Rural Fire Service may need to inspect your property and assess the area you wish to Hazard Reduce. After an assessment has been made, you will be advised in writing of the outcome of your application.

Contact details
Wingecarribee Shire Council
02 4868 0888 (ph)
02 4869 1203 (fax)
wscmail@wsc.nsw.gov.au

© 2008 Wingecarribee Shire Council
This page: http://www.wsc.nsw.gov.au/environment/1710/1844.html