FORWARD PLANNING: Canobolas Rural Fire Service zone manager Superintendant David Hoadley says a public meeting tomorrow night will be a good opportunity for local land holders to provide recommendations.
THE Orange community is being asked to participate in a planned audit panel of fire hazard reductions at a public meeting tomorrow night.
Established by the NSW government, the Independent Hazard Reduction Panel will review the hazard reduction program in NSW.
The meeting will give landholders the opportunity to have their say on future plans and suggest recommendations.
Canobolas zone manager Superintendent David Hoadley welcomed the audit and has encouraged the community to get involved in the public meeting.
“It’s the first time the government has set up an independent review,” he said.
“It’s something new and it’s an opportunity for the community to participate and put forward an opinion.”
“It helps focus the Rural Fire Service and the community on the importance of hazard reductions and it shows it’s one of many tools used to manage fire,” Superintendent Hoadley said.
While hazard reduction burns are an important part of managing fire risk they are not the only tool firefighters have Superintendent Hoadley said.
Preparedness of the zone’s brigades, volunteers and staff along with community education are also vital elements in managing fire risk.
Superintendent Hoadley said once the report of potential enhancements has been presented to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services Michael Gallacher it will allow them to formulate a long-term plan for minimising fire risk.
“We’d encourage as many people as possible to come along as it will help them get a wider perspective of what happens across the state,” he said.
Attending the meeting will be representatives from the Ministry for Police and Emergency Services, NSW Rural Fire Service, the NSW Rural Fire Service Association, Centre for Environmental Risk Management of Bushfires, Department of Forest Ecosystem Science and the Volunteer Fire Fighters Association.
The public meeting in Orange is one of five held across the state to gain public feedback for the report of potential enhancements.
The meeting will be held from 6pm to 8pm at the Canobolas Fire Control Centre, 1385 Forest Road, Orange.
nadine.morton@fairfaxmedia.com.au
