The Sydney Catchment Authority (SCA) is inviting neighbouring landowners to comment on a draft fire management plan for its 30,000 hectares of land, just north of Braidwood.
The fire management plan aims to protect and encourage biodiversity on the SCA land and minimise fire hazards to leasees and adjoining landowners.
The SCA will be holding a meeting for neighbouring landowners and people who currently lease SCA lands, on Thursday July 19, at the Braidwood Servicemen’s Club, so they have a chance to comment on the draft plan. The meeting will start at 7.30pm.
“The aim of the plan is to protect lives and livelihoods, prevent bushfire threats to the water quality of the Shoalhaven, but also encourage biodiversity in the area,” said project officer Viki Lee.
“We know that some native vegetation, like dry eucalypts, need fire every two to three years to reproduce.
“Other native vegetation, particularly around river bank zones, needs fire every 10 years to remain sustainable.
“But obviously fire that is out of control is a serious threat.
“Uncontrolled fire represents a threat to the livelihoods and lives of people who presently lease SCA lands. It also represents a threat to the lives and livelihoods of adjoining landowners.
“Fire also represents a serious threat to the health of streams that feed the Shoalhaven.
“Areas that are burnt out by fire are vulnerable to erosion. “Erosion and fire ash have the potential to have serious impacts on the quality of water in creeks and rivers.
“Burnt out areas are also more vulnerable to weed infestation, which only increases the chances that weeds will spread and colonise downstream.
“The plan will identify what the SCA needs to do to protect and encourage native vegetation, but also what it needs to do in terms of maintaining tracks and fire breaks and managing leaf litter among other things.
“To date the SCA has been working closely with the Tallaganda Rural Fire Service to develop this draft plan.
“It’s now at a point where it’s important that the neighbouring landowners, have the chance to comment on the draft plan,” said Viki.
SCA chief Executive Mr Jeff Wright said the SCA had an obligation to minimise the threats of fire to people’s lives, their livelihoods and the environment.
“We’re very mindful that as a large landowner in the Braidwood area, we have a responsibility to minimise fire hazards for our neighbours and for the rest of the community,” Mr Wright said.
“We also have a duty and a responsibility to ensure that we don’t burn out areas that, because of their geography, are going to contribute to erosion, the spread of weeds, and poor water quality.
“Certainly part of trying to get the balance right is making sure that neighbours are consulted about the draft plan,” Mr Wright said.
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