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.

We are planning together to manage bush fire risk in the Namoi/Gwydir area by preparing a new five-year plan of strategies and actions.

How will your input be used

The data from the Have Your Say survey responses has been anonymously supplied to your area’s Bush Fire Management Committee. They will assess data collections rather than individual answers, so that they can establish a clearer community sentiment and gain insights from a large sample size.

The personal details you submitted will be used to validate your submission and to allow notifications to be sent to you when the status of this BFRMP changes.

Our community

The Namoi/Gwydir BFMC area spans 4,025,868 hectares (ha). The area covers the Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Gwydir, Narrabri and Moree Plains and features National Parks covering an area of 184,218ha (4.5% of BFMC area) and State Forests covering an area of 189,648ha (4.7% of BFMC area).

The Namoi/Gwydir area has approximately 36.22% bushland and 62.32% 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 or scrub is drier.

  • According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 Census Community Profile there are 12,488 residential dwellings in the Namoi/Gwydir BFMC area with an approximate population of 25,609.
  • According to the ABS data on the counts of Australian businesses, there were 2,823 businesses in the Namoi/Gwydir BFMC area. The top three industries include Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing, Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services and Construction. These account for 72% of businesses in the BFMC area.
  • Bush fires burned 17,839 hectares within the Namoi/Gwydir BFMC area during the 2022/23 bush fire season.
  • There are several valuable community assets across the area along with a number of culturally significant sites and environmentally important sites.

Current Bush Fire Risk Management Plan for Namoi/Gwydir

The Bush Fire Risk Management Plan for Namoi/Gwydir was published on 11 September 2018.

These plans identify the bush fire risks in high risk locations 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.

Namoi/Gwydir 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.

Namoi/Gwydir BFMC is made up of the following representatives:

  • NSW Rural Fire Service
  • NSW Department of Industry (Crown Lands)
  • Essential Energy
  • NSW Farmers' Association
  • Fire and Rescue NSW
  • Forestry Corporation of NSW
  • Gwydir Shire Council
  • Moree Plains Shire Council
  • Narrabri Shire Council
  • Moree Local Aboriginal Land Council
  • Nature Conservation Council of NSW
  • NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
  • NSW Police
  • Transport for NSW

Bush fire survival plan

Getting ready for a bush fire is easier than you think. Make a bush fire survival plan so you know what you will do if there’s a fire near you.

Prepare your home

A well-prepared home is more likely to survive a bush fire. Even if your plan is to leave early, the more you prepare your home, the more likely it will survive a bush fire or ember attack.

Prepare yourself and your family

Preparation isn’t just about cleaning up around the house and having a plan. It’s also about making sure you consider your physical, mental and emotional preparedness.