Over 5.3 million hectares (6.7%) of New South Wales was impacted by the 2019–20 bushfires, including more than 2.7 million hectares of national park.
Our scientists continue to better understand the effects of the 2019–20 bushfires by monitoring the recovery and renewal rates and the impacts on the New South Wales environment and communities. Data collected from these affected areas is used to inform future management decisions.
NSW Bushfire Inquiry 2020
In January 2020, the NSW Bushfire Inquiry was established to investigate what happened during the 2019–20 bushfire season and how it was different to previous seasons. The NSW Government accepted all 76 recommendations from the Final report of the NSW Bushfire Inquiry in relation to bushfire preparedness and response. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) continues to make progress implementing the relevant recommendations from the report.
Read the final report on the Premier's Department NSW Bushfire Inquiry report webpage.
NPWS within the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water is the lead agency on 2 recommendations and is contributing to recommendations led by other agencies.
Following the NSW Audit Office’s performance audit Addressing public inquiry recommendations – Emergency response agencies, NPWS and other emergency response agencies have committed to publishing their actions in response to NSW Bushfire Inquiry recommendations. The NPWS actions can be found in progress reports on the Premier's Department NSW Bushfire Inquiry report webpage.
Find out more about the audit at Addressing public inquiry recommendations – Emergency response agencies.
A Coronial Inquiry into the 2019–20 bushfires also occurred, which commenced on the 25 August 2021.
Read the findings and recommendations on the Coroner's Court of NSW website.
Watch the National Parks and Wildlife Service Bushfire recovery timelapse video.