The document discusses the 2014/15 bushfire season in NSW, highlighting above-normal fire potential with significant incidents despite favorable conditions due to later rain. It outlines the collaboration between various agencies and Aboriginal communities for effective fire management and biodiversity support. Future considerations for the 2015-16 season include expected drier conditions, assessments of fuel loads, and a review of fire management codes to enhance environmental outcomes.

1. NATURE CONSERVATION COUNCIL
BUSHFIRE CONFERENCE 2015
Stuart Midgley AFSM | Assistant Commissioner

2. 2014/15 Fire Season
› Forecast was for above normal bush fire potential
› Season began with early operational activity in the Clarence
Valley and Lower North Coast
› Further significant activity followed in the Blue Mountains
› Widespread rain resulted in more favourable conditions and
reduced the risk
› There was late activity in the north west (Pilliga)
› Despite a relatively benign season, there were still 11,382
bush, grass, forest fires, as well as 10,885 other incidents
› Provided interstate firefighting assistance to VIC, SA, WA,
Canada and cyclone affected Elcho Island (NT) as well as
recent storm events within NSW

3. 2015-16 Outlook
› BoM has advised that El Nino thresholds have been
reached
› Outlook is for drier than average and warmer than
average conditions during late winter/spring
› Recent rain and storms have saturated fuel and
hindered hazard reduction activities
› The RFS will conduct dryness and fuel load
assessments in the lead-up to the upcoming season
› The NSW RFS will be working closely with the BoM
over the coming months

4. Breaking down boundaries: Collaboration
in Restoration
› NSW RFS Objectives
› Prevention, mitigation and suppression
› Coordination of firefighting and fire prevention
› Protection of people, assets and environment
› Fire for risk reduction and fire for restoration are not distinct
› Hazard reduction and risk mitigation processes can support or
enhance biodiversity
› Collaboration to achieve best possible outcome for healthy
landscapes
› It is better to have low intensity hazard reduction activity then
bushfire

5. Hotspots Fire Project

6. Hotspots – Bowen Mountain 2015
› Bowen Mountain workshop focused on the role of
fire in weed management, especially lantana
› Collaboration between land owners, land
managers and subject experts resulted in win/win
for both fire and environmental management
› Integration of responsible land management and
HR
› Increased landscape productivity

7. Aboriginal Communities and the RFS: Perfect Partners

8. Aboriginal Communities: Cultural burning
› Perfect Partners
› Bushfire Resilience for Aboriginal Communities (BRAC)
› Joint program with Fire and Rescue NSW, Aboriginal
Groups and BFMCs
› Encourages participation in BFMCs

9. Garby Country Project
› Brings key partners together
› Integrated and culturally appropriate program
› Further research on cultural burning and development
of relationships

10. Helping an Aussie icon

11. Bermagui Koala Management
› Listed as Vulnerable: fire is a key threat
› Collaborative research project to manage risk to koalas
and fire risk to the community
› Community volunteers establish location of
populations (scat identification)
› Land managers and landowners plan fire
management strategies based on data
› Restoration of species habitat and engagement of
landowners

12. Bush Fire Environmental Assessment
Code Review
› Streamlined assessment process
› 2013 / 14 saw 2,631 HRCs issued
› Code is currently under review
› Multi-agency reference group
› Key changes
› APZ distances
› Fire trail assessment
› Soil erosion risk
› Threatened species
› Anticipate draft Code available Sept 2015