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 Orana 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 Orana BFMC area spans 1,277,418 hectares (ha). The area covers the Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Dubbo Regional Council and Narromine Shire Council and features National Parks covering an area of 55,055ha and State Forests covering an area of 2,842ha.

The Orana BFMC area has approximately 37% bushland and 61% 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 23,534 residential dwellings in the Orana BFMC area with an approximate population of 54,147.
  • According to the ABS data on the counts of Australian businesses, there were 3,581 businesses in the Orana BFMC. The top three categories included construction, Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services and agriculture, fisheries and forestry, accounting for approximately 61% of businesses in the Orana BFMC area.
  • The last major bush fire happened in the 2023/24 bush fire season with more than 1,500 hectares burned.
  • 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 Orana

The Orana Bush Fire Risk Management Plan was published in 2016 and reviewed and updated on 3 February 2021.

This plan identifies the bush fire risks in each location 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, every Bush Fire Management Committee across the state is in the process of developing a next generation Bush Fire Risk Management Plan to meet modern fire management requirements. 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 treatments and work plans/information.

View the current plan for Orana

Orana Bush Fire Management Committee is made up of a range of stakeholders from the area including emergency services, land management agencies, local government, 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.

Orana Bush Fire Management Committee is made up of the following representatives:

  • NSW Rural Fire Service
  • NSW Department of Planning and Environment (Crown Lands)
  • Essential Energy
  • NSW Farmers' Association
  • Fire and Rescue NSW
  • Forestry Corporation of NSW
  • Dubbo Regional Council
  • Narromine Shire Council
  • Local Aboriginal Land Councils
  • Local Land Services
  • NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
  • NSW Police Force
  • Transport for NSW
  • Taronga Western Plains Zoo
  • Rail authorities
  • Energy producers
  • Mining companies
  • Accommodation and tourism providers
  • Nature Conservation Council of 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.