Penrith Bush Fire Management Committee Bush Fire Risk ...

PENRITH BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENTCOMMITTEE DRAFT BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN
reserve will determine how the assessment is undertaken.
Each proposed activity will have a Review of Environmental Factors (REF) prepared and
assessed before the activity is commenced. Where there is no determined significant impact
by the activity, the local NPWS Regional Manager will authorise the go ahead for the works
to commence within the guidelines of the REF.
If a significant impact is determined will occur if the activity proceeds, the NPWS will
undertake a more thorough assessment of the activity. This assessment will be determined
by the Conservation Division of the NPWS.
Castlereagh, Agnes Banks, Mulgoa, Nature Reserves
The Reserve Plans of Management details all works for fire management that will be
undertaken in these reserves over the next 5 years. An extensive Environmental Impact
Assessment has already been prepared, exhibited and assessed for works proposed within
these reserves.
(b) Penrith Council Reserves and Community Land
Penrith Council is responsible for the care control and management of public reserves which
they own or which are vested in them as trustees under the Crown Lands Act 1987. These
and other public lands owned or vested in Council are referred to as Community Lands.
Council is required to prepare a plan of management for the community land for which it has
responsibility. In revising these plans, Council will review its fire management requirements.
Council is also responsible to undertake the environmental assessments of these community
lands prior to undertaking fire management activities including hazard reduction or fire trail
construction.
Council will therefore prepare a Review of Environmental Factors to determine the
significance of the activity on the environment, including threatened species.
(c) Vacant Crown Land and Crown Reserves.
The Crown lands are administered through the Crown Lands Act 1987. The Department of
Land and Water Conservation is responsible for ensuring all environmental assessments.
Having determined the acceptability of the proposal and any ameliorative measures, the task
of implementing the activity to meet the objectives of this plan will be contracted to the NSW
Rural Fire Service, National Parks and Wildlife Service, or NSW Fire Brigades.
(d) Private Property Requiring Bush Fire Hazard Reduction Works Under This Plan.
In the case of private and leasehold lands, special approvals will not be required by land
owners identified as requiring bush fire hazard reduction works unless the land has or is
likely to have threatened species, endangered populations, endangered communities or
critical habitat.
Where threatened species, endangered populations, communities or critical habitat exist or
likely to exist, the land owner/occupier may need to apply for a licence under the National
Parks and Wildlife Act, 1974 prior to undertaking that activity. Contact Penrith Council for
further information.
In areas containing protected lands (such as steep slopes and within 20 metres of a stream),
the Department of Land and Water Conservation must be consulted prior to implementing
such activities to ensure protective measures are in place.
During the bush fire danger period, land owners and leaseholders are still required to obtain
permits (see below) prior to using fire. A document titled "Threatened Species Conservation
Act, 1995 and Permits Under the Rural Fires Act, 1997" is available from the Rural Fire
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