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 Tamworth 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 Tamworth Bush Fire Management Committee area spans 965,325 hectares (ha). The area covers the Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Tamworth and features National Parks/Reserves covering an area of 16,413ha (1.7% of BFMC area) and seven State Forests covering an area of 23,653ha (2.4% of BFMC area).

The Tamworth area has approximately 51% bushland and 48% 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 27,640 residential dwellings in the Tamworth Regional Local Government Area with an approximate population of 63,070.
  • According to the ABS data on the counts of Australian businesses, there were 5,696 businesses in the Tamworth Regional BFMC. The top three included; Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing, Construction and Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services accounting for approximately 48% of businesses in the Tamworth Regional BFMC area.
  • Bush fires burned 1,744 hectares within the Tamworth BFMC area during the 2022/23 bush fire season. Prior to this, significant fires burned 31,528 hectares of the Tamworth area during the 2019/20 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 Tamworth

The Bush Fire Risk Management Plan for Tamworth was published on 23 December 2020.

This plan identifies the bush fire risks in the Tamworth local government area and sets 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. This plan may not have been updated with the latest information.

Tamworth 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.

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

  • NSW Rural Fire Service
  • Tamworth Regional Council
  • Forestry Corporation of NSW
  • Fire and Rescue NSW
  • NSW Police
  • Essential Energy
  • Local Land Services
  • NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
  • NSW Department of Industry (Crown Lands)
  • Nature Conservation Council of NSW
  • NSW Farmers' Association
  • Tamworth Local Aboriginal Land Council
  • Transport for NSW
  • Water NSW
  • Transgrid

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.