Farmers gain legal right to fight fires beyond their own fences

There will be more help at hand in a fire emergency this year, with farmer fire-fighting units able to gain provisional registration to travel on roads to help at an incident. Photo: TWH

As of October 7th, farmers and rural landholders across New South Wales can now legally use their farm firefighting vehicles to respond to bushfires beyond their own property boundaries under a new conditional registration scheme introduced by the Minns Labor Government.

Member for Barwon Roy Butler said the change was long overdue and would make a practical difference for people in the bush.

“This is great news for firefighting in Barwon,” he said. “Even better if they can call on their neighbours for assistance. Help is sometimes hours away, and the necessary equipment is often already on the farm, like old utes and trucks with water tanks and hoses bolted on.

The new scheme allows makeshift firefighting trucks conditional registration at a lower cost, including inspection and the issuance of a licence plate. The vehicles can be used public roads during emergencies, within defined limits, and at a reduced registration cost.

Cobar, Bourke and Brewarrina Rural Fire Service Operational Officer David Moore said the change followed a successful two-year trial.

“Back in 2023 they trialled a non-registerable system,” he said. “When you signed up to the program and provided information, photos, and VIN numbers of your vehicle, you could be on a register that way. They could be used at the time if something happened.”

“What they’ve done this year is actually move it onto a conditional registration,” Mr Moore said. “It’s now handled through Service NSW instead of directly through the RFS.”

Farmers west of the Newell Highway will face no distance limits when responding to emergencies, while those east of the highway can travel up to 50 kilometres from their home base.

Applications for the new conditional registration can be made at any Service NSW Centre or online via the Service NSW website, with more information available by calling 13 77 88.