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Fuel reduction programs

The Hazelbrook Brigade plans and undertakes fuel reduction activities in conjunction with private land owners and other land managers such as Council, National Parks and Wildlife, and Sydney Catchment Authority.

The fuel reduction cycle is usually a minimum of seven to ten years for any area.

Fuel can be treated in a number of ways, such as by slashing or selective removal. The most common method is fuel or hazard reduction (or prescribed) burning.

Approvals to undertake hazard reductions are issued by the Blue Mountains bush Fire Management committee which has representatives from all land management agencies as well as other interest groups.

Fuel reductions approved

Four fuel reduction burns are proposed for 2008, with work underway on each to map the areas in detail and obtain private landowners consents. Prior to the burn taking place, local residents will be advised. Most probably, ‘street meetings’ will be held to give adjoining residents detailed information about the hazard reduction burn.

In some instances, the Brigade will be working with residents beforehand to have residents do some of the control line work in their backyards.

When detailed maps become available, they will be posted here.

The hazard reductions proposed are:

Talbot Road
between Winbourne Road and Clearview Parade, primarily the swamp area that runs up to Liggins Road and Falcon Street.

Talbot Road
The bushland between Talbot Road and Winbourne Road, adjacent
to the powerline trail

Winbourne Road to Clearview Parade
North of the powerline trail that runs from the end of Clearview to Winbourne, extending north to the next powerline trail. This is in conjunction with NPWS.

North of Hall Parade
This burn is generally north of the access track behind the houses in Hall Parade and Rocklea, and over to the ridge that runs of Queens Road (Binowee Drive) at the locked gate.

Future hazard reductions

The Hazelbrook Brigade works to a cycle of hazard reductions, over a 5 year period.
The focus over the next 5 years is likely to be the south side of the Highway, as this area was last subjected to fire in January 2001 – by backburning as part of the work on the Mt Hall fire.