This article was initially written by this editor and published in the Blue Mountains Gazette newspaper on 20051005 as a letter to the editor, entitled ‘RFS strategy misguided‘.

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19th Century heritage-listed ‘Six Foot Track’

..bulldozed by the Rural Fire Service in July 2005, widened into a convenient Fire Trail for its fire truck crews.

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It has been revealed that the June bulldozing or grading of the Six Foot Track near Megalong Creek (Blue Mountains, New South Wales) was a mere drop in the Rural Fire Service (RFS) Bushfire Mitigation Programme.

Across the Blue Mountains, some twenty natural reserves including the Six Foot Track were targeted under the RFS 2004-05 Fire Trail Strategy:

• Edith Falls
• McMahons Point
• Back Creek
• Cripple Creek
• Plus some 95 hectares inside the Blue Mountains National Park.

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Read: [>RFS Fire Trail Policy]

Read: [>RFS Fire Trail Classification Guidelines]

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According to the Australian Government’s (then) Department of Transport and Regional Services (DOTARS) website, some $151,195 was granted to the RFS in the Blue Mountains alone, for it to bulldoze and burn 144 hectares of native bushland under the euphemism of “addressing bushfire mitigation risk priorities”  (Ed: Read ‘bush arson‘) 

‘The Six Foot Track Conservation and Management Plan 1997, Vol II’ lists numerous vulnerable species of fauna recorded near Megalong Creek – the Glossy Black-Cockatoo (Clyptorhynchus lathami), Giant Burrowing Frog (Heleioporus australiacus), Spotted-tailed Quoll (Dasyurus maculatus).

Glossy Black-Cockatoo

[Source: Dubbo Field Naturalist & Conservation Society
http://www.speednet.com.au/~abarca/black-cockatoo.htm]

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Giant Burrowing Frog

[Source:  Frogs.org.au, ^http://frogs.org.au/community/viewtopic.php?t=4876&sid=0dc45ef08e12cd5e1d27524bca2269f9]

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Spotted-tailed Quoll

(Dasyurus maculatus)

Blue Mountains top order predator, competing with the Dingo

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The RFS contractors wouldn’t have had a clue if they were within 100 metres or 1 metre of rare, vulnerable or threatened species.

The RFS is not exempt from destroying important ecological habitat; rather it is required to have regard to the principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD).

Read: >RFS Policy 2-03 Ecologically Sustainable Development

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The ‘Rationale‘ of this RFS ESD policy states at Clause 1.2:

‘The Bush Fire Coordinating Committee, under the Rural Fires Act 1997 Sec 3 (d), is required to have regard to ESD as outlined in the Protection of the Environment Administration Act 1991, which sets out the following principles:

a)   The precautionary principle namely, that if there are threats of serious or irreversible environmental damage, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation. In the application of the precautionary principle, public and private decisions should be guided by:

i.   careful evaluation to avoid, wherever practicable, serious or irreversible damage to the environment, and
ii.   an assessment of the risk-weighted consequences of various options.

.

b)   Inter-generational equity namely, that the present generation should ensure that the health, diversity and productivity of the environment are maintained or enhanced for the benefit of future generations

.

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c)   Conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity should be a fundamental consideration in all decisions.

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d)   Recognising the economic values that the natural environment provides. The natural environment has values that are often hard to quantify but provide a benefit to the entire community. By recognising that the natural environment does have significant economic and social values we can improve decision making for the present and future generations.’

.

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Yet the RFS policy on hazard reduction is woefully loose in the ‘Bushfire Co-ordinating Committee Policy 2 /03 on ESD‘ – which (on paper) advocates protecting environmental values and ensuring that ESD commitments are adopted and adhered to by contractors.

Experience now confirms this policy is nothing more than ‘greenwashing’.  The RFS wouldn’t know what environmental values were if they drove their fire truck into a Blkue Mountains upland swamp.  There is not one ecologist among them.

While the critical value of dedicated RFS volunteer fire-fighters fighting fires is without question, what deserves questioning is the unsustainable response of the RFS ‘old guard’ to fire trails and hazard reduction with token regard for sensitive habitat.  Repeated bushfire research confirms that bushfires are mostly now caused by:

1. Bush arson (hazard reduction included, escaped or otherwise)
2. More residential communities encroaching upon bushland.

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Under the ‘Blue Mountains Bushfire Management Committee Bushfire Risk Management Plan’ (Ed: their bureaucratic name), key objectives are patently ignored:

• ‘Ensure that public and private land owners and occupiers understand their bushfire management responsibilities’
• ‘Ensure that the community is well informed about bushfire protection measures and prepared for bushfire events through Community Fireguard programs’
• ‘Manage bushfires for the protection and conservation of the natural, cultural, scenic and recreational features , including tourism values, of the area’.

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Instead, the Rural Fire Service is content to look busy by burning and bulldozing native bushland.  The RFS actively demonises native vegetation as a ‘fuel hazard‘, in the much the same way that ignorant colonists of the 18th and 19th centuries demonised Australia’s unique wildlife as ‘vermin‘ and ‘game‘.

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Further Reading:

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[1]   Previous article on The Habitat Advocate:  ‘RFS Bulldozes Six Foot Track‘  (published 20101220):  [>Read Article]

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[2]  Tip of the Bush-Arson Iceberg

What these government funded and State-sanctioned bush-arsonists get up to, deliberately setting fire to wildlife habitat, is an ecological disgrace.

The following list is from just 2005 of the vast areas of native vegetation deliberately burnt across New South Wales in just this one year.  [Source: DOTARS].

Not surprisingly, this State-sanctioned bush-arson information is no longer published by government each year for obvious clandestine reasons, as the bush-arson continues out of the public eye.

The hazard reduction cult is similarly perpetuated across other Australian states – Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, West Australia as well as Northern Territory and the ACT.   No wonder Australia’s record of wildlife extinctions tragically leads the world!  There is little precious rich wildlife habitat left.

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National Park and Wildlife Service  (NSW) Bush Arson:

(Note: ‘NR’ = Nature Reserve, ‘NP’ = National Park, ‘SCA’ = State Conservation Area… as if these bastards care)

Reserve / Activity Name	Treatment Area (km2)
Baalingen NR	5
Baalingen NR	6
Bald Rock NP	7
Banyabba NR	0.5
BANYABBA NR	3
BANYABBA NR	24
BANYABBA NR	8
Barakee NP	6
Barool NP	20
Barool NP	6
Barool NP	5
Barool NP	4
Barool NP	2
Barool NP	5
Barrington Tops NP	2.5
Barrington Tops NP	2
Barrington Tops NP	6
Barrington Tops NP	18
Barrington Tops NP	6
Barrington Tops NP	16
Barrington Tops NP	11
Barrington Tops NP	1
Barrington Tops NP	4
Barrington Tops NP	2
Barrington Tops NP	1
Barrington Tops NP	3
Basket Swamp NP	1
Basket Swamp NP	12
Basket Swamp NP	2
Basket Swamp NP	4
Bellinger River NP	1
Ben Boyd NP	0.8
Ben Boyd NP	3
Ben Boyd NP	0.9
Ben Boyd NP	0.9
Ben Boyd NP	5
Ben Boyd NP	13
Ben Boyd NP	5
Ben Boyd NP	0.4
Ben Boyd NP	1
Ben Boyd NP	2
Ben Boyd NP	3
Ben Boyd NP	5
Ben Boyd NP	3.6
Ben Boyd NP	1.9
Ben Boyd NP	1.6
Ben Halls Gap NP	3
Bindarri NP	2
Black Bulga SCA	8
Black Bulga SCA	12
Black Bulga SCA	21
Blue Mountains NP	42
Blue Mountains NP	8.3
Blue Mountains NP	23
Blue Mountains NP	10
Blue Mountains NP	12
Bogendyra NR
Bolivia NR	1
BOLLONOLLA NR	2
Bondi Gulf NR	8
Bondi Gulf NR	6
Bondi Gulf NR	10
BONGIL BONGIL NP	0.3
BONGIL BONGIL NP	0.5
Boonoo Boonoo NP	9
Boonoo Boonoo NP	10
Booti Booti NP	0.5
Booti Booti NP	0.3
Booti Booti NP	3
Booti Booti NP	0.3
Booti Booti NP	3
Border Range NP	6
Border Ranges NP	4
Border Ranges NP	3
Border Ranges NP	4
Border Ranges NP	2.8
Bouddi NP	0.5
Bouddi NP	0.3
Bouddi NP	0.9
Bouddi NP	0.9
Bouddi NP	0.5
Bouddi NP	1.1
Bouddi NP	0.5
Bouddi NP	1.9
Bouddi NP	1.1
Bouddi NP	0.6
Bouddi NP	2.3
Bournda NR	10
Bournda NR	5
Bournda NR	0.5
Bournda NR	0.5
Bournda NR	0.5
Brindabella NP	20
Brisbane Water NP	4.4
Brisbane Water NP	2.4
Brisbane Water NP	3.7
Brisbane Water NP	3.6
Brisbane Water NP	0.3
Brisbane Water NP	3.1
Brisbane Water NP	0.6
Budawang NP	4.8
Budderoo NP	10
Bugong NP	3.1
Bundgalung NP	2
BUNDJALUNG NP	7
BUNDJALUNG NP	4.5
BUNDJALUNG NP	8
BUNDJALUNG NP	1.5
BUNDJALUNG NP	0.5
BUNDJALUNG NP	6
BUNDJALUNG NP	3
BUNDJALUNG NP	3
BUNDJALUNG NP	4
BUNDJALUNG NP	2
BUNDJALUNG NP	1
Bundundah Reserve	1.94
Bundundah Reserve/Morton NP	4.7
Bungawalbyn NP	2
Bungawalbyn NP	2.25
Bungawalbyn NP	4
Bungawalbyn NP	5
Bungawalbyn NP	3
Bungawalbyn NP	4.5
Bungawalbyn NP	6.5
Bungawalbyn NP	5
Bungawalbyn NP	1.65
Bungawalbyn NP	1.5
Burnt Down Scrub NR	2
Burnt School NR	2
Burrinjuck NR	8
Burrinjuck NR	15
Burrinjuck NR	3
Butterleaf NP
Butterleaf NP	3
Butterleaf NP	3.2
Butterleaf NP	1.2
Butterleaf NP	1.6
Butterleaf NP	1.2
Butterleaf NP	2
Butterleaf NP	1.8
Butterleaf NP	1.4
Butterleaf NP	0.5
Butterleaf NP	2.3
Butterleaf NP	3.3
Butterleaf NP	3.9
Butterleaf NP	5.3
Butterleaf NP	0.4
Butterleaf NP	0.5
Butterleaf NP	1.5
Butterleaf NP	2.9
Butterleaf NP	5.3
Butterleaf NP	4
Butterleaf NP	3.3
Butterleaf NP	3.6
Butterleaf NP	1.5
Butterleaf NP	8.8
Butterleaf NP	0.5
Capoompeta NP	10
Cataract NP
Cataract NP	1.5
Cataract NP	2
Cataract NP	2
Cataract NP	1.5
Cataract NP	2
Cataract NP	1
Clayton Chase	5
Clayton Chase	10
Clayton Chase	3.5
Clayton Chase	4
Clayton Chase	3
Clayton Chase	3
Clayton Chase	4
Conjola NP	5.7
Conjola NP	1.8
Conjola NP	8.3
Conjola NP	4.8
Conjola NP	2.9
Conjola NP	4.5
Conjola NP	6.5
Coolah Tops NR	28
Coolah Tops NR	1
Coolah Tops NR	6
Copeland Tops SCA	3
Copeland Tops SCA	3.5
Corramy SCA	0.7
Cottan-bimbang NP	6
Cottan-bimbang NP	16
Cottan-bimbang NP	15
Culgoa NP	30
Curramore NP
Curramore NP	8
Curramore NP	8.9
Curramore NP	11
Curramore NP	5.5
Dapper NR	10
Deua NP	15.2
Deua NP	1.4
Deua NP	1
Deua NP	4
Deua NP	21.5
Deua NP	2.1
Deua NP	1.4
Deua NP	3.3
Deua NP	8.5
Deua NP	20.8
Deua NP	5.3
Deua NP	6.6
Deua NP	28.2
Deua NP	5.65
DUNGGIR NP	4
Eurobodalla NP	0.8
Eurobodalla NP	2.5
Eurobodalla NP	0.8
Eurobodalla NP	2.4
Eurobodalla NP	2
Flaggy creek  NR	3
Flaggy creek  NR	1.8
GANAY NR	2
GANAY NR	2
Garawarra SCA
Garby NR	2
Gardens of Stone NP	18
Gibraltar NP	14
Goobang NP	5
Goobang NP	25
GUMBAYNGIR SCA	12
GUMBAYNGIR SCA	7
GUMBAYNGIR SCA	6
Ironbark NR	13.5
Jerrawangala NP	6.83
Jervis Bay NP	2.37
Jervis Bay NP	5.42
Jervis Bay NP	0.56
Jervis Bay NP	0.82
Jervis Bay NP	1.45
Jervis Bay NP	1.72
Jervis Bay NP	0.21
Jervis Bay NP	0.32
Jervis Bay NP	0.7
Jervis Bay NP	0.4
Jervis Bay NP	0.35
Jervis Bay NP	0.35
Jervis Bay NP	0.48
Jervis Bay NP	1.03
Jervis Bay NP	0.65
Jervis Bay NP	1.91
Jervis Bay NP	0.34
Jervis Bay NP	0.95
Jervis Bay NP	1.46
Jervis Bay NP	0.71
Jervis Bay NP	1.07
Jingellic NR	20
Karuah NR	10
Karuah NR	28
Karuah NR	10
Karuah NR	12
Karuah NR	1
Kings Plains NP	7
Kings Plains NP	0
Kings Plains NP	4
Koreelah NP	6
Kosciuszko NP	30
Kosciuszko NP	9.5
Kosciuszko NP	22
Kosciuszko NP	22
Kosciuszko NP	33
Kosciuszko NP	33
Kosciuszko NP	33
Kosciuszko NP	12
Kosciuszko NP	12
Kosciuszko NP	17
Kosciuszko NP	5
Kosciuszko NP	28
Kosciuszko NP	9
Kosciuszko NP	6
Kosciuszko NP	6
Kosciuszko NP	26
Kosciuszko NP	8.9
Kosciuszko NP	15
Kosciuszko NP	15
Kosciuszko NP	2.5
Kosciuszko NP	8.9
Kosciuszko NP	10
Kosciuszko NP	11
Kosciuszko NP	4.8
Kosciuszko NP	18
Kosciuszko NP	19
Kosciuszko NP	7.2
Kosciuszko NP	7.2
Kosciuszko NP	13
Kosciuszko NP	18
Kosciuszko NP	33
Kosciuszko NP	33
Kosciuszko NP	18
Kosciuszko NP	18
Kosciuszko NP	15
Kosciuszko NP	12
Kwiambal NP	7
Kwiambal NP	3
Kwiambal NP	2
Kwiambal NP	2.25
Lake Macquarie SCA	0.3
Lake Macquarie SCA	0.4
Lake Macquarie SCA	0.4
Lake Macquarie SCA	0.4
Ledknapper NR	15
Linton NR	12.5
Meroo NP	2.4
Meroo NP	0.9
Meroo NP	0.6
Meroo NP	3.3
Meroo NP	3.9
Meroo NP	3.5
Meroo NP	0.5
Morton NP	5.9
Morton NP	8.3
Morton NP	3.8
Morton NP	6
Morton NP	13
Morton NP	0.4
Morton NP	4.5
Morton NP	5
Morton NP	2.7
Morton NP	0.7
Morton NP	2.1
Morton NP	1
Morton NP	6
Mt Canobolas SCA	1
Mt Clunnie NP	6.5
Mt Dowling NR	2
MT NEVILLE NR	11
MT NEVILLE NR	1
MT NEVILLE NR	1.5
MT NEVILLE NR	11
MT NEVILLE NR	1.5
MT NEVILLE NR	3.5
MT PIKAPENE NP	2
MT PIKAPENE NP	4
MT PIKAPENE NP	2.5
MT PIKAPENE NP	1.5
MT PIKAPENE NP	1.5
MT PIKAPENE NP	4
MT PIKAPENE NP	7
MT PIKAPENE NP	2
MT PIKAPENE NP	2.5
MT PIKAPENE NP	6
MT PIKAPENE NP	3
MT PIKAPENE NP	0.5
MT PIKAPENE NP	0.5
MT PIKAPENE NP	2.5
MT PIKAPENE NP	2
MT PIKAPENE NP	1
MT PIKAPENE NP	2.5
MT PIKAPENE NP	6
MT PIKAPENE NP	2
MT PIKAPENE NP	1
MT PIKAPENE NP	2.5
MT PIKAPENE NP	2
MT PIKAPENE NP	1.5
Mummell Gulf NP	3
Mummell Gulf NP	7
Mummell Gulf NP	5
Munmorah SRA	0.7
Munmorah SRA	0.8
Munmorah SRA	0.45
Munmorah SRA	1
Munmorah SRA	2
Munmorah SRA	0.9
Munmorah SRA	1.6
Muogamarra NR	1
Murramarang NP	0.9
Murramarang NP	8
Murramarang NP	1
Murramarang NP	5.1
Murramarang NP	8.2
Murramarang NP	3.1
Murramarang NP	6.8
Murramarang NP	16
Murramarang NP	4.3
Murramarang NP	4
Myall Lakes NP	5
Myall Lakes NP	5
Myall Lakes NP	1.5
Myall Lakes NP	2
Myall Lakes NP	1
Myall Lakes NP	5
NGAMBAA NR	2
NGAMBAA NR	5
Nombinnie NR	10
Nymboida NP	6
Nymboida NP	12
Nymboida NP	3
Nymboida NP	4
Nymboida NP	1
Nymboida NP	4
Nymboida NP	4
Nymboida NP	3.2
Nymboida NP	4.5
Nymboida NP	2
Nymboida NP	4
Nymboida NP	2.8
Nymboida NP	4.2
Nymboida NP	4.2
Nymboida NP	4.2
Nymboida NP	4.2
Nymboida NP	4.2
Nymboida NP	4.2
Nymboida NP	4.2
Nymboida NP	4.2
Nymboida NP	7
Nymboida NP	6
Oxley Wild Rivers NP	10.7
Oxley Wild Rivers NP	19.1
Oxley Wild Rivers NP	13.4
Oxley Wild Rivers NP	18
Oxley Wild Rivers NP	18
Oxley Wild Rivers NP	15
Oxley Wild Rivers NP	33
Oxley Wild Rivers NP	33
Oxley Wild Rivers NP	5
Oxley Wild Rivers NP	5
Oxley Wild Rivers NP	4
Oxley Wild Rivers NP	3
Oxley Wild Rivers NP	7
Parma Creek NR	0.21
Parma Creek NR	0.07
Parma Creek NR	0.3
Parma Creek NR	0.01
Parma Creek NR	0.29
Parma Creek NR	5
Paroo Darling NP	60
Policemans Cap	10
Razorback NR	17
Richmond Range NP	3.9
Richmond Range NP	6.5
Richmond Range NP	3.8
Richmond Range NP	4.5
Richmond Range NP	5.5
Richmond Range NP	9
Royal NP	1
Seven Mile Beach NP	1.09
Seven Mile Beach NP	1.79
Seven Mile Beach NP	2.24
Seven Mile Beach NP	0.74
Seven Mile Beach NP	2.03
Severn River NR	6
Single NP	21
South East Forest NP	5
South East Forest NP	1.2
South East Forest NP	1.2
South East Forest NP	2.6
South East Forest NP	3
South East Forest NP	10.9
South East Forest NP	1.3
South East Forest NP	1
South East Forest NP	1.2
South East Forest NP	2.8
South East Forest NP	2
South East Forest NP	1.2
South East Forest NP	2
South East Forest NP	5.1
South East Forest NP	3.5
South East Forest NP	0.5
South East Forest NP	6
South East Forest NP	3
South East Forest NP	1
South East Forest NP	5.5
South East Forest NP	0.8
Stoney Batter NR	6
Tapitallee NR	0.52
Tapitallee NR	0.33
Tapitallee NR	0.36
Tapitallee NR	0.32
Tarlo River NP	3.8
Tarlo River NP	2.1
Tarlo River NP	2.9
Tarlo River NP	5.9
Tarlo River NP	6.5
Tarlo River NP	2.7
Tarlo River NP	2.1
Tarlo River NP	6
Tollingo NR	150
Tomaree NP	1.8
Tooloom NP	3
Toonumbar NP	31.9
Toonumbar NP	8.5
Toonumbar NP	17
Toonumbar NP	21.5
Triplarina NR	0.71
Triplarina NR	0.32
Triplarina NR	0.66
Triplarina NR	0.75
Triplarina NR	1.34
Triplarina NR	0.31
Triplarina NR	1.24
Triplarina NR	1.35
Ungazetted (Kalyarr NP)	48
Ungazetted (Kalyarr NP)	26
Unknown	7
Wa Hou NR	10
Wa Hou NR	1
Wa Hou NR	7
Wa Hou NR	1
Wa Hou NR	11
Wa Hou NR	1
Wa Hou NR	7
Wa Hou NR	1
Wa Hou NR	1
Wa Hou NR	1
Wa Hou NR	1
Wallaroo NR	3
Wallaroo NR	1.5
Wallaroo NR	8
Wallaroo NR	5
Wallaroo NR	11
Wallaroo NR	7
Wallaroo NR	7
Wallaroo NR	16
Wallaroo NR	6
Wallingat NP	2
Wallingat NP	1.3
Wallingat NP	3.6
Wallingat NP	3.3
Washpool Np	18
Washpool NP	5.3
Washpool NP	5.6
Washpool NP	7.1
Washpool NP	6.4
Washpool NP	1.6
Washpool NP	7
Washpool NP	2.8
Watson’s Creek NR	5
Wereboldera SCA	9
Woggoon NR	144
Wollemi NP	21
Wollemi NP	12
Wollemi NP	10
Wollemi NP	30
Wollemi NP	7
Wollemi NP	11
Wollemi NP	7
Wollemi NP	16
Wollemi NP	2
Wollemi NP	8
Wollemi NP	5
Woodford Island NR	1.5
Woodford Island NR	2
Woodford Island NR	3
Woodford Island NR	3
Woollamia NR	1.51
Woollamia NR	0.77
Woollamia NR	1.95
Woollamia NR	1.88
Woollamia NR	0.74
Woomargama NP	15
Yabbra NP	8
Yabbra NP	45
Yango NP	0.45
Yanununbeyan NP	11
YARRIABINNI NP	2
YARRIABINNI NP	3
YARRIABINNI NP	5
YARRIABINNI NP	6
YARRIABINNI NP	4
Yuraygir NP	4
Yuraygir NP	3.5
Yuraygir NP	1
Yuraygir NP	1
YURAYGIR NP	0.03
Yuraygir NP	1
Yuraygir NP	3.5
Yuraygir NP	1.5
Yuraygir NP	1.5
Yuraygir NP	1.5
Yuraygir NP	1.5
Yuraygir NP	1.5
Yuraygir NP	1.5
Yuraygir NP	1.5
Yuraygir NP	1.5
Yuraygir NP	1.5
Yuraygir NP	1.5
Yuraygir NP	28
Yuraygir NP	10
Yuraygir NP	12
Yuraygir NP	1
Yuraygir NP	1
Yuraygir NP	4
Yuraygir NP	3.5
	3,785.10 Ha

i.e.  An area 6km x 6km

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NSW Local Government Areas (LGAs)

Bush Fire Management Committee / LGA	Reserve / Activity Name	Treatment Area (km2)
Blue Mountains	Northern Strategic Line -Primary	8
Blue Mountains	De Faurs Trail – Mt Wilson -Primary	2.8
Blue Mountains	Mitchell’s Creek Fire Trail – Primary	3.5
Blue Mountains	Nellies Glen Fire Trail	2.8
Blue Mountains	Back Creek Fire Trail – Primary	3.2
Blue Mountains	Mt Piddington Trail – Hornes Point	N/A
Bombala	Gibraltar Ridge Fire Trail (2) (PT)	20
Bombala	Mt Rixs Fire Trail (PT)	6
Bombala	Roaring Camp Fire Trail (PT)	12
Cooma-Monaro	Brest Fire Trail (2) (PT)	15
Cooma-Monaro	Calabash Fire Trail (2) (PT)	22
Cooma-Monaro	Murrumbucca Fire Trail (2) (ST)	15
Cooma-Monaro	Bridge Fire Trail (2) (PT)	6
Cooma-Monaro	Log In Hole Fire Trail (2) (PT)	5
Gloucester	Upper Avon Fire Trail	11
Greater Argyle	Mountain Ash Fire Trail	10
Greater Argyle	Mootwingee Fire Trail	6
Greater Hume	Murphy’s Fire Trail	0.2
Greater Hume	Mandaring Fire Trail	1
Greater Queanbeyan City	Queanbeyan River Fire Trail	5.5
Greater Queanbeyan City	Gourock Fire Trail	5.8
Hawkesbury District	Jacks Trail	1.6
Hawkesbury District	Duffys Trail (2) ?tenure	3
Mallee	Various Fire Trails	N/A
Mallee	No 21 Fire Trail	20
Namoi/Gwydir	Warialda State Forest	6.5
Namoi/Gwydir	Zaba-Kaiwarra-Kiora Fire Trail (check)	10
Namoi/Gwydr	Blue Nobby Fire Trail (check)	8
Namoi/Gwydr	Araluen Fire Trail (check)	6
Snowy River	Snowy Plain Fire Trail (2) (PT)	18
Snowy River	Crackenback Fire Trail (PT)	10
Snowy River	Devils Hole Fire Trail (PT)	18
Snowy River	Golden Age Fire Trail (2) (PT)	8
Sutherland	Sabugal Pass Fire Trail	N/A
SW Mallee	Various Fire Trails	N/A
SW Mallee	Oberwells Fire Trail	28
SW Mallee	Mandleman Fire Trail	40
Upper Lachlan	Johnsons Creek Fire Trail	15
Warringah/Pittwater	Lovett Bay Trail (2)	2.5
Warringah/Pittwater	Elvina Bay Trail (2)	1.5
Yass Valley	Nelanglo Fire Trail	21
Yass Valley	Hayshed Fire Trail 1	7
Yass Valley	Hayshed Fire Trail 2	7
		391.90 km2

i.e.   An area 20km x 20km

.

Forests NSW (government’s industrial logger of NSW remnant forests).

(Forests NSW did not publish the area burnt, only the cost. As a rule of thumb use $3000/square km)

Bush Fire Management Committee	Reserve / Activity Name	NSW Allocation
Clarence Zone	Dalmorton SF	$30,000
Future Forests	Swan	$20,050
Future Forests	Tindall	$10,680
Future Forests	Tooloom	$10,425
Future Forests	Mazzer	$7,341
Future Forests	Kungurrabah	$4,435
Future Forests	Morpeth Park	$3,773
Future Forests	Loughnan	$3,155
Future Forests	Inglebar	$3,000
Future Forests	Lattimore	$2,604
Future Forests	Byrne	$1,755
Future Forests	Ziull 4	$1,677
Future Forests	Lejag	$1,670
Future Forests	Ziull 2	$1,600
Future Forests	Bates	$1,563
Future Forests	Ziull 3	$1,454
Future Forests	Envirocom	$1,410
Future Forests	Morgan	$1,361
Future Forests	McNamara	$1,279
Future Forests	Neaves	$967
Future Forests	Zuill	$872
Future Forests	Boyle	$807
Future Forests	Fitzpatrick	$791
Future Forests	Morrow	$785
Future Forests	Morrow	$785
Future Forests	Morrow	$785
Future Forests	Wallwork	$665
Future Forests	Smith	$665
Future Forests	Wilson	$622
Future Forests	Jarramarumba	$600
Future Forests	Hession	$597
Future Forests	Edwards	$563
Future Forests	Maunder	$558
Future Forests	Kuantan	$515
Future Forests	Billins	$484
Future Forests	Cox	$475
Future Forests	Paterson	$461
Future Forests	Gladys	$415
Future Forests	O’Keefe	$371
Future Forests	Woodcock	$369
Future Forests	Pratten	$346
Future Forests	Truswell	$323
Future Forests	Divine	$323
Future Forests	Hastings	$323
Future Forests	White	$300
Future Forests	Miller	$300
Future Forests	Koop	$300
Future Forests	Lacy	$277
Future Forests	Nosrac	$277
Future Forests	Tully	$277
Future Forests	Baker	$277
Future Forests	Yaganegi	$277
Future Forests	Siezowski	$254
Future Forests	Zuill	$254
Future Forests	Atcheson	$254
Future Forests	Dissevelt	$254
Future Forests	Hoy	$254
Future Forests	Woods	$254
Future Forests	Dawson	$254
Future Forests	Hagan	$254
Future Forests	Skelly	$231
Future Forests	Robards	$231
Future Forests	Maunder	$231
Future Forests	Day	$231
Future Forests	O’Connell	$231
Future Forests	Kompara	$231
Future Forests	Carmen	$231
Future Forests	Maurer	$231
Future Forests	Cunin	$208
Future Forests	GCC	$208
Future Forests	White	$208
Future Forests	Hayer	$208
Future Forests	Southgate	$208
Future Forests	Peck	$208
Greater Taree	Kiwarrak SF	$40,000
Hastings	Cowarra SF	$30,000
Hastings	Caincross SF	$4,000
Hume	Clearing fire trails	$100,000
Hume	New FT	$6,000
Hunter	Pokolbin SF	$13,600
Hunter	Myall River SF	$12,800
Hunter	Myall River SF	$12,800
Hunter	Heaton SF	$12,400
Hunter	Bulahdelah SF	$6,100
Hunter	Watagan SF	$3,200
Hunter	Awaba SF	$3,200
Hunter	Myall River SF	$3,100
Macquarie	Warrengong	$16,250
Macquarie	Vulcan & Gurnang	$11,519
Macquarie	Kinross SF	$8,800
Macquarie	Mount David	$6,101
Macquarie	Newnes SF	$5,199
Macquarie	Printing 25 fire atlas’	$2,048
Macquarie	Black Rock Ridge	$447
Mid-Nth Coast – Taree	Knorrit SF	$36,000
Mid-Nth Coast – Taree	Yarratt SF	$16,000
Mid-Nth Coast – Wauchope	Boonanghi SF	$37,000
Mid-Nth Coast – Wauchope	Northern Break	$9,000
Mid-Nth Coast – Wauchope	Caincross SF	$3,000
Mid-Nth Coast – Wauchope	Western Break	$2,000
Monaro	Clearing fire trails	$114,685
North East	Thumb Creek SF	$46,000
North East	Candole SF	$29,535
North East	Various State Forests	$20,000
North East	Mt Belmore SF	$12,115
North East	Candole SF	$8,900
North East	Lower Bucca SF	$5,500
North East	All North Region	$3,300
North East	Wild Cattle SF	$3,000
North East	Orara East SF	$1,900
Northern -Casino	Barragunda	$11,522
Northern -Casino	Yaraldi 2003	$8,847
Northern -Casino	Yaraldi 2004	$3,207
Richmond Valley	Bates	$20,000
Richmond Valley	Whiporie SF	$13,154
Richmond Valley	Swanson	$12,000
Richmond Valley	McNamara	$10,180
Richmond Valley	Whiporie SF	$9,582
Southern	Pollwombra FT	$6,360
Southern-Eden	Various – whole district	$112,019
Tamworth	Nundle SF	$40,000
Walcha	Nowendoc SF	$30,000
Walcha	Styx River SF	$20,000
		$1,073,482

i.e.  Approximately an area 20km x 20km

 .

NSW Department of Lands    (what native vegetation’s left).

Bush Fire Management Committee	Reserve / Activity Name	Treatment Area Ha / Other	Treatment Area (km2)
Baulkham Hills	Porters Rd / Cranstons Rd		5
Baulkham Hills	Porters Rd / Cranstons Rd (2)		4
Baulkham Hills	Pauls Road Trail		5
Baulkham Hills	Mount View Trail		1
Baulkham Hills	Idlewild		2
Baulkham Hills	Maroota Tracks Trail		7
Baulkham Hills	Yoothamurra Trail		1
Baulkham Hills	Kellys Arm Trail		3
Baulkham Hills	Dargle Ridge Trail		5
Baulkham Hills	Dargle Trail		3
Baulkham Hills	Days Road Trail		3
Baulkham Hills	Dickinsons Trail		6
Baulkham Hills	Fingerboard Trail		3
Baulkham Hills	Floyds Road Trail		8
Baulkham Hills	Neichs Road Trail		4
Bega	Eden Strategic Fire Trail		3
Bega	Illawambera Fire Trail		1
Bega	Merimbula/Turu Beach Strategic Protection		2
Bega	Yankees Gap		2
Bega	Millingandi Special Protection (Trail)		1
Bega	Wallagoot Strategic Protection (Trail)		1.2
Bega	South Eden Strategic Protection (Trail)		1
Bega	Merimbula/Pambula Strategic Protection (APZ)		1
Bega	Pacific St Tathra		0.5
Bland	Bland Villages (FTM)		2
Bland	Water Tower Reserve FTM		3
Blue Mountains	Cripple Creek Fire Trail Stage 2		5
Blue Mountains	Cripple Creek Fire Trail Complex		5
Blue Mountains	Caves Creek Trail		0.4
Blue Mountains	Edith Falls Trail		2
Blue Mountains	Boronia Rd – Albert Rd Trails		1
Blue Mountains	Perimeter Trail – North Hazelbrook		1.5
Blue Mountains	McMahons Point Trail – Kings Tableland		7
Blue Mountains	Back Creek Fire Trail		3.2
Blue Mountains	Mitchell’s Creek Fire Trail		3.5
Bombala	Gibraltar Ridge Fire Trail		11
Bombala	Burnt Hut Fire Trail		5
Bombala	Merriangah East Fire Trail		12
Bombala	Bombala Towns & Villages (Trails)		10
Campbelltown	St Helens Park – Wedderburn Rd (Barriers)		0.3
Campbelltown	Barrier / Gate
Campbelltown	Riverview Rd Fire Trail		0.65
Canobolas	Calula Range FTM
Canobolas	Spring Glen Estate FTM
Cessnock	Neath South West Fire Trail		2
Cessnock	Neath South East Fire Trail		1.5
Cessnock	Neath North Fire Trail (2)		1
Cessnock	Gates – Asset Protection Zones
Cessnock	Signs – Asset Protection Zones
Cessnock	Signs – Fire Trails
Cessnock	Kearsley Fire Trail		0.5
Cessnock	Neath – South (Trail)		4
Cessnock	Neath – North (Trail)		2
Clarence Valley	Bowling Club Fire Trail		1
Clarence Valley	Brooms Head Fire Trail		0.2
Clarence Valley	Ilarwill Village		0.3
Cooma-Monaro	Chakola Fire Trail		21
Cooma-Monaro	Good Good Fire Trail		12
Cooma-Monaro	Inaloy Fire Trail		19
Cooma-Monaro	Cowra Creek Fire Trail		4
Cooma-Monaro	David’s Fire Trail		2.1
Cooma-Monaro	Clear Hills Fire Trail		5
Cooma-Monaro	Mt Dowling Fire Trail		16
Cooma-Monaro	Towneys Ridge Fire Trail		6
Cunningham	Warialda Periphery 2		20
Cunningham	Upper Bingara Fire Trail
Dungog	Dungog Fire Trail Signs
Far North Coast	Byrangary Fire Trail		1
Far North Coast	Main Arm Fire Trail (NC67)		2
Far North Coast	Burringbar Fire Trail (NC69)		1
Far North Coast	Mill Rd Fire Trail (NC95)		1
Far North Coast	Broken Head Fire Trail (NC68)		0.5
Far North Coast	New Brighton Fire Trail (NC44)		0.5
Far North Coast	Mooball Spur Fire Trail		1
Far North Coast	Palmwoods Fire Trail (NC06)		0.5
Gloucester	Coneac Trail		6
Gloucester	Moores Trail		6
Gloucester	Mt Mooney Fire Trail		6
Gosford District	Signs – Fire Trails
Great Lakes	Ebsworth Fire Trail		1
Great Lakes	Tuncurry High Fire Trail		0.6
Great Lakes	Monterra Ave Trail – Hawks Nest		0.7
Greater Argyle	Browns Rd Komungla		12
Greater Argyle	Greater Argyle Fire Trail Maintenance
Greater Argyle	Cookbundoon Fire Trail		2
Greater Taree District	Tinonee St Road Reserve		0.25
Greater Taree District	Beach St SFAZ – Wallabi Point		0.35
Greater Taree District	Sth Woodlands Dr – SFAZ		1.3
Greater Taree District	Cedar Party Rd – Taree		2
Hawkesbury District	Sargents Road (2)  ?tenure		0.75
Hawkesbury District	Parallel Trail (2)		2.5
Hawkesbury District	Parallel Trail (1)		1.1
Hornsby/Ku-ring-gai	Tunks Ridge, Dural		1
Hornsby/Ku-ring-gai	Radnor & Cairnes Fire Trail		0.5
Hornsby/Ku-ring-gai	Binya Cl, Hornsby Heights		1.5
Shellharbour District	Saddleback – Hoddles Trail		3
Shellharbour District	Rough Range Trail		1
Lake Macquarie District	Kilaben Bay Fire Trail		1.5
Lake Macquarie District	Gates – Access Management
Lake Macquarie District	Signs – APZ
Lake Macquarie District	Signs – Fire Trails
Lithgow	Wilsons Glen Trail		6.1
Lithgow	Kanimbla Fire Trail No 314		7.8
Lithgow	Camels Back Trail No 312		4.5
Lithgow	Crown Creek Trail No 206		7
Lithgow	Capertee Common Trail No 203		3
Lower Hunter Zone	Access Infrastructure – All Districts
Lower North Coast	Cabbage Tree Lane Fire Trail, Kempsey		1.5
Lower North Coast	Bullocks Quarry Fire Trail		0.66
Lower North Coast	Perimeter Protection, Main St, Eungai Creek, Nambucca		0.6
Mid North Coast	Urunga Lagoon, Bellingen		4
Mid North Coast	Wenonah Head, Bellingen		4
Mudgee	Munro’s Fire Trail		24
Mudgee	Munro’s Fire Trail		5.25
Penrith	Londonderry/Castlereagh		6
Port Stephens	Bobs Farm Fire Trails		4
Port Stephens	Salamander Way Fire Trail		1.5
Port Stephens	Gan Gan Hill West Fire Trail		1.2
Port Stephens	Nelson Bay – Gan Gan Hill (Trail)		1.5
Port Stephens	Taylors Beach Fire Trail		1
Port Stephens	Nelson Bay – Wallawa Rd (SFAZ)		0.7
Port Stephens	Taylors Beach East Fire Trail		3.5
Port Stephens	Nelson Bay – Wallawa Rd (Gates)
Port Stephens	Port Stephens Fire Trail Signs
Port Stephens	Corlette – Salamander Way (Trail)		1
Shoalhaven	APZ Access Works
Snowy River	Southern Boundary Fire Trail		3
Snowy River	Somme Valley Fire Trail		5
Sutherland District	Forbes Creek North Trail		1.3
Sutherland District	Still Creek Complex (Trail)		3.8
Sutherland District	Mannikin Trail		1.5
Sutherland District	Viburnum Trail		0.8
Sutherland District	Mill Creek Complex		2.6
Sutherland District	Loftus Creek Complex		1.9
Sutherland District	Cranberry Trail		0.8
Sutherland District	Turella Trail		0.8
Sutherland District	Freemantle Trail		0.4
Sutherland District	Illaroo Trail		0.7
Sutherland District	Yala East Trail		0.9
Sutherland District	Bunyan Fire Trail		1.2
Sutherland District	Rosewell Service Trail		0.5
Sutherland District	Belarada Service Trail		0.3
Sutherland District	Belbowrie Service Trail		0.3
Sutherland District	Leawarra Fire Trail		0.9
Sutherland District	McKenzie Service Trail		0.7
Sutherland District	Walsh Close Trail		0.7
Sutherland District	Yala West Trail		0.7
Sutherland District	Barnes Cres Service Trail		0.6
Sutherland District	Illumba Trail		0.5
Sutherland District	Penrose Trail		0.5
Sutherland District	Tatler Place Trail		0.5
Sutherland District	Torumba Service Trail		0.5
Sutherland District	Friendship Trail		0.4
Sutherland District	Kippax – Rosewall Trail		0.4
Sutherland District	Tallarook Service Trail		0.4
Sutherland District	Billa Service Trail		0.3
Sutherland District	Chestnut Trail		0.2
Sutherland District	Croston Rd Trail		0.3
Sutherland District	Kingswood Rd Trail		0.3
Sutherland District	Roebourne Trail		0.3
Sutherland District	Whimbrel Service Trail		0.3
Sutherland District	Shearwater Trail		0.1
Tamworth	Moore Creek Dam Reserve		3.5
Tamworth	Moore Creek Dam Reserve		1
Tumut	Bundarbo Fire Trail (Stage 1)		30
Tumut	Yammatree Reserve		2
Tumut	Thomas Boyd Track Head		2
Tumut	Tumut Bush Common		5
Tumut	Batlow Hill		2
Tumut	Rimmers Ridge – Adelong
Tumut	Bangadang		7
Upper Lachlan	Upper Lachlan Fire Trail Maintenance
Upper Lachlan	Isabella Fire Trail		10
Wagga Wagga	Silvatite Reserve (Trails)		5
Wagga Wagga	Wagga Wagga Towns & Villages (Trails)		10
Wagga Wagga	Kyeamba Gap		4
Wagga Wagga	San Isadore		3
Warringah/Pittwater	Sandy Trail		0.1
Warringah/Pittwater	Lovett Bay Trail		2.5
Warringah/Pittwater	Elvina Bay Trail		1.5
Warringah/Pittwater	Aumuna Cooyong Trail		0.2
Wingecarribee	P3 Fire Trail		6
Wingecarribee	Weir Fire trail		3.8
Wingecarribee	Lukes Fire trail		0.1
Wollondilly	Bargo Weir Fire Trail		10
Wyong District	YMCA North / South Link Fire Trail		2
Wyong District	YMCA South / Kanangra Dr Fire Trail		2
Wyong District	Lake Munmorah Fire Trails		3.25
Wyong District	Hyles St Fire Trail, Chittaway Pt		0.1
Wyong District	Big “T” and YMCA Link Fire Trails		1.5
Wyong District	Lake Road Fire Trail, Chittaway Point		0.1
Wyong District	Big “T” Fire Trail – Crangan Bay		1.1
Wyong District	Wyong APZ Signs
Wyong District	Lake Road Fire Trail, Tuggerah		1
Wyong District	Doyalson North, 219-225 Pacific Hway (Trail)		0.8
Yass Valley	Yass Valley Fire Trail Maintenance
			565.16

i.e.  Approximately an area 24km x 24km

. .