Fire management plan reviews across the Murray Mallee
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is reviewing current plans across the Riverland and Murraylands region, and a small area of the Limestone Coast region. We need your input to draft the Murray Mallee Fire Management Plan to guide improvements and ensure a new plan is comprehensive and effective.
What's being decided?
This review will help NPWS update fire management strategies and better reduce bushfire risk to communities, biodiversity and property. One new plan will be drafted for all land managed by the Department for Environment and Water (DEW) in these areas and replace these following fire management plans:
Billiatt District Fire Management Plan
Bookmark Mallee Fire Management Plan
Ngarkat District Fire Management Plan
South East Fire Management Plan (for Bunbury Conservation Reserve, Coorong National Park, and Martin Washpool, Messent and Mount Boothby conservation parks).
Background
The Murray Mallee area contains significant biodiversity and communities that are vulnerable to bushfires. Current fire management plans set strategic priorities about where, how, and why we need to undertake activities to reduce the risk of bushfire and manage the environment. However, some plans are outdated, and do not reflect changes in the landscape or the latest fire management knowledge and science. This review aims to:
enhance the placement of fire management zones
recommend improvements for fire access and infrastructure (e.g., water sources)
identify policies to reduce risks to park staff and visitors
identify strategies to maintain and enhance ecological values within reserves.
Note the new plan will not identify where individual prescribed burns are planned.
Have your say by taking our survey. The survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete, depending on the depth of your responses. This survey closes 5pm on Monday 21 April 2025.
What are the next steps?
Your feedback on these existing plans will help us develop a draft Murray Mallee Fire Management Plan.
The draft plan is expected to be released early 2026 for further consultation before finalising. We will notify you when you can provide feedback.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is reviewing current plans across the Riverland and Murraylands region, and a small area of the Limestone Coast region. We need your input to draft the Murray Mallee Fire Management Plan to guide improvements and ensure a new plan is comprehensive and effective.
What's being decided?
This review will help NPWS update fire management strategies and better reduce bushfire risk to communities, biodiversity and property. One new plan will be drafted for all land managed by the Department for Environment and Water (DEW) in these areas and replace these following fire management plans:
Billiatt District Fire Management Plan
Bookmark Mallee Fire Management Plan
Ngarkat District Fire Management Plan
South East Fire Management Plan (for Bunbury Conservation Reserve, Coorong National Park, and Martin Washpool, Messent and Mount Boothby conservation parks).
Background
The Murray Mallee area contains significant biodiversity and communities that are vulnerable to bushfires. Current fire management plans set strategic priorities about where, how, and why we need to undertake activities to reduce the risk of bushfire and manage the environment. However, some plans are outdated, and do not reflect changes in the landscape or the latest fire management knowledge and science. This review aims to:
enhance the placement of fire management zones
recommend improvements for fire access and infrastructure (e.g., water sources)
identify policies to reduce risks to park staff and visitors
identify strategies to maintain and enhance ecological values within reserves.
Note the new plan will not identify where individual prescribed burns are planned.
Have your say by taking our survey. The survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete, depending on the depth of your responses. This survey closes 5pm on Monday 21 April 2025.
What are the next steps?
Your feedback on these existing plans will help us develop a draft Murray Mallee Fire Management Plan.
The draft plan is expected to be released early 2026 for further consultation before finalising. We will notify you when you can provide feedback.
National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) develops fire management plans to guide fire management activities on South Australian reserves and crown land.
These plans determine the placement of fire management zones, recommend improvements for fire access and infrastructure (e.g. water sources) and identify policies to reduce risks to park staff and visitors. The plans also identify strategies to maintain and enhance ecological values within reserves. (Note they do not identify where individual prescribed burns are planned).
Please take a look at the following questions and let us know your thoughts. This survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete, depending on the depth of your responses. Consultation closes Monday 21 April 2025.
Fire management plan reviews across the Murray Mallee is currently at this stage
This consultation is open for contributions.
Under Review
this is an upcoming stage for Fire management plan reviews across the Murray Mallee
Contributions to this consultation are closed for evaluation and review. The project team will report back on key outcomes.
Final report
this is an upcoming stage for Fire management plan reviews across the Murray Mallee
The final outcomes of the consultation are documented here. This may include a summary of all contributions collected as well as recommendations for future action.
