Critical Sydney fire trail to receive urgent upgrade

Residents in southern Sydney will have greater protection from bushfires after the completion of more than $2.2 million in upgrades to the Loftus Creek Fire Trail Complex.

Crown Lands is commissioning the Soil Conservation Service to undertake important upgrade work to ensure the fire trails are up to Rural Fire Service standards, with work to commence on 22 January and continue for 16 weeks. 

The network of trails to be improved by the upgrades will include the Loftus Creek Fire Trail, Fremantle Fire Trail, Viburnum Fire Trail, Cranberry Fire Trail, Kingswood Fire Trail, Turrella Fire Trail, and Camp Wanawong Fire Trail, all of which are in the Sutherland Shire.

Work crews will repair damaged fire trails, install vehicle turning and passing bays, reduce vegetation encroachment, and improve drainage in the area.

Recent wet weather has caused the fire trails to become waterlogged and overgrown, posing a challenge to fire crews accessing the area in the case of an emergency.

The upgrades will not only benefit firefighters but also the wider community which uses the Loftus Creek Fire Trail Complex for recreational purposes. The work will also allow the tracks to be safely enjoyed by the public year-round for bush walking and bird watching.  

Each year, Crown Lands maintains and improves fire trails across NSW to protect the public including removing encroaching vegetation, undertaking sediment control work, and managing drainage and soil stability.

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

“The Government is determined to keep the public safe and this work is critical to ensure our fire crews can access this important network of fire trails in the event of an emergency.

“The Rural Fire Service and Fire and Rescue NSW, among others, all rely on properly maintained fire trails. Loftus Creek Fire Trail Complex is surrounded by residential properties, which is why these upgrades are so important. I thank the public for their support as the department undertakes this vital work.”

Crown Lands Manager Bushfire, George Schneider said:

“At the completion of the upgrades, the community can be confident that these trails will help our firefighters do their job, be it battling a bushfire or conducting hazard reduction burns.”