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 Mosman/North Sydney/Willoughby is currently being assessed. Public feedback will be taken into consideration as the plan is finalised by the Mosman/North Sydney/Willoughby Bush Fire Management Committee before being sent to the Bush Fire Coordinating Committee for review.
Current Bush Fire Risk Management Plan for Mosman/North Sydney/Willoughby
The Bush Fire Risk Management Plan for Mosman/North Sydney/Willoughby was prepared under two previous Bush Fire Management Committee areas.
The Mosman North Sydney Willoughby Bush Fire Risk Management Plan published on 19 December 2017
This BFRMP identifies the bush fire risks in Mosman Council, North Sydney Council and Willoughby City Council 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.
Mosman/North Sydney/Willoughby BFMC is made up of a range of stakeholders from the area including emergency services, land management agencies, local government and local Aboriginal land councils, and local community groups. This ensures key agency stakeholders have a say on bush fire management activities for the benefit of their communities.
Mosman/North Sydney/Willoughby BFMC is made up of the following representatives:
- Fire and Rescue NSW
- NSW Department of Industry (Crown Lands)
- Ausgrid
- Department of Defence
- Mosman Council
- North Sydney Council
- Willoughby City Council
- Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
- NSW Police Force
- Transport for NSW
- Sydney Harbour Federation Trust
- Sydney Water
- Taronga Conservation Society
- Greater Sydney Local Land Services
- Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council
- NSW Rural Fire Service
The Mosman/North Sydney/Willoughby BFMC area spans 4,110 hectares (ha). The area covers the Local Government Areas (LGA) of Mosman, North Sydney and Willoughby and features National Parks covering an area of 97ha (2.4% of BFMC area).
The Mosman/North Sydney/Willoughby area has approximately 25.8% bushland and 8.7% 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 71,538 residential dwellings in Mosman/North Sydney/Willoughby BFMC area with an approximate population of 162,685. -
According to the ABS data on the counts of Australian businesses, there were 32,215 businesses in the Mosman/North Sydney/Willoughby BFMC. The top three industries in the BFMC are professional, scientific and technical services, rental hiring and real estate services and finance and insurance services. These account for almost 52% of businesses in this BFMC. -
There are several valuable community assets across the area along with a number of culturally significant sites and environmentally important sties. -
