Downloads
- BEM: Blue Mountains Local Disaster Plan ( 764.4kb)
- BEM: Emergency contacts information sheet ( 17.6kb)
- BEM: Fire Risk Management Plan ( 563.6kb)
- BEM: Bushfire Hazard Reduction Certificate Application Guidelines ( 45.6kb)
- BEM: Bushfire Hazard Reduction Certificate Application ( 53.6kb)
- Bush Fire Action Plan ( 640.6kb)
- Guide to the Bush Fire Action Plan ( 7,350.2kb)
BUSHFIRE AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OVERVIEW
Blue Mountains City Council has a high level of commitment to bushfire and emergency management. Not only does Council implement measures to mitigate the impact of bushfire on the community, it also facilitates planning for disasters and offers significant support to the emergency services during emergency events.
Bushfire Management
Council is committed to managing the ever-present threat of bushfire throughout the Blue Mountains local government area. Council's fire mitigation activities include:
- Receiving and inspecting bush fire hazard complaints relating to private and Council managed land.
- Two concurrent programs of systematic fire hazard inspections covering both private and Council managed land.
- An ongoing program of fuel reduction works on Council managed land to provide protection for vulnerable residences.
- The issuing of Bush Fire Hazard Reduction Certificates for hazard reduction work on private property.
- The provision of information relating to the preparation of private properties for fire season.
Blue Mountains City Council is also a key member of the Blue Mountains Bush Fire Management Committee. This Committee is responsible for developing broad-scale fire management strategies for the whole of the Blue Mountains local government area, and has produced the Blue Mountains Bush Fire Risk Management Plan to guide fire management activities within this area.
Emergency Management
Council has a significant role in managing many emergency events, and offers a high level of support to the emergency services when requested. Some of Council's roles during an emergency include:
- The involvement of Council's Local Emergency Management Officer in the operation of the Emergency Operations Centre.
- The provision of equipment and personnel to support the emergency services during an operation.
- The provision of emergency information to the public and the production of media updates during an emergency.
Blue Mountains City Council is also heavily involved with pre-incident planning, and is an integral member of the Blue Mountains Local Emergency Management Committee. This committee has prepared the Blue Mountains Local Disaster Plan, with the aim being to be adequately prepared for any type of emergency.
Links
These following sites contain a range of information relating to bushfire and emergency management
- NSW Rural Fire Service - www.rfs.nsw.gov.au
- NSW Rural Fire Service - Blue Mountains District - www.bluemountains.rfs.nsw.gov.au
- NSW Fire Brigades - www.nswfb.nsw.gov.au
- NSW State Emergency Service - www.ses.nsw.gov.au
- NSW State Emergency Service - Blue Mountains District - www.bluemtns.com.au/ses
- Emergency Management Australia - www.ema.gov.au
The following sites contain other useful information:
- Bureau of Meteorology - www.bom.gov.au
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service - www.environment.nsw.gov.au/nationalparks.htm
Council Contacts
Should you want to acquire further information relating to bushfire and emergency management, contacts for the appropriate Council officers are provided below:
- Fire hazards on Council land, fire trails or hazard reduction burning - The Bushfire Technical Officer.
- Fire hazards on private land, Bush Fire Hazard Reduction Certificates or open burning approvals - The Fire Protection Officer.
- Emergency management - The Program Leader, Bushfire and Emergency Management.