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 Shoalhaven 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 Shoalhaven Bush Fire Management Committee area spans 468,130 hectares (ha). The area covers the Local Government Area (LGA) of Shoalhaven and features 34 National Parks covering an area of 228,850ha (48.88% of BFMC area) and 17 State Forests covering an area of 51,749ha (11.05% of BFMC area).
The Shoalhaven area has approximately 84% bushland and 10% 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 55,463 residential dwellings in the Shoalhaven BFMC area with an approximate population of 99,247. -
According to the ABS data on the counts of Australian businesses, there were 3,838 businesses in the Shoalhaven BFMC. The top three included construction, Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services and Professional, Scientific and Technical Services accounting for approximately 49% of businesses in the Shoalhaven BFMC area. -
The last major bush fires occurred in the 2019/20 bush fire season – with 320,276ha burnt. -
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 Shoalhaven
The Bush Fire Risk Management Plan for Shoalhaven was prepared under one Bush Fire Management Committee area.
The Shoalhaven BFRMP was approved on 7 March 2019.
This plan identifies the bush fire risks in the Shoalhaven 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.
Shoalhaven 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.
Shoalhaven BFMC is made up of the following representatives:
- NSW Rural Fire Service
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
- Forestry Corporation of New South Wales
- NSW Department of Crown Lands
- Water NSW
- Endeavour Energy
- NSW Farmers' Association
- Fire and Rescue NSW
- Shoalhaven City Council
- Batemans Bay, Illawarra, Jerringa, Nowra and Ulladulla Local Aboriginal Land Councils
- Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales
- NSW Police Force
- Transport for NSW
- Department of Defence
- Parks Australia (Booderee National Park) - observer
For more information contact your local NSW RFS Fire Control Centre
