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 Chifley Lithgow is currently being assessed. Public feedback will be taken into consideration as the plan is finalised by the Chifley Lithgow Bush Fire Management Committee before being sent to the Bush Fire Coordinating Committee for review.
Current Bush Fire Risk Management Plan for Chifley Lithgow
The Chifley Lithgow Bush Fire Risk Management Plan (BFRMP) was approved on 3 February 2021.
This BFRMP identifies the bush fire risks in Bathurst, Oberon and Lithgow council areas and sets out the types of work scheduled to deal with the risk of bush fires.
BFRMPs 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.
Chifley Lithgow BFMC 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.
Chifley Lithgow BFMC is made up of the following representatives:
- NSW Rural Fire Service
- NSW Crown Lands
- Department of Defence
- Energy Australia
- NSW Farmers' Association
- Fire and Rescue NSW
- Forestry Corporation of New South Wales
- Bathurst Regional Council
- Oberon Council
- Lithgow City Council
- Bathurst Local Aboriginal Land Council
- Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales
- National Parks and Wildlife Service
- NSW Police Force
- Transport for NSW
- Hume Forests
- Plantation Pine Products
- PF Olsen
The Chifley Lithgow Bush Fire Management Committee (BFMC) area spans 1,193,247 hectares (ha), across the Local Government Areas of Bathurst, Lithgow and Oberon. The area includes National Park area of 314, 538ha (26.4% of the BFMC area) and State Forests covering and area of 121,634ha (10.2% of the BFMC area).
The Chifley Lithgow BFMC area has approximately 66% bushland and 32% 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 and scrub is drier.
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According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 Census Community Profile there are 29,609 residential dwellings in the Chifley Lithgow BFMC area with an approximate population of 62,873. -
According to the ABS data on the counts of Australian businesses, there were 5,007 businesses in the Chifley Lithgow BFMC. The top three included agriculture, fisheries and forestry, construction and rental, hiring and real estate services accounting for approximately 53% of businesses in the Chifley Lithgow BFMC. -
The last major bush fire happened in the 2019/2020 bush fire season with 321,347ha burnt. -
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
