Creating Safer Environments through Fire Planning in Old Junee
Creating Safer Environments through Fire Planning in Old Junee
To equip local residents with the knowledge and tools needed to develop robust fire plans. It was designed to increase their resilience to natural challenges and knowledge about different types of fire.
Capacity to Deliver -
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The issue
In the years leading up to the devastating 2019-2020 fires, the communities around Junee, Wagga Wagga, and Coolamon had already faced several large-scale fire events. Despite this history, there was a noticeable gap in how prepared residents felt. Many people knew the risks but still lacked the comprehensive fire plans and knowledge needed to protect their properties and landscapes. So, when the funding for a workshop emerged, it became clear that the focus had to be on practical, fire-resistant landscaping and property management strategies that made sense in the Box Gum Grassy Woodland environment many of us live in.
The solution
We organised two free workshops under Murrumbidgee Landcare’s People Led Resilience Program, thanks to funding from NSW Landcare and Reconstruction NSW. Held at the Old Junee Hall and a nearby Travelling Stock Reserve, these workshops were designed to be more than just informative talks. We brought in local fire authorities and experts to cover a range of topics, from fire safety services and fire-safe landscaping to animal welfare during and after a fire. But what really brought it home for many was the hands-on experience of witnessing and being a part of a Cultural burn. Seeing how it’s conducted and learning about its role in the landscape gave the participants something practical to take away as well as how to respect fire and the land.
The impact
The response was encouraging, with 29 attendees joining the workshops. It wasn’t just about the numbers; the real impact was the change in understanding. People left feeling more confident and prepared, knowing that a whole-property fire plan and fire-resistant strategies weren’t just abstract ideas but real, actionable steps they could take. The workshops fostered a stronger sense of resilience, not just within individual households, but across the broader community.
Key facts
- Total Attendees: 29
- Speakers: 7 experts
- Connected: 3 Local Landcare Groups at one event discussing their public land management roles and the considerations around cool burning.