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Hotspots Workshops Update January 2024
Thursday, 18th January 2024
A calmer weather period has allowed the Hotspots teams to get workshops rolling out across the state with two workshops delivered already this financial year and planning underway for more after the summer season.
Northern NSW
Far North, RFS Facilitator Jamie Bertram and NCC Ecologist Kevin Taylor, delivered a full workshop series to the community at Roseberry Creek, which sits near the border of NSW and QLD, after a successful information day the previous year. The workshop was delivered on the 15th of July and the 5th of August to 23 residents, with 16 property management plans created. The workshop involved a range of local community groups such as the Roseberry Creek Landcare and Grevillea RFS Brigade, as well as the Jagun Alliance Aboriginal Corporation, who provided insights into traditional fire management practices.
The northern team are also busy planning for an Autumn workshop delivery in the Nambucca Valley (south of Coffs Harbour).
Central NSW
NCC Ecologist Belinda Kenny and RFS Hotspots Coordinator Zofie Lahodny-Gecso, along with assistance from RFS Hotspots Facilitator Jamie Betram, delivered a great workshop series on the fringes of Sydney at Still Creek on the 15th and 29th of June. Participants heard from community groups such as the Still Creek Landcare Group and the Hornsby Hills Koala Project. The community has now established its own Hotspots café group and Facebook page so they can assist each other with fire preparation into the future.
Jane Mansergh an RFS Central Hotspots Facilitator, has been working with Belinda Kenny planning for a full workshop delivery at Wollombi, with its footprint now extended from Upper Yango Creek to include the broader Laguna area.
Southern NSW
A successful workshop series was delivered in Malua Bay/ Guerilla Bay by NCC Ecologist Neale Watson and RFS Facilitator Jane Mansergh on the 28th of July and 11th of August. Twenty residents were engaged in the workshop series, with property management plans created for over 361 hectares, of which 245 hectares were native vegetation. The workshop included Walbunja Rangers from Batemans Bay, who demonstrated traditional fire management techniques such as a fire stick ignition (pictured).
RFS Facilitator Phil Patterson who has returned to the southern role, along with Neale Watson, are now planning for a workshop series in Numeralla, near Cooma for late March/April, with a potential workshop series being investigated at Brogo.
Check out the "Where We Work" section of the Hotspots website for further details on upcoming workshops in your local area.