A hazard reduction burn in the Camden Haven this week will aim to safeguard the communities of Lake Cathie and Bonny Hills from the threat of bushfire.

The prescribed burn will be staged in the Queens Lake and Bulga State forests, approximately 20-kilometres south of Port Macquarie, starting on Tuesday, March 12 and running throughout the week.

Forestry Corporation’s Wauchope-based Fire and Operations Team Leader Matt Model said fire crews are hoping to seize on favourable weather conditions to stage the burn this week to mitigate the risk of wildfires.

“This hazard reduction is an escarpment burn around the Jolly Nose Lookout, which will be a slow moving, low intensity burn given the recent rain and moist conditions in the forest,” Mr Model said.

“In terms of land management and fire mitigation this burn allows us a controlled setting to reduce the fire risk in the environment to avoid serious wildfires in the Camden Haven later in the year.

“In the event of a wildfire, escarpment fires are difficult to access and contain given the terrain.

“You can’t use machinery to contain these fires, so it is best that fuel loads are reduced in these areas when there is an ideal window of opportunity in cooler conditions rather than having to fight an ‘out of control’ fire that’s burning uphill in summer,” he said.

During the 2019/2020 bushfire emergency, Queens Lake and Bulga state forests served as important containment lines for firefighters as fire threatened communities on the Mid North Coast.

“Fire trails in Queens Lake State Forest were basically where we held the spread of the Black Summer bushfires from burning towards the coast,” Mr Model said.

“Given large areas of the state forest were unburnt in those fires it means the last time there was fire in the environment was over a decade ago, so we want to ensure fuel loads are managed through hazard reduction,” he said.

Residents living near Bonny Hills and Lake Cathie are advised there may be some smoke activity and reduced air quality while the burn is underway.

“The burn has been timed with prevailing east-north-easterly winds to reduce the impact of smoke on the communities, however this may not be achievable in all cases given the close proximity of residential areas to the forest,” Mr Model said.

“It is therefore recommended that homes and businesses ensure that all windows and doors are closed during the time of smoke settlement, which is generally during the night and early morning hours.”  

Residents who are sensitive to smoke or may have respiratory conditions are advised to stay indoors while the hazard reduction is being undertaken.

The hazard reduction burn will lead to the closure of the Hastings Valley Mountain Bike Club track network (Jolly Nose).

Areas for the burn are Queens Lake in the vicinity of Camp Ridge Road and Spring Creek Road and the Bulga plantation off Thompsons Link Road, The Bluff Road and north of Snowy Mountain Fire Trail.

If you require further information on this operation please contact the regional office on 6585 3744 during business hours.

Find out more about Forestry Corporation’s firefighting efforts at www.forestrycorporation.com.au