Warning that NSW is facing 'catastrophic risk' due to bushfire unpreparedness

Friday, 5 December 2025 12:30

The state has only completed 11 per cent of the hazard reduction burn targets.

An NSW MP has accused the state government of leaving the state at "catastrophic" risk this bushfire season after completing 11 per cent of the hazard reduction burn targets.

The Rural Fire Service has only cleared 40,000 of 372,000 hectares of land since July 1.

The Nationals Leader and Coffs Harbour MP, Gurmesh Singh, said the unpreparedness has left the state with an "unacceptably high" amount of flammable vegetation, and the severe bushfire near Bulahdelah that closed the Pacific Highway is a "sign of things to come".

Gurmesh Singh, the new NSW Nationals Leader and Coffs Harbour MP.

"Right across NSW, people can see the warning signs, communities are watching fuel loads rise, and the hazard reduction work simply hasn't been done," he said.

"Increased fuel loads and poorly maintained fire trails are dangerous, and make it harder for our communities to evacuate, and more challenging for crews to gain access during times of emergency."

The government labelled this financial year's goal "ambitious", with the 372,000 hectares including a large backlog of land that could not be burnt due to prolonged wet weather and flooding since 2021.

The Rural Fire Service said weather is again hampering their efforts, but the 40,000 hectares cleared is a 10,000-hectare increase from the same time last year and a "promising position to be in by this stage".

"Hazard reduction burns are complex, and they require careful planning," a spokesperson said.

"Often, there is only a handful of days each year where the conditions are right for controlled burns to go ahead."

Crews typically undertake nearly 60 per cent of hazard reduction burning after the bushfire season in autumn.

In 2024-25, the Rural Fire Service was only able to burn 100,936 hectares – just 27 per cent of its hazard reduction target.

The Rural Fire Service is also investing in education campaigns to help communities prepare for the bushfire season.

"We encourage communities to do what they can as bush fire preparation is a shared responsibility, with hazard reduction only part of the solution," a spokesperson said.

"Keeping gutters clear, trimming overhanging branches, and having a bush fire survival plan in place are all critical steps that every property owner should take to prepare for the threat of fire."

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