Your Property
The NSW Rural Fire Service has this statement on its website:
"If it's your property, it's your fuel and you are legally responsible for reducing hazards.
Under the Rural Fires Act, 1997, land managers and owners are responsible for carrying out hazard reduction to protect existing dwellings, major buildings or other assets susceptible to fire.
Effective hazard reduction is one way to reduce the risk of damage to homes and structures by bushfire.
In 2002, legislative changes were made to give the RFS Commissioner the authority to order all owners and managers of private, commercial and government land to conduct essential hazard reductions.
Agencies such as National Parks, State Forests and local councils reduce hazards on their property according to the strategies in Bush Fire Risk Management Plans put together by local Bush Fire Management Committees.
Private landholders or occupiers must also reduce hazards on their property.
If hazards are not reduced, the RFS can issue a Bush Fire Hazard Reduction Notice (Section 66 notice) requiring a private landowner or manager to reduce fuel loads.
The RFS offers advice and assistance on hazard reduction. RFS volunteers often do hazard reduction work to help protect their communities, but it is not their legal responsibility to do so, because the RFS does not own or manage land. Volunteers work with private landholders, National Parks, State Forests and NSW Fire Brigades to do hazard reduction on a range of land tenures.
The RFS is responsible for ensuring hazard reduction activities are carried out effectively. Local Bush Fire Risk Management Plans and hazard reduction activities are audited by RFS staff to make sure strategies in the plans are fulfilled.
If you are concerned about a bushfire hazard on neighbouring or any other property, contact the RFS."
Building or additions to your buildings
If you are planning to build a house or extend your house and it is in an area which could fire prone please review your legal obligations and building in a bushfire prone area
