Prescribed burns (hazard reduction and ecological)

Willoughby City Council (WCC) has over 300 hectares of bushland with part of this area regarded as bushfire prone land. To reduce the risks that bushfires may cause to human life and property, burns are prepared and implemented by qualified bushland field staff and Fire & Rescue NSW.

In accordance with the Bushfire Risk Management Plan and Fuel Management Program, the following reserves have been authorised for hazard reduction burns. The timing and scheduling of burns is dependent on weather conditions. Residents will be contacted via post closer to proposed burn dates.

Scheduled burns

Reserve Burn name Agency Proposed Comments

Flat Rock Gully

Pyalla Street(PDF, 575KB) WCC and Fire & Rescue NSW Autumn/Winter 2024 Prepared
Artarmon Reserve Artarmon Road WCC and Fire & Rescue NSW Autumn/Winter 2024 Prepared
Mowbray Park Avian Crescent WCC and Fire & Rescue NSW Autumn/Winter 2024 Preparing
Castlehaven Reserve Cheyne Walk  WCC and Fire & Rescue NSW Autumn/Winter 2024 Prepared
Blue Gum Park Greville Street WCC and Fire & Rescue NSW Autumn/Winter 2024 Preparing

Manual hazard reduction works

 Reserve Locations Proposed 
Blue Gum Reserve
  • Millwood Avenue
  • Greville Street

October 2023 - June 2024 

Chatswood West 2
  • Mowbray Park
  • Mowbray Scout Hall

November 2023 - March 2024

Castle Cove northern escarpment
  • Dance Hall ruins
  • HD Robb Reserve
  • Explosives Reserve

November 2023 - June 2024 

Castle Cove southern escarpment
  • 'Tennis Valley' Willis Park

December 2023 - June 2024 

Castlecrag northern escarpment
  •  Foreshore properties below Edinburgh Road
  • Castlecrag Sea Scout Hall Castlecrag 
  • Boatshed/Marina 

October 2023 - March 2024

Castlecrag southern escarpment
  •  Warners Park

December 2023 - May 2024 

Northbridge northern escarpment
  •  Clive Park 
  • Northbridge Swimming Baths 

November 2023 - April 2024 

Northbridge southern escarpment
  •  Golf course

November 2023 - April 2024 

Naremburn northern escarpment
  • Fatty Dawson ruins 
  • Flat Rock Gully.

January 2024 – June 2024.

Fire ecology

Bushfires are naturally occurring events essential to the long-term health of bushland around Sydney. When bushfires take place, species with fire dependant ecology continue to contribute to the biodiversity unique to Sydney bushland. It is Council's objective to optimise the ecological health of bushland within the context of human and property protection.

Management practices

Management practices carried out by the Hazard Reduction Team include the removal of fuel sources and preparing both hazard reduction and ecological controlled burns. Burning may be carried out by Council staff; with assistance from New South Wales Fire and Rescue when carrying out larger broad area burns. Restoration projects WCC has implemented using ecological burns includes the Explosives Bushland Reserve, Castle Cove(PDF, 2MB).

See bushfire history maps tab below.

Plan and prepare

All residents that live in close proximity to bushfire prone land are responsible for their own property and are prepared in the event of a fire.

For more information on how to plan and prepare in the event of a bushfire visit the NSW Rural Fire Service.

Please remember that for your own safety you should not clear vegetation for firebreaks in Council reserves. It is illegal for anyone other than qualified personnel to carry out work on Council land. Note that it is an offence under s.20 (2A) (Div3) (6E) of the Protection of the Environment Operations (Clean Air) Regulations 2002 to undertake a hazard reduction on private property, except in accordance with an approval. To obtain a Bush Fire Hazard Reduction Certificate Application Form see the NSW Rural Fire Service.

Community Fire Units

Community Fire Units are volunteer teams that are trained to defend homes until fire brigades arrive. The following Community Fire Units operate in the WCC area:

  • FHP-015 - 140 Greville Street CHATSWOOD WEST
  • MHP-005 - 171 Fullers Road CHATSWOOD WEST
  • MHP-024 - Avian Crescent LANE COVE
  • MHP-035 - 38a Greenfield Avenue MIDDLE COVE
  • MHP-053 - 43 Headland Rd CASTLE COVE
  • MHP-172 - The Quarterdeck MIDDLE COVE

For more information about the Community Fire Unit program, complete the introduction module on the NSW Fire and Rescue website.

Ecological-Burns-Monkey-Rocks-Burn-2019.jpg

Harold Reid Burn.jpg

Monkey Rocks Burn.jpg