Fire mitigation efforts will focus on three areas in Lake Macquarie over the next five years as part of a new Bushfire Risk Management Plan.
The blueprint recently identified Seahampton to Wakefield, Whitebridge to Redhead, and Cooranbong to Martinsville.
They were determined by analysing risk assessment data and gauging community vulnerability and access and exit points for any given location.
“Across the rest of the city, our bushfire mitigation activities will continue as usual,” council’s manager environmental systems Brendan Callander said.
“However, the management plan, which covers Lake Macquarie and the Central Coast, highlights those three areas as a priority between now and 2029.
“So, we’ll be increasing our efforts within those precincts to manage fuel loads, reduce the risk of fire and increase community preparedness should a fire take hold.”
A new NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) Bushfire Prone Land Map for Lake Macquarie has also been released, reflecting changes in vegetation cover and management that affect risk levels.
“Under the latest assessment, about 800 properties are newly-considered bushfire prone, while about 4,500 are no longer at risk,” Mr Callander said.
“Development within land prone to bushfire requires a risk assessment, so construction may need to meet higher standards to protect people and their property.”
Council is responsible for undertaking bushfire mitigation on land it manages.
The Bushfire Risk Management Plan provides information on the bushfire risks within the local community and outlines strategic measures to manage those dangers.
It also defines treatment strategies to be implemented by land managers and fire authorities.
“This includes maintaining asset protection zones and fire trails, managing access to help prevent ignitions, preparing hazard reduction burns and working with fire authorities and landowners to implement these measures,” Mr Callander said.
To check whether your property is among those marked as bushfire prone, visit council’s property enquiry portal at propertyinfo.lakemac.com.au or visit rfs.nsw.gov.au.
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