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 Southern Border is currently being assessed. Public feedback will be taken into consideration as the plan is finalised by the Southern Border Bush Fire Management Committee before being sent to the Bush Fire Coordinating Committee for review.

Current Bush Fire Risk Management Plan for Southern Border

Four previous Bush Fire Management Committees (Hume, Federation, Corowa Berrigan and Riverina) prepared Bush Fire Management Plans (BFRMPs) in the newly created Southern Border BFMC area. Hume BFRMP was published on 20 May 2017. Federation was prepared under two previous BFMC areas. The Corowa Berrigan BFRMP was published on 25 August 2009 and the Riverina BFRMP was published on 21 October 2015. All BFRMPs can be viewed here.

These plans identify the bush fire risks in Southern Border and set out the types of work scheduled to deal with the risk of bush fires.

Bush Fire Risk Management Plans 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. The plans may not have been updated with the latest treatments and works plans/information.

View the current plan for Southern Border

The Southern Border Bush Fire Management Committee 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.

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

  • NSW Rural Fire Service
  • Forestry Corporation of NSW
  • Fire and Rescue NSW
  • NSW Police Force
  • Department of Defence
  • Transgrid
  • Essential Energy
  • Albury City Council
  • Greater Hume Shire Council
  • Federation Shire Council
  • Berrigan Shire Council
  • NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
  • NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (Crown Lands)
  • Nature Conservation Council of NSW
  • NSW Farmers' Association
  • Local Aboriginal Land Councils
  • Transport for NSW
  • Murray Local Land Services
  • Australian Rail Track Corporation
  • UGL Rail (observer)

The Southern Border Bush Fire Management Committee (BFMC) area spans 823,796 hectares. This covers the Local Government Areas (LGA) of Berrigan Shire Council, Federation Council, Greater Hume Shire Council and Albury City Council and features National Parks covering an area of 40,227ha (4.88% of BFMC area) and State Forests covering an area of 35,414ha (4.29% of BFMC area).

Berrigan and Federation LGAs in the west feature approximately 12% bushland and 86% grassland, while Greater Hume and Albury City in the east is approximately 35% bushland and 62% grassland. The balance across Southern Border BFMC 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 40,941 residential dwellings in the Southern Border BFMC area with an approximate population of 88,814.
  • According to the ABS data (2022) on the counts of Australian businesses, there were 8,698 businesses in the Southern Border BFMC. The top three industries were Manufacturing; Construction; and Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing, which account for 55% of businesses in the Southern Border BFMC.
  • The last major bush fires happened in the 2019/20 bush fire season with 34,283 hectares burned.
  • There are many valuable community assets across the area along with a number of culturally significant and environmentally important sites.

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.