The Shoalhaven district bushfire risk management plan (BFRMP) (PDF 7.74 mb) is a strategic document that identifies community assets at risk from bushfire and sets out a five-year program of coordinated, multi-agency treatments to reduce identified risks.

Treatments may include such things as fuel reduction burning, grazing, community education and fire trail maintenance. Annual programs to implement the treatments identified in the plan are undertaken by property owners, land managers and fire fighting authorities.

The BFRMP has been prepared by the Shoalhaven Bush Fire Management Committee and covers both public and private land. The BFRMP must be reviewed and updated within each successive five-year period from the constitution of the Committee.

Climate change has the potential to increase bush fire risk. The risk assessment process applied in this BFRMP is based on current climatic conditions however climate change information will be monitored and the process of risk assessment modified when necessary.

Over 100 sites are maintained as part of Council’s Annual Bushfire Mitigation Program. The program includes sites such as:

• active and passive recreational reserves;
• operational land;
• road reserves; and
• infrastructure installations

Sites on the program are slashed or mown up to three times a year throughout the bushfire danger period (generally August to May).  Indicative locations of sites on the Annual Bushfire Mitigation Program are shown and described on maps.

View the Council bushfire migitation maps for your locality

Shoalhaven City Council (SCC) received funding under the Australian Government’s Natural Disaster Resilience Grants Scheme (NDRGS) in 2010-11 to develop a site-specific plan to address the bushfire risk along the urban-bushland interface from Owen Street Huskisson, through to Emmaline Place Vincentia.

Council engaged GHD Pty Ltd to undertake the project along with Council’s partner agencies:

• NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS)
• Land and Property Management Authority (LPMA) – now Crown Lands
• NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS).

The purpose of the project was to review existing bushfire protective measures and recommend improvements that will contribute to an overall improvement in resilience of the community and their assets. 

The Interface Plan (PDF 56MB) includes balanced options to mitigate risk in light of the project area’s physical, environmental and social constraints and provides clear recommendations for the improvement of bushfire mitigation measures on both public and private land.

Council is currently working in partnership with residents of the area to implement the actions recommended by the plan. For more information, contact Megan Birmingham, Council’s Bushfire Mitigation and Bushland Management Officer on 44293133.