The NSW Government is enhancing its bushfire readiness six years on from the Black Summer disaster, implementing new infrastructure, improved information systems, and additional safety measures across the state.
Transport for NSW has collaborated with emergency agencies and local governments to prepare for the 2025–26 season, participating in over 60 readiness exercises this year and engaging with more than 170 emergency management committees.
Roadside ABC signage improves emergency awareness
A major initiative delivered under Recommendation 65b of the NSW Bushfire Inquiry is the statewide rollout of new roadside signs displaying local ABC emergency broadcast frequencies.
Transport for NSW has now installed 219 new signs, selected for locations with a historical bushfire risk and limited mobile phone coverage. There are 64 signs in Greater Sydney, 58 in the north, 54 in the south and 43 in the west.
These signs build on the 99 installed in 2022, bringing the total across the state to more than 300.
Transport for NSW Coordinator-General Howard Collins says the initiative strengthens public awareness during fast-moving emergencies.
“Information is power. These signs remind communities and visitors where to tune in when it matters most,” Collins says.
New water tanks strengthen firefighting response
Transport for NSW has installed 30,000-litre water tanks at the Bundjalung Rest Area and Pine Brush Creek Northbound Rest Area on the Pacific Highway.
The tanks are available for the NSW Rural Fire Service and Fire and Rescue NSW to support rapid response operations, particularly in the Clarence Valley region, where refill points have historically been scarce.
Collins says the tanks will reduce the time firefighters spend travelling for water.
“Every minute saved makes a real difference when crews are trying to protect life and property,” he says.
The new tanks follow earlier installations in the Kempsey and Shoalhaven regions.
Vegetation management and real-time road information
Roadside vegetation works are underway across the state to reduce fuel loads and create firebreaks along key transport corridors.
Another key recommendation from the Bushfire Inquiry was to ensure all road information, not only state roads, appears on Live Traffic NSW. All councils are now able to publish incident updates on the platform, with almost 19,000 local road incidents reported since the feature was added.
These updates also flow to major navigation apps, including Google Maps, Apple Maps, Waze and TomTom.
ABC and RFS urge communities to stay informed
ABC Head of Emergency Donna Field says the signage rollout is a vital reminder that radio remains a resilient source of information when other channels fail.
“Radio can continue to deliver critical updates even when digital networks are disrupted. It helps communities stay informed before, during and after emergencies,” she says.
RFS Deputy Commissioner for Operational Coordination, Ben Millington, says the upgrades directly support firefighting operations.
“Every minute saved in accessing water can make a real difference to protecting life, property and the environment,” he says.
Millington says bushfire safety remains a shared responsibility. Communities are urged to prepare their properties, discuss bushfire survival plans, and use multiple official sources for information, including the Fires Near Me app, the RFS website, and local ABC radio.