The Hills Bush Fire Management Committee Needs Feedback
About 62,824 residences in The Hills are at risk from bush fire, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 Census Community Profile.
The Hills Bush Fire Management Committee (BFMC), along with landowners and fire brigades, are seeking feedback on bush fire in The Hills, and how it is managed throughout the area.
The committee has also developed a draft plan entitled “Bush Fire Risk Management Plan” (BFRMP). Prepared by the BFMC, it aims to “…[identify] the risk to communities and assets we all value. Using feedback from fire agencies, land managers and other stakeholders, the plan identifies ways of reducing the impact of fires across our area.”
The Committee provided an assessment using tested scenarios based on maps assembled by the NSW Government Agency such as Residential, Economic, Environmental, Cultural Predicted Aboriginal Assets, and Fuel Management Register and Focus Areas.
According to the New South Wales Rural Fire Service (NSWRFS), bushland makes up 65.8% of The Hills’ area while 13.8% is grassland, sharing space with “built environment or water bodies.” The Hills district has not encountered a major bushfire since the 15,730-ha major bush fire from 2002 to 2003.
The draft plan is still in its “on exhibition” stage and will still undergo a review until it reaches publication. The summary can be accessed in the NSWRFS’ The Hills: Managing bush fire risk while the Plan can be downloaded in a pdf.
Feedback via email can be sent to [email protected]. The online feedback can be accessed here: The Hills Bush Fire Risk Management Plan – Feedback
Written feedback, along with the sender’s name and contact details, can be sent to this address:
The Hills Fire Control Centre,
PO Box 35,
Kenthurst NSW 2156
It is on exhibition at different local council offices until 5.00 pm, 30th of June 2023. It is also available at The Hills Fire Control Centre located at 1a Angus Road, Kenthurst NSW 2156.
Source: New South Wales Rural Fire Service, Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 Census Community Profile
Image sourced from Glenhaven Rural Fire Brigade
