DUE TO the scale of the NSW bushfires and anticipated severe heatwaves, there are widespread State forest closures over the Christmas and New Year period.
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The following State Forests will be closed from midnight until further notice:
- All State Forests from north of Sydney to the Queensland border
- All State Forests from south of Sydney to the Victorian border
- All State Forests on the Northern, Central and Southern Tablelands
- Nullo Mountain and Coricudgy State Forests (Western Region)
- Belanglo State Forest.
There will be exceptions to these closures for some visitor areas - those with good access close to main roads and towns. The following remain open at this stage:
- Crooked Creek Rest Area, east of Tenterfield
- Sealy Lookout, including Coffs Treetops, near Coffs Harbour
- Old Bottlebutt near Port Macquarie
- Coopernook Forest Headquarters, near Coopernook
- Strickland State Forest near Gosford
- Scrubby Creek Rest Area near Eden
- Bodalla Forest Rest Area, near Bodalla
- Treetop Adventure Park, Ourimbah State Forest
- Penrose State Forest Rest Area.
People should check the Forestry Corporation website and Facebook page for daily updates, as these areas may also be closed if fire conditions in the local area worsen.
State Forests and visitor areas around Tumut, Tumbarumba and Bombala are currently open, but will be closed when the fire danger is predicted to be severe to catastrophic (expected for both Thursday and Saturday this week).
Visitors should remain vigilant and keep up to date with the Rural Fire Service Fires Near Me app or website, Forestry Corporation's senior manager of Forest Stewardship, Kathy Lyons, said.
"With the severe conditions facing NSW over the coming weeks, we strongly encourage people to keep informed of the current fire conditions and postpone any trips planned into State Forests," Ms Lyons said.
"As severe and extreme weather conditions are predicted for Thursday and Saturday, visitors should consult the Rural Fire Service website for current advice on the fire danger rating.
"We are also reminding visitors that solid fuel bans continue to apply in State Forests, and to check for total fire bans."
Updates on State Forest closures will be available at the State Forests website.
