10.2.1. Excessive growth and fire risk

Unmanaged pasture can pose a considerable bushfire risk during summer. There is however a number of management options that can be used to minimise this risk and damage should a bushfire occur. These options include:
• creating firebreaks by ploughing, spraying with herbicides, or grading (or a combination of these). Ensure that firebreaks are located such that the risk of erosion is minimal. Firebreaks can also be used to provide access for surveillance or firefighting activities.
• managing livestock so that key areas around buildings and stockyards are kept grazed in order to reduce fuel levels.
• implementing appropriate pasture rotations and grazing management so that short, green feed such as lucerne is in key areas such as around infrastructure at critical times.
• preparing safe refuge areas by cultivation, grading, slashing or using herbicides, manage stock so that small paddocks are eaten out, and plant non-flammable tree lines which incorporate rapid, easy access to laneways or roads from grazing areas.
Other preparation should include having adequate yards and loading facilities, and considering all steel fireproof fencing in key areas such as boundaries and laneways. More general bushfire preparedness information can be found in the section ‘Whole Property Planning’ on page XX.
Some pasture species are more prone to bushfire damage than others and may not recover, resulting in bare ground that requires resowing and is susceptible to weeds. A NSW DPI PrimeNote discussing the effects of bushfires of various intensities on particular pasture types, as well how best to manage burnt areas of pasture can be found online.