Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel have been teamed with council contractors to clear hazardous trees along 14.5km of fire-affected residential streets in Bell, Mount Victoria and Blackheath.
ADF personnel have worked continuously on these projects since early January, with work now coming to an end, given most fire damaged trees on local roads in these areas have been addressed. ADF personnel will be redeployed to other fire affected regions in NSW in the near future.
Coordination of ADF personnel has been through the 5th Engineering Regiment from Holsworthy base.
Mayor Mark Greenhill said: "Blue Mountains City Council extends its most sincere thanks to the ADF and all personnel that have contributed to this make safe work. This partnership, and the partnership with the NSW Rural Fire Service, has meant we have been able to address many of the dangerous trees on local roads in the Upper Blue Mountains, quickly after bushfires."
Further tree management work is ongoing at Mt Wilson and Mt Irvine, as well as Hartley Vale Road near Bell. This work is highly technical and requires specialist contractors.
Grose Valley bushfires affected areas in Blackheath, Mount Victoria, Bell, Mount Wilson, Mt Irvine, Mt Tomah and Berambing on Saturday, December 21.
"Council staff have also worked tirelessly to support the NSW Rural Fire Service in a range of ways since bushfires first threatened our city in December," said the mayor.
