The Australian bush is brutal, fire can come from any direction and you need to be ready for it. EmberAttack is one part of a larger solution to protect your home in a program of maintenance and prevention creating a waterfall from your gutters.
In some situations, trees and vegetation may be cleared near homes to reduce bushfire risk, particularly in designated bushfire-prone areas.
However, the rules can vary depending on:
Some vegetation may require approval before removal, while other clearing may be allowed under specific bushfire protection entitlements.
The NSW 10/50 rule allows some property owners in bushfire-risk areas to clear certain vegetation around homes without needing normal council approval.
In simple terms:
The rule is designed to help create a safer defendable space around buildings and reduce bushfire risk.
However, the rule does not apply everywhere and important restrictions still apply.
Important things to know about the 10/50 rule:
NSW Rural Fire Service recommends checking eligibility before clearing vegetation.
In some situations, council approval may still be required before clearing vegetation, particularly where:
Homeowners should always check local requirements before removing significant vegetation.
Bushfire preparation focuses on reducing fuel close to buildings while maintaining safe and practical defendable space around the home.
This may include:
The goal is not necessarily to remove all vegetation, but to reduce the likelihood of direct flame contact, radiant heat and ember ignition.
Defendable space is the area surrounding a building that is managed to reduce bushfire intensity and improve the ability to protect the structure during a fire.
A well-managed defendable space may help:
Defendable space is considered an important part of overall bushfire property preparation.
Vegetation management is only one part of bushfire protection.
Many homes are lost during bushfires due to ember attack entering roof spaces, vents, gutters and other vulnerable areas around buildings.
Additional bushfire protection measures may include:
Reducing ember entry points can play an important role in improving bushfire resilience.
It's not the fire that destroys most homes. It's the invisible ember attack that rains down kilometres ahead of the blaze. Up to 90% of homes lost in bushfires are destroyed by ember attack - not direct flames.
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