NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is planning a fuel reduction burn in Lake Macquarie State Conservation Area on Friday 24 April to reduce bushfire risk to Morisset Hospital and local communities.
The NPWS hazard reduction program for 2020 is focussed on essential burns to protect park neighbours, assets or significant habitat to ensure ongoing recovery of the wildlife impacted by the summer bushfires.
Around 34 hectares will be burnt in the Kestrel Hazard Reduction on Friday to reduce fuel loads in bushland south of Morisset Hospital.
NPWS will work with local Fire and Rescue crews over 2 days, with mop-up and patrols continuing afterwards in an area around 3km south-east of Morisset, directly south of Eucalyptus Drive and west of Morisset fire trail, and next to the hospital grounds.
Local fire trails and Eucalyptus Drive leading up to Morisset Hospital will be closed, as will recreation areas. Smoke is predicted in coastal areas to the west of the burn and anyone driving in the immediate area is asked to exercise caution.
This area wasn't directly impacted by fire last summer and the burn is important to help trigger seed germination to strengthen diversity of native plants for habitat and food, while also helping limit potential spread of wildfire.
The burn will take advantage of fine weather, mild temperatures and light winds to deliver a slow-moving low intensity mosaic burn in protect nearby property while minimising impact on local wildlife.
Undertaking 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 zones and access where they can defend properties, should a bushfire occur.
All burns across New South Wales will continue to be coordinated with the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) 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 RFS 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.
