Fire Hazard Reduction
How To Create A Safer Land Management Plan for Bushfire Season.
Why Fire Hazard Reduction Matters.
As the bushfire season intensifies across South East Queensland and Northern NSW, reducing fire risk isn’t just smart — it’s essential. The increasing frequency of heatwaves, prolonged dry spells and extreme weather events mean that property owners, developers and councils are under more pressure than ever to manage fuel loads and ensure safety for homes, infrastructure and our natural habitat.
Key to Safer Land Management
1. Conduct a Fire Risk Assessment or Bushfire Management Plan
Before starting any land works, identify whether the land or site lies in a Fire-Prone Area under your States Planning Policy. Local Government bushfire hazard overlay maps will show this.
Engage your local Fire and Emergency Services or qualified bushfire professional to prepare a bushfire management plan, marking firebreaks, identifying infrastructure risk and determining the necessary clearing and buffer zones on your land.
2. Firebreaks and Fire Management Lines
Clear and maintain firebreaks, circulation tracks access roads around buildings, along boundaries, fence lines or any key area’s.
Access Queensland and New South Wales Vegetation Clearing and Fire Management factsheets below. These explain how firebreaks or fire management lines are regulated and how requirements are determined. Queensland Government+1
https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/plan-and-prepare/1050-vegetation-clearing
3. Vegetation Management (Mulching, Slashing, Major Tree Removal)
Forestry mulching is an excellent way to reduce fire fuel (undergrowth, shrubs, small trees) without leaving debris piles.
Regular slashing, mechanical pruning of low branches, removal of dead shrubs, bark, twigs and general land clearing helps limit surface fire spread.
4. Planned Burns Where Applicable
Many councils run planned burns or hazard reduction burns as part of their bushfire mitigation strategy, speak with your local council for more information.
With burning, always coordinate with your local council or fire authorities, safety planning is essential.
5. Buildings & Access Considerations
Ensure your home or any properties have good access for firefighting vehicles, especially roads, access tracks or any clear access points or turnarounds etc.
Maintain water supply infrastructure (tanks, hydrants) and clear combustible material around utilities.
How Apex Projects & Excavations Can Assist
Book a Free Site Visit for Greg too visually access area’s, vegetation types and terrains.
We manage the right tools, Excavators, Dozers, Water Trucks, Tipper Trucks, Posi Tracks & Bobcats, Slashers, Forestry Mulchers, Rollers, Compactors, Hydraulic Grabs, Rippers, Augers, Stick Rakes, Sieve Buckets and Mechanical Brooms.
We can arrange regular monitoring and maintain programs for vegetation management, ensuring the firebreaks on your land remain functional.
Benefits of Proactive Fire Hazard Reduction
Reduced risk to properties, lives and infrastructure.
Potential for lower insurance costs, properties may comply with fire risk guidelines and attract better premiums
Less damage and fewer losses during bushfire season is always great.
If you’re planning land management, site preparation, rural development or live in a bushfire‐prone area, don’t wait. Contact Greg at Apex Projects & Excavation to arrange a free site assessment. Through earthmoving solutions we can protect and enhance your land for some peace of mind during fire season.