Fire Management

Bushfire is a part of the natural landscape in Australia. Due to the small size of bushland remnants within the Hunters Hill Local Government Area, any major fire hazard would most likely travel along fire paths outside the Local Government Area such as Lane Cove National Park. Such a hazard would only be likely to occur in extreme bushfire conditions. However Council maintains Asset Protection Zones and conducts hazard reduction burns in accordance with the Hunters Hill/Lane Cove/Parramatta/Ryde Bush Fire Risk Management Plan(PDF, 17MB).

The aim of hazard reduction burns is to maintain the health and long-term sustainability of remnant bushland and to reduce potential hazards to adjoining residential properties.

The Bush Fire Risk Management Plan (BFRMP)(PDF, 17MB) covers the whole of the Hunters Hill, Lane Cove, Parramatta and Ryde areas including private land. It includes information on specifies actions to be carried out to manage bush fire risk in the area.

If you are concerned about bush fire hazards on your property the NSW Rural Fire Service can provide advice or if you are concerned about a hazard on a neighbouring property you can report it to them.

Report a Bushfire Hazard

Who carries out Hazard reduction burns?

Council and Fire and Rescue NSW plan and prepare hazard reduction burns in the Hunters Hill LGA. The burns are carried out by the Fire and Rescue NSW, and in some areas they are assisted by the Community Fire Unit.

Can I burn dead vegetation piles on my property?

The Fire and Rescue NSW no longer conducts pile burns on behalf of private landowners. In Hunters Hill all dead vegetation must be disposed of in the green waste bin.

Dumping in bushland is an offence and increases the fire hazard.

How do I prepare my property in times of bushfire?

Residents living in identified bush fire prone land – refer to the Bush Fire Prone Land Mapping below, should prepare a Bush Fire Survival Plan. See NSW Rural Fire Service website for details https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/plan-and-prepare/bush-fire-survival-plan

Your house:

Keep gutters free of leaves, twigs and bark
Keep combustible materials well away from the house e.g. timber furniture, chemicals, cut wood, hanging baskets.
Connect heat resistant hoses that will reach all sides of the house. If possible install a roof sprinkler system and pool pump.
Install a rainwater tank.
Fit wire and shutter screens to windows, doors and vents.
Remove fibre doormats and enclose underfloor areas.

Your garden:

Use Council’s GREEN waste collection services to eliminate unwanted vegetation.
Never dump garden waste into the bushland reserves as this creates extra fuel for fire.
Clear ground fuels such as dead leaves, sticks and palm fronds away from the house. Branches thicker than your arm are not considered hazardous.
If you have concerns about tree branches overhanging your house, contact Council on 9879 9400 for advice.

More information is available in the following documents:

Bush Fire Prone Land Map(PDF, 1MB)

Hazard Reduction Certificate Application Instructions(PDF, 378KB)

Standards for Asset Protection Zones(PDF, 472KB)

What you should do in times of bushfire(PDF, 2MB)