Hazard reduction burns in Myall Lakes National Park

National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has scheduled a hazard reduction burn in Myall Lakes National Park on Monday 20 April to reduce bushfire risk to Myall Shores Holiday Park and wildlife habitat.

Mungo Brush, Myall Lakes National Park

The NPWS hazard reduction program for 2020 is focussed on essential burns to protect park neighbours, assets or significant habitat to ensure ongoing recovery of the wildlife impacted by the summer bushfires.

Around 235 hectares will be burnt in the Sugar Point Strategic Fire Advantage Zone (SFAZ) just 12km south east of Bulahdelah to reduce fuel loads in bushland next to Myall Shores Holiday Park and key wildlife habitat.

NPWS crews will be working on Lake Road – also known as Bombah Point Road – from around 10.30am on Monday with patrols continuing Tuesday and Wednesday. Please use caution if driving along roads in the area.

The Sugar Point burn is set for Monday because the soil’s high moisture levels and the expected mild temperatures and light winds will support a slow-moving, low-intensity mosaic burn. This type of burn minimises impact on wildlife and supports the park’s conservation values.

Plans are to complete the main burn on Monday and continue with ongoing mop-up and patrol over subsequent days while the forecast mild weather conditions continue.

Undertaking burns when conditions are right to ensure they are safe and effective is an important part of managing the potential risk of bushfire to communities and the environment before next summer. This work also provides firefighters safe zones and access where they can defend properties, should a bushfire occur.

Fortunately, less than 3 per cent of Myall Lakes National Park was impacted by fire over the 2019-2020 bushfire period.

All burns across NSW will continue to be coordinated with the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) to ensure the impact on the community, including from smoke, are assessed at a regional level. Details on specific burns will be made available in advance on the Rural Fire Service website, ‘Fires Near Me’ app, and on NPWS Alerts website.

All hazard reduction burns over 50 hectares will be assessed by the NSW RFS in conjunction with NSW Health as required to ensure smoke impacts are minimised.

For health information relating to smoke from bush fires and hazard reduction burning, visit NSW Health or the Asthma Foundation.

For up to date information on these, and other, planned hazard reduction activities, visit the Rural Fire Service.

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