The Port Stephens community has received $90,000 in funding as part of the National Bushfire Mitigation Programme to prevent and maintain bushland around the area that may be susceptible to large fires.
The funding comes as part of the new $15 million National Bushfire Mitigation Programme, $4 million in which was given to New South Wales after a number of fires affected the state last summer.
Areas including the Tank trail and the Tongue trail are set to undergo maintenance to prevent the trails from fires and clear easier pathways for the rural fire service to eliminate spot fires.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Scot MacDonald, says the funding was necessary after a number of fires have ravaged the area in recent years.
"They are two very important bushfire access trails, as you know we have had some very serious bushfires over the last few years, so maintaining fire trails is extremely important," MacDonald said.
The rural fire service will conduct the maintenance as they prepare for the summer ahead while weather conditions are favourable.
"We take advice from rural fire services, always they are the best ones to give the best direction on where to mitigate, and its about doing the work at this time of year when it is cooler and wetter."
"We do encourage people to have a bushfire survival plan, we do live in a dry climate, we have had good rain this winter which will mean vegetation growth in spring and fire conditions that we will need to be mindful of coming into summer." MacDonald stated.
For more information refer to the Rural Fire service website www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/resources/bush-fire-survival-plan. and also the Emergency New South Wales website.
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| Source: ABC |
