Warialda in the state's north west will have much greater protection from bush fires with more than $670,000 of NSW Government funding to upgrade fire trails and create fire breaks.
Work has begun on upgrading more than 28 kilometres of fire trails and creating 49 hectares of fire breaks, known as Asset Protection Zones (APZs), around the town.
The fire protection is being funded by Crown Lands and the Rural Fire Service, in consultation with Gwydir Shire Council.
Warialda will have top-quality fire trails and new buffer zones from surrounding vegetation to provide added protection, and allow firefighters to do controlled burns and, if needed, provide access and control options during emergency operations.
The new fire breaks will be up to 40 metres wide and fire trails will be upgraded to NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) Category 1 standard to allow fire trucks to be manoeuvred quickly and easily.
There will be over 40 new bays for fire trucks to pass and approximately 35 new places for fire trucks to turn around on fire trails, to support the defence of property and lives.
Contractor the Soil Conservation Service has begun work on fire trails on the southern side of Warialda and will work jointly with RFS Mitigation Crews to establish the fire breaks. The project is due to be completed by May.
NSW RFS Area North Western Manager Community Risk Shellie Smyth said bush fire preparations are a cooperative effort with local brigades, local government, government agencies and land managers undertaking as much hazard reduction as possible to prepare.
"Our crews are ready to respond to the threat of fire across NSW. But remember, it's never too late for home and landowners to start preparing their property, or to update and discuss their survival plan," Ms Smyth said.
Upgrading the fire trails at Warialda to create fire breaks.
