Fire management in rural residential areas and burning-off strategies are all being examined in a review of the Bushfires Act 1980 which is due to be released soon.

The review paper, which was the focus of a Bushfires Council meeting yesterday, was initiated in 2011 when fire-fighting resources were severely strained in a tough season

Chairman, Paul Blore, says public input on the proposed changes is very important particularly as the population grows in rural housing areas

We’ve got the city folk pushing out into the rural areas, mainly at Darwin, Humpty Doo and out at Marrakai, there are a lot more people shifting out.

“There might be certain sections where we have to realign as a fire service or give it to the NT Fire and Rescue to look after,” he said.

“It’s all about rezoning, restructuring and making it safer and more economical for everyone to control bushfires in the NT.”

Residents in the Darwin rural and Batchelor areas have previously told the Country Hour they are concerned too much land is being burnt each year.

Mr Blore says while the review will discuss fire management strategies, burning-off in mosaic patterns must continue.

“We need to burn, if you don’t burn up here you get burnt out. It’s always been the case in the past.

“It’s all about the timing of when it’s done and it is part of this review and this Bushfires Act,” he said.