Why we need a plan
Bush Fire Risk Management Plans are an effective instrument for managing risk to human activity and valued community and environmental assets. They are a key component in a multifaceted bush fire management approach for NSW.
Developed using robust data and sophisticated technology and modelling, the plans determine risk factors and develop solutions that best mitigate them.
Feedback from the exhibition of a draft plan for Castlereagh is currently being assessed. Public feedback will be taken into consideration as the plan is finalised by the Castlereagh Bush Fire Management Committee before being sent to the Bush Fire Coordinating Committee for review.
Current Bush Fire Risk Management Plan for Castlereagh
The Bush Fire Risk Management Plan for Castlereagh was approved on 16 January 2013.
These plans identify the bush fire risks in the local government areas of Warrumbungle and Gilgandra and sets out the types of work scheduled to deal with the risk of bush fires.
Bush Fire Risk Management Plans are updated within every five-year period, however, the treatments and works set out in the plans are subject to change on a yearly basis due to fire activity, weather and new risk factors. This plan may not have been updated with the latest treatment and works plans/information.
Castlereagh Bush Fire Management Committee is made up of a range of stakeholders from the area including emergency services, land management agencies, local government and local Aboriginal land services and local community groups. This ensures key community stakeholders have a say on bush fire management activities for the benefit of their communities.
Castlereagh Bush Fire Management Committee is made up representatives from the following agencies and organisations:
- NSW Rural Fire Service
- NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (Crown Lands)
- Essential Energy
- NSW Farmers' Association
- Fire and Rescue NSW
- Forestry Corporation of NSW
- Warrumbungle Shire Council
- Gilgandra Shire Council
- Local Aboriginal Land Councils
- Local Land Services
- Nature Conservation Council of NSW
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
- NSW Police Force
- Transport for NSW
- Australian Rail Track Corporation
The Castlereagh Bush Fire Management Committee area spans 1,788,850 hectares (ha). The area covers the Local Government Areas (LGA) of Warrumbungle and Gilgandra Shire Councils and features National Parks comprising 154,330ha (8.62% of BFMC area) and State Forests comprising 56,859ha (3.17% of BFMC area).
The Castlereagh area has approximately 54% bushland and 44% grassland with the balance being the built environment or water bodies. A bush or grass fire can happen at any time of the year, but the risk is higher during the warmer months, when bush, grass or scrub is drier.
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According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 Census Community Profile there are 6,022 residential dwellings in the Castlereagh BFMC area with an approximate population of 11,537. -
According to the ABS data on the counts of Australian businesses, there were 1,121 businesses in the Castlereagh BFMC area. The top three industries include Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing; Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services; and Construction. These account for 76.6% of businesses in the Castlereagh BFMC area. -
The Forest Way Yarrie Lake (Duck Creek Pilliga Forest Fire) in 2023/24 burned a total area of 138,000 hectares within the Pilliga Forest (about 13,000 ha of that was within Castlereagh BFMC). -
There are several valuable community assets across the area along with a number of culturally significant sites and environmentally important sites.
For more information contact your local NSW RFS Fire Control Centre
