Fire Management

It is important to take precautions that could protect Parkwater should a fire break out.

The National Trust has developed a Fire Management plan that aims to protect the community and the environmental value of the bushland at Parkwater owned by the Trust.

As a Parkwater property owner you can assist by remembering to clear away leaves, twigs and grasses from around your home, ensuring that the gutters are cleared out, and making sure that there is a hose that can reach all areas of the house.

Importantly, ensure that your property complies with local government (Augusta‐Margaret River) fire break notices.

The Parkwater Fire Management Plan is now complete. With the support of the local brigade, this Fire Incident Preparedness and Response plan covers all the prevention, detection and suppression measures that can be taken to manage fire risk on the Estate.

The objectives of the plan are twofold: to protect the community and environmental values on lands owned by the Trust from damage or destruction from bushfires, and to use fire as a management tool where appropriate to achieve land management objectives.

The plan will be updated annually by the manager of Natural Heritage at the Trust. The area covered encompasses all National Trust owned land , but takes into account the close proximity of the 500 private lots; the distribution of Karri & Jarrah forest within the Estate; the need to prevent the spread of Dieback within the bushland, and locals & other visitors to the bushland and private lands adjacent to the estate.

Simple fire prevention actions have the potential to protect your self, family and property from great harm; these actions are straight forward and do reduce the risk or impact of fires.

These measures include actions such as

• clearing and maintaining fire breaks,
• cleaning out gutters regularly,
• ensuring that no trees directly overhang your house,
• keeping your property free of obstructions and combustibles,
• and learning how to use your fire extinguisher before there is an emergency.

In the 2007‐08 financial year FESA attended 6670 landscape / vegetation fires. Following the advice of both FESA and your local shire could help to reduce this number in 2009‐10.

For more information on fire prevention please see: http://www.fesa.wa.gov.au/