The 10/50 Vegetation Clearing Scheme

The 10/50 Vegetation Clearing Scheme The 10/50 Vegetation Clearing Scheme allows people to clear certain vegetation near their homes to improve protection from bush fires. The Scheme was introduced following the devastating 2013 NSW bush fires, including the fires which destroyed more than 200 homes in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney. Since its introduction on 1 August 2014, a number of amendments have been made to the Scheme. On 1 October 2014, the NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) announced the planned review of the Scheme would be fast-tracked, due to concerns that some landholders were abusing the Scheme, by clearing vegetation for purposes other than bush fire protection. On 14 November 2014 consultation closed, and 3,579 submissions were received from stakeholders including individuals, local councils and community groups. This Code of Practice is known as the ‘10/50 Vegetation Clearing Code of Practice for New South Wales (10/50 Code)’ and has been prepared in accordance with Section 100Q of the Rural Fires Act 1997. The Code was developed in partnership with the Department of Planning and Environment and the Office of Environment and Heritage. In accordance with the Rural Fires Act 1997, this 10/50 Code has been developed to provide for vegetation clearing work to be carried out in certain areas near residential accommodation, high-risk facilities or farm sheds to reduce the risk of bush fire. The 10/50 Code permits landowners in the 10/50 Vegetation Clearing Entitlement Area to clear, on their own land, vegetation that is adjacent to an external wall of a building: › containing habitable rooms that comprises or is part of residential accommodation or a high-risk facility; or › that comprises or is part of a farm shed. The Commissioner of the NSW RFS may review this 10/50 Code at any time. This is the final report into the review of the scheme. The review has found that the policy objectives of the scheme remain valid. However, a number of issues designed to improve the scheme, on both a legislative and non-legislative basis, have been identified. Thirty recommendations have been made as a result of this review. These recommendations have been developed between the Department of Planning and Environment, the Office of Environment and Heritage and the NSW Rural Fire Service. This report outlines the proposed amendments which have been identified by the Review. http://arboriculture.org.au/…/1050-Vegetation-Clearing-Code…