Bushfire Report

    WHERE SHOULD I PUT AN APZ?
    An APZ is located between an asset and a bush fire hazard.

    The APZ should be located wholly within your land. You cannot undertake any
    clearing of vegetation on a neighbour’s property, including National Park estate,
    Crown land or land under the management of your local council, unless you have
    written approval.

    If you believe that the land adjacent to your property is a bush fire hazard and
    should be part of an APZ, you can have the matter investigated by contacting the
    NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS).

    There are six steps to creating and maintaining an APZ. These are:

    1. Determine if an APZ is required;
    2. Determine what approvals are required for constructing your APZ;
    3. Determine the APZ width required;
    4. Determine what hazard reduction method is required to reduce bush fire fuel
       in your APZ;
    5. Take measures to prevent soil erosion in your APZ; and
    6. Landscape and regularly monitor in your APZ for fuel regrowth.


    STEP 1. DETERMINE IF AN APZ IS REQUIRED
    Recognising that a bush fire hazard exists is the first step in developing an APZ
    for your property.

    If you have vegetation close to your asset and you live in a bush fire prone or high
    risk area, you should consider creating and maintaining an APZ.

    Generally, the more flammable and dense the vegetation, the greater the hazard
    will be. However, the hazard potential is also influenced by factors such as slope.

    • A large area of continuous vegetation on sloping land may increase the
      potential bush fire hazard.
    • The amount of vegetation around a house will influence the intensity and
      severity of a bush fire.
    • The higher the available fuel the more intense a fire will be.



         Dense vegetation                         Sparse vegetation
         (greater hazard)                         (lower hazard)

4




    Isolated areas of vegetation are generally not a bush fire hazard, as they are not
    large enough to produce fire of an intensity that will threaten dwellings.

    This includes:
    • bushland areas of less than one hectare that are isolated from large bushland
       areas; and
    • narrow strips of vegetation along road and river corridors.

    If you are not sure if there is a bush fire hazard in or around your property,
    contact your local NSW Rural Fire Service Fire Control Centre or your local
    council for advice.