North Head fire to be reviewed by expert committee headed by Sydney Harbour Trust
Experts are to review a major blaze at North Head to try and stop it happening again.
Manly
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A new expert committee will review how last month’s reduction burn at Manly’s North Head got out of control to prevent it happening again.
The burn on Saturday, October 17, jumped containment lines after conditions became much windier than predicted resulting in a “spectacular fire”, according to the Rural Fire Service, which were called in after the incident turned into an emergency.
Initially it was thought up to 90 hectares of land had been destroyed, but National Parks, which organised the burn in conjunction with Fire and Rescue NSW, later said a total of 57 hectares were affected.
Mary Darwell, Executive Director of the Harbour Trust, said the organisation will oversee a new expert committee which will review how the burn breached containment lines and provide guidance on how hazard reduction burns can be managed more effectively in the future.
It will also oversee the regeneration of the land and wildlife lost due to the blaze.
The committee is likely to consist of First Nations fire management experts, government representatives, environment specialists and local and skilled advisers, and will be tasked with developing prevention measures for the future.
It comes as the trust revealed it has been working with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy to track down and treat injured wildlife, including echnicas, bandicoots, the reintroduced pygmy possum, marsupial mouse and ground nesting birds.
“North Head Sanctuary is a place of rich history and diverse ecology,” Ms Darwell said.
“We hope that by convening this committee, we can achieve a holistic approach to fire management at North Head Sanctuary.
“Promisingly, we are starting to see the first signs of natural bushland regeneration following the fire with the grass trees, rushes and sedges showing early signs of new growth.”
The recovery effort has included fencing off the fire ground, rescuing and treating injured animals, creating artificial fauna refuges, installing nesting boxes, feral animal controls and initial bush regeneration works.
It has also seen the building of tunnels to help protect small wildlife who have lost their natural cover.
Closures are still in place at some parts of North Head Sanctuary.
These include the Gun Emplacements, the Anzac Memorial Walk, Avenue of Honour and Hanging Swamp track.
The closures will stay in place until the areas are made safe, tracks are repaired and the regenerating bushland is sufficiently protected.