Upgrading our fire trails ahead of bushfire season

The Minns Labor Government is undertaking helicopter inspections of fire trails across the state to prioritise maintenance work needed ahead of the summer bushfire season to help protect lives and communities.

Inspections have started in the Sydney region and will work their way around the state throughout September.

Crown Lands is undertaking the inspections together with the Rural Fire Service, with over 540 fire trails being inspected covering more than 2,400 kilometres on Crown land and adjoining lands.

The NSW Government has provided more than $7.9 million in 2024-25 for on-ground maintenance and upgrades of strategic fire trails on Crown land. The former Government left no ongoing funding in the budget for the maintenance and upgrades of these critical Crown Lands fire trails.

A further $4.8 million has been allocated for hazard reduction activities including controlled burns and Asset Protection Zone (APZ) maintenance and upgrades to protect communities.

Helicopter inspections are more efficient than ground patrols by vehicles, particularly in remote and less accessible areas and where fire trails cross multiple property boundaries or have other access issues.

Aerial patrols reduce inspection times in these areas from months to weeks and give an overall ‘point in time’ assessment of the fire trail network.

Helicopter crews monitor the trails from the air to identify whether trees have fallen and require removal, if erosion or vegetation growth has impacted trails, or where creek crossings may need repair.

The helicopter is also fitted with a camera to help record where follow-up work is needed.

Following the aerial inspections, Crown Lands partners with the NSW Soil Conservation Service and the NSW Rural Fire Service to prioritise and undertake any required maintenance works.

The work could include vegetation removal, erosion repairs, drainage and fire trail stability work, and construction and maintenance of vehicle passing and turning bays.

In some areas, this extends to installing signage, gates and bollards to protect fire trails from unauthorised access and rubbish dumping.

If landowners have concerns about a potential bushfire hazard, they should contact the Rural Fire Service.

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

“Crown Lands is responsible for maintaining approximately 2,400 kilometres of fire trails, and over 660 hectares of Asset Protection Zones across NSW to ensure adequate fire breaks between bushland and buildings in residential areas.

“Ensuring our fire trails are properly maintained is critical to protecting our firefighters and our communities across the state as we head into a potentially dangerous bushfire season.

“It also has broader bushfire management responsibilities across the entire Crown land estate. In addition to the aerial inspections, there are also many other fire trails on Crown land that are more easily accessible and so are inspected using 4WD vehicles.”

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:

“All of this targeted preparatory work ensures our fire trails are ready for summer so that firefighting crews and their vehicles can access these routes to fight fires.

“Quick responses to control bushfires are crucial to help contain blazes before they spread and this is one of many measures we are putting in place to support firefighting efforts.

“Along with targeted hazard reduction activity, this work helps reduce risks to residents and property.”

Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said:

“These inspections and the maintenance work that will follow are about making sure we are as prepared as we can be when the bushfires inevitable come this summer.

“Making sure the fire trails are clear of fallen trees and other obstacles gives our firefighters the best chance of getting to a blaze quickly and protecting lives and property.

“Agencies including the Rural Fire Service, Fire & Rescue NSW, National Parks and Wildlife Service, and Forestry Corporation all rely on properly maintained fire trails for their fire-fighting appliances, so I applaud this work to ensure we are ready for summer.”