Hazard Reduction Protects Local Wildlife

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has successfully completed four substantial hazard reduction burns in national parks across the Hunter and Central Coast regions at the beginning of September.

NPWS Hunter Central Coast Director Kylie Yeend said more than 240 hectares of bushland close to towns, private properties and other essential assets had been treated to protect against the risk of bushfire.

“The four hazard reduction burns were strategically planned and implemented to protect life and property including the Hunter Valley townships of Sawyers Gully and Abermain ahead of this Summer,” said Ms Yeend.

“We took advantage of the calm weather conditions to get these essential burns completed to protect these communities for the seasons ahead.

“With more than 50 National Parks and Wildlife Service staff on the ground over the weekend, working closely with the NSW Rural Fire Service, it was a big team effort to ensure each burn was completed safely and successfully.

“We’d really like to thank the communities close to these hazard reduction burns for their understanding and support.

“By their nature, hazard reduction burns release smoke into the air, and while we work closely with the NSW RFS to schedule hazard reduction burns so that smoke impacts are minimised, we appreciate that exposure to smoke can be problematic for some.

“We thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we work to deliver these essential burns,” said Ms Yeend.

The NPWS hazard reduction program for 2020 is focussed on essential burns to protect park neighbours, assets or significant habitat to ensure ongoing recovery of the wildlife impacted by the Summer bushfires.

Photo Credit: NPWS.