Bushfires NSW: Tactics to be strengthened ahead of another hot summer
The NSW government says they could go even further than the inquiry into the bushfires of last summer recommends, with more development curbs a possibility.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Barilaro plan on uranium mining overruled in cabinet
- The great escape: NSW lucky to avoid Victoria’s fate
Emergency Services Minister David Elliott has left the door open for further restrictions on development in bushfire prone areas, following the release of the inquiry recommendations into the black summer fires.
The government will accept all of the inquiry’s 76 recommendations, including strategies for “more comprehensive” hazard reduction and better long-term planning to accommodate for climate change.
But Mr Elliott said he won’t be “restricted” to the report’s recommendations if other measures were needed to reduce the bushfire risk.
“If to protect life and property we have to introduce anything above and beyond these 76 recommendations, that‘s something the cabinet will consider,” Mr Elliott said.
Restrictions on building and developing in fire prone areas could be considered as part of any extra measures.
The report notes that government systems need to improve, including “being more strategic in our land use planning to account for bush fire”.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian yesterday said the recommendations came on top of what the government had already done in the wake of summer’s devastating fires.
“The NSW Government has already delivered more than $45 million in additional funding, announced in May, to fast-track hazard reduction and deliver upgrades to our firefighting capability,” Ms Berejiklian said.
Mr Elliott said the recommendations were “wide ranging” but show “there’s no silver bullet”.
Ensuring fuel loads do not build up to dangerous levels was also identified yesterday as a priority for cabinet.
The release of the report comes as work is still being done to clean up the properties impacted by the summer’s fires.
MORE NEWS
Thousands of homes could flood if dam wall not built: Minister
‘State border closures could do more harm than good’
It’s time to give landowners the power to protect their land
“I understand there are a small number of cases which are very complex, which we‘re still working through,” Ms Berejiklian said.
The report, presented to cabinet on Monday night, angered some regional ministers who believed they did not have enough time to scrutinise the 466-page document.
Eurobodalla Mayor Liz Innes, whose council takes in the hard hit south coast, said the government “risks missing a good opportunity to fix things”.
“Some things in this report already aren‘t good enough,” Ms Innes said. “There’s no direct specific change to the 10/50 law. There’s no recommendation for a single land manager.”
The report notes the 10/50 law, which allows residents to clear trees within 10m of their homes and shrubs within 50m without approval, has been questioned in its effectiveness but recommends reviewing clearing rules.