Guide

Returning home after a bushfire

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Find out when you can return

Stay updated

For the latest NSW bushfires information, you can:

Emergency services

To report an unattended fire or emergency, call:

Traffic, road closures and public transport 

Bushfire registration

If you've been impacted by the fires, register with Register. Find. Reunite. This Red Cross service finds and reunites family and friends after an emergency.

Look after your health and stay safe

Returning home safely

For health advice on returning home safely after a bushfire, such as wearing protective clothing, handling waste and managing food and water supplies, visit NSW Health.

NSW Government experts will check every fire-damaged property for asbestos. Do not enter your property until you have been told it is safe. Watch the video below to learn about the dangers of fire-damaged properties.

Keeping safe from asbestos after a bushfire

The video starts with a title card showing the NSW Government logo that reads, “Keeping safe from asbestos after a bushfire”.

Narrator:“If your house or business had asbestos present and has been damaged by fire, this could become a health risk.”

We see burnt-out trees, and the remains of a fire-damaged building including fibro and metal items including shelving, a trolley, a barrel and corrugated iron.

Narrator: “Asbestos is mainly found in structures built before 1990.”

Close-ups of broken pieces of asbestos on the ground.

Narrator: “It can be in the fibro cement sheeting that is in walls, ceilings, eaves and roofs, as well as insulation.”

Close-ups of burnt out roofing materials as well as metal benches.

Narrator: “Houses, sheds, garages and out houses could all be affected.”

Another shot of burnt out trees and a burnt-out structure that looks like it might have been a shed with benches and toolboxes strewn around alongside broken pieces of asbestos.

Then there is a shot of a large burnt out shed being inspected by Government officials.

Narrator: “New South Wales Government experts will check every fire damaged property for asbestos.”

A shot of a Government official in full Personal Protective Equipment including suit, gloves, mask and helmet, picking up a piece of asbestos with a tool and inspecting it before placing it in a sealed bag to be taken for testing.

Then there is a shot of a burnt tree with a burnt-out structure behind it.

Narrator: “Warning: do not enter your property until you have been told it is safe.”

A shot of Government officials inspecting a property with the owners.

Narrator: “For more information – and to register for clean-up, go to service dot N S W dot gov dot au or call 13 77 88.”

There is a title card with the NSW Government logo that reads, “For more information, and to register for clean-up, go to www.service.nsw.gov.au or call 13 77 88”.

Air quality

The AQI is a report of air quality and indicates how clean or polluted the air is in areas across NSW. For air quality readings that are updated hourly, visit Current and forecast air quality.

Medications and prescriptions

For advice on how to access medications, prescriptions or Medicare, DVA or Centrelink cards that have been lost or destroyed during the bushfires, visit NSW Health.

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

If you're an NDIS participant in a bushfire-affected region, call 1800 800 110 for priority support.

Get financial support

Information on the financial assistance, such as payments, grants and counselling, that are available to those impacted by bushfires.

Disaster relief payments

    Disaster relief payments

    For payments available to eligible people in disaster declared areas, call Services Australia on 180 22 66 about:

    Disaster relief grants

    Grants are made available to eligible individuals and families whose homes and essential household contents have been damaged or destroyed in bushfires (declared natural disasters). 

    Visit a Service NSW Centre or call 13 77 88 for NSW Government Disaster Relief Grants.

      Financial institutions

      Banks offer help to customers affected by a natural disaster. This could include financial assistance packages, deferred loans, waived fees and grants.

      If you are facing financial difficulty, contact your bank as soon as you can.

      For a list of banks and contact details, visit the Australian Banking Association.

      Financial counselling services

      Indigenous Business Australia

      Indigenous Business Australia provides economic development opportunities to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through:

      • loans and financial services
      • business finance and partnerships.

      Find out about assistance available:

      Transport – refunds, fee waivers, concessions

      Tolls

      The $40 tag security deposit on an E-Toll tag will be waived if your tag has been lost, damaged or destroyed during a natural disaster.

      Number plates

      To reapply for number plates that have been lost or destroyed as a result of a natural disaster, you must provide a completed Number Plate Form – PDF at a Service NSW Centre. If applicable, number plate reissue, remake or hold fees may be waived.

      For more information, visit Transport for NSW.

      Motor vehicle stamp duty and fines

      If your motor vehicle was written off in a declared natural disaster, you may be able to get a refund on any motor vehicle duty paid on a replacement vehicle.

      Revenue NSW may also:

      • give you more time to lodge any documents or returns
      • defer enforcing any fines against you
      • extend your payment deadlines
      • agree not to charge you interest
      • arrange for you to pay any debts in instalments.

      For more information, visit Natural disaster relief – Revenue NSW. 

      Registration and licences

      Registration and licensing concessions and refunds will be offered to customers if their vehicle/vessel or other relevant documentation has been lost, damaged or destroyed during the NSW bushfires.

      For more information, see Replace lost documents.

      Destroyed vessels

      If your vessel has been destroyed in a natural disaster, you're entitled to a refund of any remaining funds on the vessel registration.

      If you can, supply a copy of the insurance claim deeming the vessel a total loss, or a statutory declaration with details of the circumstances. If you're not able to supply either of these documents, complete the Request for Refund (Maritime) – PDF.

      Note: Attach a photo of the destroyed vessel (if possible). In the space under 'Other Maritime Refunds', clearly state that the vessel was destroyed by a natural disaster and include the address where the vessel was destroyed, if it is not your normal address.

      Telco support

      Telcos are offering mobile phone charge waivers and other assistance.

      Mobile phone charge waivers

      Telstra, Optus and Vodafone offer customers in bushfire-affected areas with unlimited access to emergency service websites at no cost.

      Telstra

      Telstra customers who've suffered severe damage or loss of their premises can call 132 203 for information on:

      • free call diversion from the customer’s Telstra fixed phone service for a maximum period of 6 months from the date of the fire
      • a one-off credit to the value of $500 including GST to the customer’s Telstra fixed phone account to help cover the costs of the following, if required:
        • connection of a Telstra fixed phone service at one temporary residence
        • re-connection of a Telstra fixed phone service at the customer’s original permanent premises.

      In areas where customers are waiting for network damage to be repaired, or where they are still evacuated, the following short-term measures will be in place for a maximum period of 3 months:

      • free use of Telstra public payphones in the affected areas
      • free use of Telstra Air payphone hotspots in the affected areas
      • free call diversion from an affected fixed home or business phone service to another fixed or mobile service of the customer’s choice, regardless of the carrier
      • customers who use the free call diversion to divert their affected fixed home or business phone to their Telstra mobile service can also make local and STD® calls on their mobile at fixed-line rates, in accordance with their selected plan (limited to one designated Telstra mobile per affected household or business).
      • affected Telstra mobile customers who do not have a Telstra home phone can receive a one-off credit to the value of $100 inc. GST (limited to one mobile phone per Telstra mobile account).

      Optus

      Optus customers who have been impacted by the bushfires can call 1300 301 671  for information on:

      • free call diversions from an Optus fixed home phone to any mobile or fixed number

      • extended timeframes for bill payments

      • bill waivers in instances of extreme financial hardship

      • free suspension, relocation or cancellation of an Optus fixed service

      • free prepaid recharges for eligible impacted customers.

      Note: Optus is covering the costs of eligible volunteer firefighters’ mobile services for December 2019 and January 2020. If you’re an active volunteer firefighter with an Optus bill, call 1300 301 671 to see if you qualify.

      Vodafone

      Vodafone customers can apply for Vodafone’s hardship assistance and may be eligible for bill waivers, payment extensions and waived cancellation/late fees.

      Call 1300 650 405 for help or more information.

      Utility services

      Damaged service connections

      If gas, electricity or water is disconnected, it's your responsibility to have the services checked and reconnected by a licensed trade person. Do not attempt to reconnect the service yourself.

      Power outages

      Contact your energy provider. They own and maintain the local network and are best placed to advise on outages and when services may be restored.

      Telephone and internet services

      Water

      Clearing your property

      Clean-up fact sheets

      Fences 

      If your land borders public land and you've had fences damaged or destroyed in the 2019-2020 NSW bushfires, you can apply for funding to help cover the cost of rebuilding boundary fences.

      Up to $5000 per kilometre is available as part of the 'Supporting our neighbours – public land boundary fencing program'. If you’ve already started rebuilding, you can still receive a backdated payment.

      For more information or to apply, visit Local Land Services or call 1300 778 080.

      Get mental health support

      Natural disasters and traumatic events impact much more than just the physical environment. They can have a profound effect on the mental health and well-being of affected communities.

      We have a list of resources to support anyone seeking mental health services and advice.

      Help others in your community

      BlazeAid

      BlazeAid helps clear, repair or replace fences that have been damaged or destroyed in natural disasters such as bushfires.

      Find out how you can volunteer with BlazeAid.

      Dress for Success

      Dress for Success is sending out bushfire relief packages to women who are in need of clothing for work.

      To find out how to offer your time as a volunteer, visit Dress for Success volunteer. 

      NSW Rural Fire Service

      NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) accepts volunteers in a range of roles including:

      • firefighting
      • administration
      • communications
      • catering
      • community education
      • community engagement
      • training
      • operational logistics support
      • welfare support
      • equipment maintenance
      • youth development.

      Find out how you can volunteer with the NSW RFS.

      Last updated: 14 February 2023