News & Events >> September 2009
Mt Wilson Community Fire Forum
Media Release, October 2009
The Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute organised a community fire forum for residents of the Mt Wilson region on Saturday 26 September at the Mount Wilson Community Hall.
About 35 local residents attended the two-hour forum that shared information about bushfire ecology and management, with a focus on: regeneration of ecosystems after fire; how fire sensitivity is influenced by fuel load, weather and terrain, and climate change implications for fire behaviour.
Professor Ross Bradstock, renowned fire ecologist and Director of the Centre for Environmental Risk Management of Bushfires at the University of Wollongong, spoke about understanding and managing bushfire risk to key management values (i.e. people, property, biodiversity and ecosystem functions).
Glenn Meade, National Parks Regional Operations Coordinator, Blue Mountains region, asked the community how they would allocate $1 million across the five areas of fire risk management: community fire awareness and preparedness; asset protection; strategic fuel reduction; prevention of ignition and early response; and combat. Of these five, community fire awareness and preparedness, and strategic fuel reduction received the highest priority.
The forum was initiated and chaired by Mt Wilson resident, Dr Joe Landsberg. Dr Rosalie Chapple, Executive Director, BMWHI, said that she is delighted the Institute can play a role in the mutual obligation between communities and fire agencies in managing bushfire.
“We are now trying to secure funding to implement a community fire-awareness and preparedness project in partnership with the NSW Rural Fire Service. Additionally, the Institute is aiming to organise ongoing fire forums in other parts of the Blue Mountains.”
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