The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) will be conducting a hazard reduction burn in Brisbane Water National Park beginning Tuesday 29 August.
This is the second stage of a 375-hectare burn partly completed earlier this month 4–5 August. The burn will reduce naturally accumulated fuel loads in the park to protect nearby residential areas in Kariong from future bushfires.
The burn, located just south of Kariong, is scheduled to begin at 10 am on Tuesday morning, with mop up and patrol continuing through to Friday.
Closures will be in place on the Great North Walk between Wondabyne Train Station and Old Pacific Highway Mooney Mooney Creek and Wondabyne Train Station and Tommos Loop Fire Trail.
Girrakool Picnic Area including Piles Creek Loop Walking Track and Girrakool Loop Walking Track will also be closed for the duration of the burn. The picnic area, tracks and trails will be reopened once the area is deemed safe.
Smoke may be visible from the M1 Motorway, Central Coast Highway, Woy Woy Road and residential areas of Kariong, Calga, Point Clare, Tascott, Koolewong, Woy Woy Bay, Phegans Bay, Horsfield Bay and Woy Woy.
People vulnerable to smoke are encouraged to stay indoors and keep doors and windows closed to reduce exposure.
Hazard reduction burns are essential to reduce bushfire fuel loads to help protect parks, neighbours and communities from future bushfires.
This burn is one of many hazard reduction operations undertaken by NPWS each year, many with assistance from the Rural Fire Service and Fire and Rescue NSW.
All burns around the state are coordinated with the NSW Rural Fire Service to ensure the impact on the community is assessed at a regional level.