In January 2020, when the catastrophic fires were raging, the NSW Rural Fire Service under a Section 44 declaration ordered fire breaks to be constructed to protect the Cooma town.
Particularly on Cooma’s western side, a fire break was constructed from Mulach Street to the sewerage works to Glen Road.
This fire track not only provided a western fire break, but critically provided an alternative escape route for fire fighters to prevent them being trapped by a fire in a dead-end road.
I was in charge of the crew that constructed this critical fire track to protect the houses in Cooma west.
As the 2025 fire season is approaching, I recently tried to inspect this fire trail, but was prevented by fallen trees and a greatly deteriorated track surface.
Cooma west is at risk should there be another fire.
I call on Snowy Monaro Regional Council and the NSW Government to implement fire track safety maintenance.
Jack Garside
Cooma
