New South Wales Government
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1. Home
2. For The Community
3. Bush Fire Hazards
4. Bush Fire Hazard Reduction
5. Environmental Assessment of Bush Fire Hazard Reduction Works

Environmental Assessment of Bush Fire Hazard Reduction Works

More help with environmental aspects of hazard reduction

Hazard reduction will be easier in NSW from 1 February with the introduction of the revised Bush Fire Environmental Assessment Code.

The Code is used by the RFS to help landholders streamline existing environmental legislation related to hazard reduction. To gain environmental approval, a landholder can apply for a Bush Fire Hazard Reduction Certificate, which is determined by the RFS using the Code.

A review of the previous Code was undertaken in 2005 and changes to the Code have greatly expanded the capacity to implement hazard reduction works, particularly in rural areas.

Changes to the Code include:

• Extending the area where the Code can be used to include Land Management Zones (forests, farms, reserves etc).
   
• Extending the types of assets covered by the Code to include:
   
  • Special fire protection structures such as schools, hospitals and nursing homes,
  • Plantations
  • Boundary fences
• Increased distances from 10m to 20m for major buildings such as communication towers, farm sheds, industrial and commercial buildings,
   
• Improved measures for the assessment of river side vegetation and soil erosion,
   
• Improved measures for the assessment of threatened species.

A review has also been undertaken of the community education documents related to the Code. These documents aim to help landholders by providing clear, user-friendly advice and provide information on the approvals needed for hazard reduction. These documents are available from RFS Fire Control Centres and from the publications section of the RFS website.

A Bush Fire Hazard Reduction Certificate is not required for existing consents such as maintaining backyard lawns or regular agricultural activities such as stubble burning, burning diseased crops, orchard pruning and grazing.

The RFS has several publications available on living in bushfire prone areas these are available in PDF format from our Publications Area and from RFS Fire Control Centres.  

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