Residents of Skyline Cr in Crescent Head are concerned a lack of maintenance of the fire break that is supposed to protect their homes is placing their properties at risk.
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The prescribed 21m asset protection zone is meant to act as a buffer between the houses and the dense bushland on the slope down to Back Beach.
However, locals fear the area is currently overgrown with fuel and failing to provide adequate protection from wildfire.
“It’s definitely not 21m at the moment,” resident Alex Picton said.
“Properties are more susceptible when at the top of a hill because fire runs quicker uphill.”
Long-term resident Suelle Coy says embers crossing the zone and the fact people’s front yards are included in the break distance are major concerns.
“The area used to be grassland but is now heavily vegetated, and there is a lot of fuel,” Mrs Coy said.
“We’re just waiting for the day when the past repeats itself.
“This has been ongoing, we’ve been top of the list to be next in line for a burn for three or four years.”
Homeowner, Rhys Lyon said he would be happy to contribute to ongoing maintenance after an initial burn-off.
“I’d go down and spray some herbicide,” Mr Lyon said.
“At the moment fire would come up straight over.
“A lot of it is unsightly weeds, which is a shame because it’s probably the best view in Crescent Head.”
Inspector Belinda Devine of the RFS reassured residents that a controlled burn of the Themeda grassland areas is scheduled for this winter providing weather conditions permit.
“It’s not going to be easy,” Inspector Devine said.
“We can’t do it if it’s too dry or too windy.”
Inspector Devine says other factors to consider include the angle of the slope, its aspect and the types of vegetation growing in the area.
“Fire does move quicker up a slope, but if the slope is steep enough (as it is in parts of Skyline Crescent) it can actually slow down,” she said.
“South facing slopes are generally more moist.”
Inspector Devine said a great deal of bushfire mitigation activity had already been undertaken in and around Crescent Head.
“Our intention with the proposed burn is to work with the National Parks and Wildlife Service and other stakeholders to maintain the Themeda grasslands.
“We work with other agencies to reduce hazards, while balancing the environmental values of an area.
“You don’t want to over burn because you encourage weeds and a mono-ecological community.”
Along with the buffer zone maintained by Kempsey Shire Council along Skyline Crescent, National Parks and Wildlife Service have also been maintaining an essential fire trail on the western side of Skyline Crescent, in addition to completing 33 hectares of hazard reduction burning adjoining Crescent Head to the west with a further eight hectares burn proposed for this year.
There was also a hazard reduction burn achieved in 2013 west of Allman Place which complements a break that is maintained by DPI (Lands).
Additional mosaic burn-offs have been carried out in the Crescent Head area under the Bush Fire Resilience for Aboriginal Communities project since 2012.
In 2014 the RFS developed a Community Protection Plan for Crescent Head, recognising the importance of bushfire management in the local area.
Another important mitigation step undertaken by the RFS has been the resilient schools program which created bushfire evacuation plans for five schools across Kempsey Shire, including Crescent Head Public School.
The RFS sees community engagement as critical to that plan and will be visiting residents helping them understand how to prepare for ember attack and reduce the risk of a bushfire damaging their property.
“We have a responsibility to inform and help the community understand how to prepare."
An example of this was the recent installation of a solar powered bushfire danger rating sign to ensure people entering Crescent Head understand the level of fire danger.
Inspector Devine says the RFS is not encumbering residents with the responsibility of bushfire mitigation.
Instead, Inspector Devine says to prepare for a bushfire event requires a wholistic approach, as well as collaboration and cooperation between the community and land management agencies.