Smoke possible from hazard reduction burning near Queanbeyan

Media release: 18 May 2015

The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS is planning a hazard reduction burn in the Southern Ranges region on Sunday 17^th May, near Queanbeyan.

NPWS Senior Fire Ranger Ian Dicker said the burn aims to reduce fuels on the eastern boundary of Cuumbeun Nature Reserve, to reduce risks to properties on Wanna Wanna Road, Carwoola.

A second burn is planned in Brindabella National Park on the eastern side of the Goodradigbee River on Monday the 18^th of May.

“These are some of more than 31 NPWS operations planned to reduce fuels on approximately 35,000 hectares in southern NSW”, Ian said.

“This autumn’s program includes fuel reduction in Kosciuszko National Park, Brindabella, Woomargama, Yananumbeyan and other reserves in the region.

“The areas NPWS aimed to treat were strategic in reducing the risk of fire within National Parks estate.

“If conditions allow us to carry out our program, we will create a mosaic of different fuel ages across the landscape.

“We operate on a rolling three-year burn plan as due to weather constraints, we may only achieved some of our planned program each year.

Prescribed burning is the use of planned fire to protect life, property and the environment by reducing fuel levels and maintaining the health of plants and animals.

These burns are of the many hazard reduction operations undertaken by NPWS across NSW each year.

They are part of the NSW Government’s $62.5 million package to boost bushfire preparedness and double hazard reduction in the State’s national parks where conditions allow.

With the assistance of the Enhanced Bushfire Management Program, NPWS plans to burn an average of over 135,000 hectares per year, through more than 800 individual hazard reduction activities.

Read more about NPWS hazard reduction burns:
http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/safety/fire

http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/ 

 

Contact: Public Affairs