‘Dangerous’: Forest near Kyogle hasn’t been burnt for 40+ years

“The need for fuel reduction is vital”: After 2019’s traumatic fire season, residents are becoming increasingly nervous about fuel loads, with calls for urgent action to be taken before it’s too late.

A Kyogle councillor is calling for urgent action to carry out fuel reduction burns in three state forests before the region experiences another “traumatic” fire season.

Lindsay Passfield will present a notice of motion to next week’s council meeting which, if passed, will see the council write to Forest Corporation NSW and Rural Fire Service Far North Coast requesting burns in the Bald Knob, Woodenbong, and Donaldson State Forests.

He said despite motions on the issue being passed at the 2019 NSW Local Government Conference and the state conference, no action had been taken.

“Over the late 2019 early 2020 period, a fire which originated in Queensland crossed into NSW, causing a huge amount of damage to the forest and private property,” Mr Passfield wrote in his motion.

“This unprecedented wildfire in our local area traumatised the local community with constant ABC radio alerts, premature road closures, confusing evacuation advice and damage to property and livestock.

This photo of fires burning the mountain was taken by Daniel Rex in Woodenbong.

“The situation remains that Forest Corporation NSW assets closest to Woodenbong have not had a fire reduction burn for about 40 years.

“The same fuel load that was used to justify the emergency management notice for residents to prepare to evacuate is still there and has increased during the past year.

“Of greatest concern is the fact that the local communications tower, which carries critical radio and mobile phone infrastructure, is surrounded by unburnt, dangerous levels of fuel in steep, inaccessible terrain.”

Kyogle Council wants residents and landowners to be prepared for bushfire season.

Mr Passfield said fuel reduction burns were necessary to avoid a repeat of that horror summer.

“If there is no fuel there will be no fire; if there is less fuel there will be less fire,” he wrote.

“In the face of an escalating rate of climate change, the need for fuel reduction is vital for the health and regeneration of our forests and the fauna that live in them.”

Kyogle councillors will vote on Mr Passfield’s motion at the ordinary council meeting on Tuesday, June 15.