Bushfire Preparedness and Resilience Project

Bushfire-prone landscapes cover much of the City of Onkaparinga. Our residents often live, work and travel through hazard areas. Managing fire risks and building resilience is a shared responsibility between all. Protecting life, property and ecological and cultural assets are all top priorities for council.

The Bushfire Preparedness and Resilience Project (BPP) in the City of Onkaparinga aims to add to efforts to mitigate bushfire risks and prepare communities. This aims to be achieved through extra fuel reduction works on council land, consulting experts to gain a greater understanding of bushfire risks in our area and through educating residents and supporting Community-led Disaster Resilience (CDR) groups.

These initiatives have been made possible through a $3.57m grant from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). In addition to engaging contractors to tackle flammable woody weeds, council has purchased a new remote-controlled tracked mower called a Green Climber. It is capable of mowing on inclines of up to 60 degrees and even mowing through small bushes. Our two dedicated field staff are trained bush care workers and will take care to reduce fuel loads while protecting our precious biodiversity. Rural roadside pruning will also be strengthened by reducing dead matter, and clearing roads for clearer exits in the event of a bushfire.

On-ground fuel reduction works will be staged over 3 years and be prioritised according to bushfire risk. See the project map for areas to be covered in the 2022-2023 financial year. Treatment sites on council reserves and roadsides are selected using multiple criteria. This includes bushfire protection and the Bushfire Management Area Plan which identifies high-risk areas through proximity to schools and elderly facilities, vegetation and community and ecological assets.

Over the next few months, we’ll be visiting reserves, roadsides, and trails to cut long grasses, remove flammable weeds and reduce overall fuel loads in the below areas. Follow the link to view the project map.

As the grasses “green up” after March, our efforts will focus on evaluating works, continuing to treat flammable weeds and preparing for the next season.

The great “tree change” movement has seen many new residents moving into our idyllic hills face communities. Many of these areas are susceptible to fire, with many homes not built to withstand the radiant heat created by bushfires. This is why we are supporting our Community Development Team with their efforts to enhance CDR groups, as well as creating new programs aiming to educate the community on bushfire preparedness and the importance of knowing about and having a bushfire plan.

For further information on the project, please read the frequently asked questions. To ask any questions or share your thoughts, please follow the links at the end of the page.

Are you bushfire ready?

Fire Danger Season kicked off in December 2022 and Onkaparinga residents are being urged to ensure they’re bushfire ready.

The South Australian Country Fire Service (CFS) has a range of free resources available at its website, making it easy for you to plan and prepare for a bushfire.

Resources include tips on how to do your five-minute bushfire plan, how to prepare your home and property, how to stay informed, and how to prepare emergency kits.

Things you can do now to clear around your property include slashing or mowing long grass and removing cut material (unless it can rot down before summer), removing weeds, cutting back trees overhanging your home, removing fallen branches and other debris, and removing leaves from gutters.

Subscribe to CFS warnings through their website and download the Alert SA App, but don’t rely on a single source—stay informed using multiple sources of emergency warning information.

To see what level of bushfire risk your area is in, use the state government’s map-based online bushfire risk assessment tool. You can find a list Onkaparinga’s Bushfire Safer Places and Bushfire Last Resort areas at the CFS website.