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Hotspots Workshop update - December 2025
Tuesday, 9th December 2025
The Hotspots team have again been busy delivering a new round of workshop series, September-December.
The northern team, NCC ecologist Kevin Taylor and RFS Facilitator Peter Fitzsimmons, completed their first workshop of the financial year at Drake, New England, on the 2nd and 4th of December. It was well-attended by a keen group of 27 participants. On the first day, landholders heard from local fire management agencies and land managers including, National Parks and Wildlife Services, Local Land Services, Forestry Corp, The Ngullingah Jugun (Our Country) Aboriginal Corporation, Transport for NSW and the Jagun Alliance, and each completed map-based fire management plans for their property. Despite a hot forecast for the second workshop, the team were able to carry out the demonstration burn with participation from the attendees, building confidence and learning about fire behaviour. The landholders have decided to form a Landcare group that will also act as a ‘Hotspots Café’ – an outcome from previous workshops where participants regularly meet up to continue discussing and supporting one another in regard to managing their properties.
The central team, NCC Ecologist Belinda Kenny and RFS Facilitator Luc Roberts, delivered a successful series in the Hawkesbury Region, at Kurrajong Heights on the 27th of September and 11th of October. A total of 16 landholders attended as well as representatives the local RFS brigade meant important conversations were had. Hot and windy conditions meant an inability to conduct a demonstration burn, however it allowed the attendees to have more in depth conversation with the team on their fire management plans. Read the article written on the workshop from the Hawkesbury Gazette for more details on the events success.
The southern team, NCC Ecologist Neale Watson and RFS Facilitator Phil Paterson, successfully delivered the Brogo workshop series on the Far South Coast on the 8th and 22nd of November. As one of the few areas in the region that remained unburnt during the 2019/20 Black Summer fires, the 15 landholders in attendance were keen to develop their fire management plans. Overall, a great series that included a FireWise presentation the second workshop in place of the demonstration burn due to wet conditions.
All teams are now looking ahead to new workshop opportunities in the coming year. If you’re interested in hosting a Hotspots Workshop in your area, please get in touch at: info@hotspotsfireproject.org.au