While some will blame the 'Greenies' and the National Parks, others will blame climate change, government policies and land management practices. There is some truth in all of these.

The current fires are a result of a combination of these factors, the important question is: how do we respond so it doesn't happen again?

Over the last months I have fought fires shoulder to shoulder with National Parks staff and with landholders.

I believe we need to build partnerships between the Rural Fire Service, National Parks and Wildlife Service and landholders, being guided by the land management practices of traditional custodians.

We need to be burning appropriately and safely during the winter months, reducing fuel loads, and rejuvenating country.

There are so many bureaucratic hurdles to burning that it doesn't happen and fuel loads accumulate. Ironically the Government's aversion to risk ends up creating the problem they wanted to avoid in the first place.

In the past, landowners could just ask the local RFS to give them a hand to do hazard reductions and a crew could be organised - it was a great opportunity for new members to get hands on experience. Now the planning and approval process creates a barrier, and the opportunity is lost.

Realistically, there are irresponsible people who will light fires at the wrong time and in the wrong place. We could have a licencing system to light fires and to be accountable for them.

We need to educate our young people about fires - a short course like First Aid or the Safer Drivers Course. We need to increase funding to National Parks, so they have the resources to effectively manage the land they are responsible for - more boots on the ground in the regions.

Let's stop the blaming, and start looking for solutions.

Kempsey mayor Liz Campbell at one with community

Rovers return to field with a win