Coronial Inquiry into the Sir Ivan Bushfire welcomed

ONE year on from the devastating Sir Ivan Bushfire, NSW Farmers’ Association is hoping a Coronial General Inquiry will provide clarity to the local farming community around the challenges in communication, negotiation and engagement that played a part in the blaze.

It’s 12 months this week since the fire tore through 55,000 hectares of farming land in the Dunedoo, Cassilis and Coolah communities, killing around 6000 head of livestock, destroying 35 homes, along with machinery, sheds, farm equipment and thousands of kilometres in fencing.

After strong campaigning by the Association for a Coronial General Inquiry, NSW Farmers has been notified by the Coroner’s Court that a General Inquiry will go ahead.

NSW Farmers’ spokesperson Will Arnott said he hopes the inquiry will help all those affected get the closure they need.

In December, almost $1 million in donations was raised for victims in the Sir Ivan Bushfire Appeal, a joint initiative of the NSW Farmers’ Merriwa Branch and the Merriwa Show Society.