One of the most popular attractions in the Snowy Valleys – the Sugar Pine Walk in Bago State Forest – was destroyed in the 2019-2020 Black Summer bushfires. Photo: Supplied.
A series of major fire protection projects have been announced to bolster bushfire defences in critical timber plantations in the state’s south under a multi-million dollar package.
Among the key initiatives, $5.7 million will fund upgrades at Tumut Aerodrome to enhance water supply and establish a dedicated hangar for firefighting aircraft, while $1.1 million will improve fire trails in the Snowy Valleys’ Southern Cross Forest complex, Green Hills, and Bago state forests.
These projects are part of the NSW Government’s $13 million Plantation Fire Protection funding package, designed to protect the region’s vital plantation resources and provide increased protection for the local residents and businesses of the area.
Funding has been allocated to a total of 15 local projects that will establish a network of enhanced fire protection, hazard reduction and emergency response capabilities across Greater Hume, Snowy Valleys, Cootamundra-Gundagai, Albury and Wagga Wagga local government areas.
A key focus is the introduction of cutting-edge fire detection and suppression technology, such as $325,000 for three additional fire detection cameras positioned at Mt Ikes, south of Tumbarumba, Table Top Mountain, near Tumut and Mt Flakney, southeast of Wagga Wagga.
It also delivers a $1,537,800 all-terrain firefighting machine – capable of delivering large volumes of water in challenging plantation environments – in Tumut.
Other approved initiatives include:
- $983,339 to upgrade and maintain fire trails in Bondo, Bago, Carabost and Jingellic state forests
- $329,490 for remote automated weather stations to provide real-time data to the Bureau of Meteorology for better fire preparedness
- $767,500 to upgrade cabins in five key fire towers for early fire detection in the Snowy Valleys, Wagga Wagga and Cootamundra-Gundagai regions, namely Munderoo Fire Tower (Snowy Valleys), Tumorrama Fire Tower (Snowy Valleys), Burngoogie Fire Tower (Wagga Wagga), Kendall Fire Tower (Snowy Valleys) and Kangaroo Fire Tower (Cootamundra-Gundagai)
- $456,000 for two bulk tankers to transport firefighting water, housed at Green Hills
- $828,139 to expand the Public Safety Network (PSN) radio system for improved communication among plantation workers and emergency responders
- $220,000 for the Australian Fire Danger Rating System to provide more accurate fire risk assessments across the region
- $387,106 for a specialist tractor and mulcher, based in Tumbarumba, to undertake growth suppression and non-burn hazard reduction in key fire corridors.
About 50 per cent of the pine plantations in the South West Slopes alone were destroyed in the 2019-2020 Black Summer bushfires. Photo: Forestry Corporation.
The projects were selected by a panel of government and industry experts, including representatives from the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS), the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), local councils, the Softwoods Working Group, plantation owners, Forestry Corporation, and other fire authorities.
Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty, emphasised the importance of the initiative, particularly in light of the devastation caused by the 2019–2020 bushfire season.
“The Murray region was hit particularly hard in the Black Summer fires, and we lost a significant stock of future housing timber,” Ms Moriarty said.
“These projects are vital in protecting our remaining timber supplies as we enter the 2024–25 bushfire season and beyond”.
The minister highlighted the dual benefits of the initiative, safeguarding both critical timber resources and the communities reliant on them.
“These plantations provide the high-quality timber that NSW’s housing sector desperately needs now and for future generations,” she said.
“Investing in fire protection measures ensures the security of this industry and makes our communities safer in the process,” she said.
The funding will also support the introduction of two high-volume trailer-mounted water pumps, based at the Bondo and Ardrossan forest depots for rapid refilling of fire tankers, along with new firefighting water storages in strategic locations across the region.
Member for Wagga Dr Joe McGirr has welcomed the announcement, recalling the devastating impact of the Dunns Road Fire in 2019–20.
“Memories of that disaster are still fresh in the minds of our community,” Dr McGirr said.
“These measures to reduce the fire risk in the Snowy Valleys and surrounding areas are very welcome.”
He also praised the enhancements planned for Tumut Aerodrome, which will significantly improve the region’s aerial firefighting capabilities.
“The softwoods industry is an economic powerhouse for our local economy, and it is essential that we take all possible steps to protect the livelihoods and businesses that depend on safe and secure plantations,” Dr McGirr added.
The 15 projects will serve as a pilot program, with DPIRD monitoring and evaluating their effectiveness. If successful, the model could be expanded to other areas of the state facing similar fire threats.
“This is the result of positive collaboration between industry, the Rural Fire Service, Snowy Valleys Council, and government,” he said. “I congratulate everyone involved in making this happen.”
Loading ...
