NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service in conjunction with the NSW Rural Fire Service will conduct a hazard reduction burn in Werakata National Park on Saturday 9 October to reduce bushfire risk to properties, wildlife and cultural heritage.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) hazard reduction program for 2020–21 is focused on essential burns to protect park neighbours, assets or significant habitat to ensure ongoing recovery of the wildlife impacted by the 2019–2020 bushfires.
Subject to favourable weather conditions, 25 hectares will be burnt in the Ironbark Lane Road Hazard Reduction, 4 kilometres north east of the City of Cessnock.
NPWS and Rural Fire Service (RFS) crews plan to burn the area bounded to the north by Ironbark Lane, to the east by Old Maitland Rd and to the south and west by private properties.
To ensure public safety and allow for effective operations, parts of the reserve will be closed during the prescribed burning period. Traffic management will be in place on Old Maitland Road.
Undertaking burns under suitable conditions to ensure they are safe and effective is an important part of managing the potential risk of bushfire to communities and the environment before summer.
This work also provides firefighters safe 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 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 RFS website 'Fires Near Me' app, and on the 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. Residents in Abermain will see smoke from this hazard reduction burn.
NPWS and NSW RFS crews will follow COVID-19 safety procedures.
