NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is conducting a hazard reduction burn at Scouters Mountain in Heathcote National Park on Friday 11 September to Monday 14 September, subject to suitable weather conditions.
The 378-hectare burn is located to the west of the suburb of Heathcote in the Sutherland Shire.
The aim of the burn is to reduce the chance of wildfire impacts to the park, neighbours and Heathcote communities and to provide protection to key koala habitats within the reserve.
The NPWS Wildlife Emergency Response Team will be available to respond throughout the burn, in the unlikely event of wildlife incidents.
All tracks and trails within the burn area will be closed for the duration of the burn. Tracks will be reopened once they have been assessed as safe. For a full list closures, please visit the NPWS local alerts page.
Smoke may affect the area and people with asthma or other respiratory problems are advised to keep clear of the area or stay indoors, close windows and doors, and follow their health plan.
Motorists using Heathcote Road are reminded to drive to conditions and are advised to take care if visibility is reduced by smoke.
This burn is one of many hazard reduction operations undertaken by NPWS across NSW each year, many with assistance from the Rural Fire Service and Fire and Rescue NSW.
These hazard reduction burns are essential to reduce bushfire fuel loads to help protect the parks, their natural and cultural values, neighbours and communities from summer bushfires.
