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Message from the Hotspots Team...

Welcome to the latest Hotspots News Online. It has been another busy period with the Hotspots team running workshops across the state. Upcoming workshops are scheduled in the Central West, Northern Rivers, Southern Rivers and Hunter regions. If you are interested in attending a workshop in your area click on the link provided in 'Upcoming Hotspots Workshops'.

The fire season officially started on 1 October, however, there has been significant fire activity across the state since September. Hot, dry and windy conditions saw many fires during September and October, with some resulting in the loss of assets. For more information on preparing for bush fire visit www.rfs.nsw.gov.au and download a Bush Fire Survival Plan.

The Hotspots program has been part of a collaborative project to save the Eastern Bristlebird in the Boarder Ranges region which culminated in a successful burn carried out in September. Hotspots participants in the Corindi Valley community were challenged by fires during the 2012/13 fire season but fires were significantly contained in part due to the preparatory work done as part of the Hotspots workshop program. Also the Great Koala Count kicks off today for 10 days, with the aim of creating a comprehensive picture of koala numbers and locations across the landscape. To find out more information on this and the other stories please see the details below.

As always the Hotspots team would like to hear from you...please forward your feedback, and be part of our regular "have your say" article.

Kind regards,                                                                                                                           The Hotspots Team

2012/13 Fire Season

The fire season officially started on 1 October, however, there has been significant fire activity across the state since September. In the Hunter region and the Sydney Basin, hot, dry and windy conditions saw many fires during September and October, with some resulting in the loss of assets. Several Emergency Warnings were issued for communities and indicates the need to take action immediately... Read more...

Upcoming Hotspots Workshops

There are several workshops planned in the coming months for the Central West (Wuuluman and Trunkey Creek), Northern Rivers and in the Hunter. In the Southern part of the state Burra, Bermagui and Tanja workshops are being planned... Read more...

Facilitating Quick Results in the Corindi Valley

In August and again in October 2012, fires burned into Corindi Valley but both were significantly contained due to excellent preparatory work by the NSW RFS and local landowners as part of the Hotspots program... Read more...

Saving the Eastern Bristlebird

About 100 hectares of grassy forest on private land at Gradys Creek in the Border Ranges area near Kyogle has undergone a planned burn in an effort to help bring the endangered Eastern Bristlebird back from the brink of extinction... Read more...

Great Koala Count

Last week 40 landholders participated in the Ashby workshop series to discuss fire management and the koala. As the area holds one of the highest diversity of marsupials and eucalypts globally it was not surprising that landholders were keen to use this time to discuss what they could do to manage fire risk whilst helping the koala. Many at the workshop expressed an interest in participating in the 'Great Koala Count' running from the 7th - 17th of November and you can too...Read more...