Blue Mountains district manager Superintendent Nick Medianik has responded to concerns by Ward 3 candidate Roza Sage about the issues with council land clearing.
Here is his full response:
"The NSW RFS works cooperatively with both public and private landholders in planning, preparing and undertaking bush fire mitigation activities. Bush fire safety is a shared responsibility, between all land holders, public and private.
With regards to approvals for clearing of vegetation, there are relatively simply multiple pathways for residents to legally and effectively clear vegetation around their dwellings.
Firstly, the 10/50 Scheme https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/plan-and-prepare/1050-vegetation-clearing permits removal of vegetation from around private habitable structures (dwellings) on a residents land. If you live in an area close to the bush, you need to prepare your home - The 10/50 Vegetation Clearing Scheme gives people living near the bush an additional way of being better prepared for bush fires. The scheme allows people in a designated area to:
Clear trees on their property within 10 metres of a home, without seeking approval; and
Clear underlying vegetation such as shrubs (but not trees) on their property within 50 metres of a home, without seeking approval.
It is the responsibility of the resident undertaken the clearing to check if they are eligible. https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/plan-and-prepare/1050-vegetation-clearing/tool#tool
Following changes to the Rural Fires Act 1997 NSW RFS has also recently introduced a Rural Boundary Code https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/plan-and-prepare/boundary-clearing-tool to help rural landholders in identified areas remove vegetation from their property boundary to help prevent fire spreading. The Code allows for clearing only in identified areas, such as areas which are zones as Rural, and which are considered bush fire prone.
Residents can also apply to the NSW RFS for a Hazard Reduction Certificate to undertake establishment and maintenance of Asset Protection Zones on their property. Where a new dwelling or additions to a dwelling has a Development Consent that requires the establishment and maintenance of Asset Protection Zones, owners are required to ensure these are maintained after the property is constructed and an occupation certificate has been issued by Council. Approval to continue this maintenance is granted through the DA/DC process - no further approvals are required.
Blue Mountains City Council has always worked in a proactive, positive and cooperative manner with the NSW RFS with regards to all aspects of bush fire mitigation works."
Links: Residents urged to prepare
