Hornsby Shire Council wants residents thinking about bushfire season now, while there’s still time to act. With warmer months on the way, the council is pushing a handful of preparation programs through spring to get households and neighbourhoods ready before conditions turn dangerous.
The centrepiece is a free EmergencyRedi™ Workshop, run through the Australian Red Cross, at Hornsby Library on 2 September. The session covers local risk factors, how to build an emergency plan, and what to expect from extreme weather in the area. Spots are limited and bookings are required. The workshop aligns with EmergencyRedi Week, also running in September, which encourages Australians nationally to take small, manageable steps toward being better prepared.
Alongside the workshop, the council is directing residents to the Red Cross’s Get Prepared app, a free tool that walks people through decisions before a crisis hits — building a personal emergency plan, setting up a support network, putting together checklists, and sharing all of it with family and friends.
Mayor Warren Waddell said spring was the right time for residents to review their plans and take practical steps ahead of the season. Being ready before something happens, he said, changes how safe people feel and how they actually cope when it does. He pointed to an emergency plan, a prepared property, and a conversation with family and neighbours about what to do in a bushfire as groundwork that pays off. He also urged people to get to the workshop and download the app as an easy starting point.
The council is also flagging five jobs around the home that make a real difference to bushfire safety, and none of them need to happen all at once. Fitting mesh fly screens over doors, windows, vents, and weepholes reduces how vulnerable a house is to embers, and draught excluders under doors help close the same gap. In the yard, keeping grass mowed and clearing clippings into the green waste bin removes fuel before it builds up.
Garden beds benefit from regular pruning, weeding and clearing old mulch, and residents are being encouraged to swap flammable mulch for something like pebbles or scoria gravel. Gutters need clearing of leaves and debris, and any overhanging branches are worth pruning back, with council approval sought where it’s needed. Finally, test hoses to make sure they reach around the property, and consider sprinklers for extra protection if a fire does threaten.
More information and workshop bookings are available at hornsby.nsw.gov.au/emergencies.
