The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) will conduct two hazard reduction burns, on Wednesday 22 April in the Campbelltown area and Friday 24 April 2020 in the Illawarra area.
The 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 76 hectares will be treated in Dharawal National Park, in the Darkes Forest and Wedderburn areas, and 44 hectares will be treated in the Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area in the Bulli and Stanwell Tops areas.
Both of these reserves weren't directly impacted by fire last summer and it is important these burns go ahead to help trigger seed germination to strengthen diversity of native plants for habitat and food for native animals in these areas, and to limit the potential spread of wildfire.
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 New South Wales 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 the NPWS Alerts website.
All hazard reduction burns over 50 hectares will be assessed by the NSW Rural Fire Service as required to ensure smoke impacts on the community 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.
