The 2019–20 fire season in NSW saw 5.5 million hectares of the State burn and destroyed more than 2,000 homes. Infrastructure losses—mainly to farms—were close to $1 billion, including damage to more than 600,000 hectares of pasture.
To support landowners and occupiers in preparing for bushfires, the Act empowers them to clear vegetation on their property without the need for authorisation under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 or any other Act or instrument, providing they meet certain conditions.
The Act creates greater consistency between public and private landholders by allowing a senior Rural Fire Service officer to serve bushfire hazard reduction notices on public authorities. It also introduces a penalty for public authorities and corporations that fail to comply with such notices.
The Act improves governance arrangements by bringing all planning for hazard reduction and bushfire preparedness under the oversight of the Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service.
The Act also provides special measures to protect areas of environmental and cultural significance such as the endangered Wollemi pines, which were threatened by last summer’s fires.
The Act passed Parliament on 19 November 2020.
Link: Bushfire Legislation Amendment Act 2020.
