Notices issued before draft is adopted

Gosford Council has issued bushfire danger notices to properties within 100m of areas identified in a draft report before it has been adopted, the council's acting manager of development, Mr Gary Chestnut, has confirmed.

Mr Chestnut said a draft risk analysis had been prepared by consultants for the council to identify the bushfire risk on council-managed lands and to present a series of recommendations on how to manage the bushfire risk on those lands.

He said that highly flammable steep vegetated ridges surrounded the Peninsula, and a number of residential properties in the area had received notification of their bushfire risk as part of the draft Natural Areas Bushfire Risk Analysis.

"Therefore, a 100m buffer zone has been applied to these areas.

"This has resulted in a number of residential properties within the area receiving the current notification.

"Peninsula residents should take protective measures around their houses and in their gardens, such as clearing away refuse and ground fuels, both around and under the house."

Part of the notification includes the removal of mulch from gardens.

"Mulching of gardens could be replaced by some other medium, such as gravel, particularly if the garden is close the house or adjacent bushland," Mr Chestnut said.

Mr Chestnut said the bushfire mapping had been carried out under guidelines issued by the NSW Rural Fire Service.

"The legislation requires council to review the bushfire hazard every five years," Mr Chestnut said.

"No amendments to the current plan will be undertaken until this review is carried out."

The study provides reserve profiles, recommendations, management guidelines and associated mapping to "ensure that the bushfire hazard is appropriately managed".

The draft Natural Areas Bushfire Risk Analysis was on public exhibition from October 25 to November 22.

Lyle Stone, November 9 Gary Chestnut, November 22