Bushfire anniversary a reminder of risk

Published on 07 February 2022

FIFTY-FIVE years on from Tasmania’s most deadly bushfires, the Cities of Hobart and Glenorchy have jointly urged residents not to be complacent about bushfire risk.

The bushfire season of 1966-67 peaked on 7 February – known as Black Tuesday – with 110 separate fire fronts burning through 2640 square kilometres of land in the space of just five hours.

“The destruction of the 1967 fires still live in the memories of some Hobartians,” Cr Reynolds said. “It’s something we don’t want our city and its residents to experience again.

“The fire moved so rapidly that there was little time to prepare for the catastrophic impact as it approached the city. In the space of just a few hours, 62 people tragically lost their lives, almost 1300 homes were destroyed and 7000 people across Southern Tasmania were left homeless.

“Fifty-five years on, we continue to learn from those and subsequent bushfires so we can better protect our communities.”

The Big Bend Fire Trail on kunanyi / Mount Wellington, which underwent a major upgrade last year, plays a critical role in Greater Hobart’s strategic fire management programs.

“Having safe access points to remote areas on the mountain is vital in protecting Greater Hobart from bushfire,” Glenorchy Mayor Bec Thomas said. “Firefighters used the Big Bend trail to fight the Tom Thumb bushfire a couple of years ago.”

The fire had been sparked by a lightning strike in remote bushland and relied on a quick response by firefighters to prevent it from escalating to major bushfire.

“At the time, its condition hampered operations and highlighted the need for an upgrade,” Ald Thomas said.

“The trail has been widened and stabilised to allow better access for fire crews to protect our community if there’s a bushfire on the mountain. It can also be used as an emergency exit route from the summit to get people off the mountain in an emergency.”

The $250,000 upgrade was jointly funded by the City of Hobart, the City of Glenorchy and TasWater and works were undertaken in accordance with the approved Wellington Park Management Trust permit and Contract Environmental Management Plan, which were developed based on expert investigations into environmental and heritage values along Big Bend Fire Trail.

Southern Tasmania has had a quiet start to the bushfire season, but with warm days drying out vegetation after a heavy-growth spring, residents are reminded that conditions can change quickly.

“Past bushfires have taught us that we always need to be ready to act quickly,” Ald Thomas said. “Councils are doing a lot to protect against bushfire but it’s up to all of us to play our part.

“Anyone living in or near bushland should have a Bushfire Survival Plan and take steps to reduce the bushfire risk around their homes.”

Cr Reynolds said the Preparing for Bushfire: Action Plan for Hobart released at the start of this bushfire season provided an overview of the City of Hobart’s bushfire management program, as well as advice for residents to better understand bushfire risk and how to best protect their own properties.

“This action plan takes into account Hobart’s geography and risk factors and offers advice for preparing homes so they have the best chance of withstanding a bushfire,” Cr Reynolds said.

View Preparing for Bushfire: Action Plan for Hobart