St Arnaud taking charge of community preparedness

30 Pipiri 2023

Located on the edge of the picturesque Nelson Lakes National Park, the small community of St Arnaud knows its own risks – surrounded by high flammability native forests, it has limited access in and out of the village and only the Lake Rotoiti Volunteer Fire Brigade as the sole emergency service.

In 2020, the Department of Conservation, Lake Rotoiti Volunteer Fire Brigade and the local community came together to establish the Rotoiti FireSmart Working Group and were given permission to form a ‘Green Firebreak’ alongside an important access road to thin out the highly flammable vegetation, kanuka and manuka, remove all dead fuel, and replant with low flammability species.

St Arnaud’s risk reduction and readiness activities are an excellent example of what can be achieved when a community, the local brigade and supporting agencies all work together to identify risks and get prepared.

The time to plan, and act, is now. We can help you prepare, just reach out to your local brigade.