National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) will conduct two hazard reduction burns in the Richmond River area on Thursday 16 and Friday 17 April 2020 to reduce the risk of wildfire for park neighbours, including the local community of Old Grevillia and Findon Creek, and to protect important wildlife habitat.
NPWS hazard reduction program for 2020 will be focussed on undertaking essential burns in areas close to neighbours and important assets and protecting significant habitat to ensure ongoing recovery of the State's wildlife that was impacted by the summer bushfires.
Around 17 hectares will be burnt in Koreelah National Park around the Koreelah Campground to protect key assets and reduce wildfire risk to the neighbouring community.
A larger burn of 350 hectares will be conducted in the Border Ranges National Park, along Taylings Ridge, targeting long unburnt dry forest types to maintain ecological biodiversity and protect threatened species in the area, such as the koala.
Only 2% of the Border Ranges National Park was burnt in 2019-20 fire season and this burn is important to trigger seed germination and regeneration in the area.
Undertaking these burns when conditions are right to ensure they are safe and effective is an important part of managing the potential risk of bushfire to communities and the environment before next summer. This work also provides firefighters safe zones and access where they can defend properties should a bushfire occur.
All burns across NSW will continue to be coordinated with the Rural Fire Service to ensure the impact on the community, including from smoke, are assessed at a regional level. Details on specific burns will be made available in advance on the Rural Fire Service website, 'Fires Near Me' app, and on NPWS Alerts website.
All hazard reduction burns over 50 hectares will be assessed by the NSW Rural Fire Service in conjunction with NSW Health as required to ensure smoke impacts are minimised.
For health information relating to smoke from bush fires and hazard reduction burning, visit NSW Health or the Asthma Foundation.
For up to date information on these, and other, planned hazard reduction activities, visit the Rural Fire Service
