Nangkita/Tooperang and Deep Creek bushfire recovery
Bushfires have had significant impacts across Deep Creek, Nangkita, Tooperang, Silverton and Cape Jervis, affecting lives, homes, cultural sites, wildlife, native vegetation and the working landscapes that sustain our communities.
While emergency response begins immediately, recovery takes time. For many landholders, families and communities, including Traditional Custodians, healing, rebuilding and restoring land continues well beyond the fire front.
Recovery is not about returning to what was. It is about rebuilding in ways that strengthen ecological health, protect productivity and support long-term resilience across the Hills and Fleurieu.
Recovering from a bushfire can be challenging, but support is available. This page brings together a range of assistance options for landholders, farmers and property owners, including:
- Bushfire Recovery Grants
- One on one property advice and support
- Online resources with practical guidance and fact sheets
Bushfire Recovery Grants for fire-affected landholders are now open. - APPLY HERE
These grants are intended to support landholders who are looking to implement some immediate fire recovery works following the Deep Creek and Tooperang/Nangkita bushfire of 2026.
The grant round is now open with funding of up to $5,000 available for eligible activities per property. For full terms and conditions please refer to the Bushfire Recovery Grant Eligibility Guidelines.
Who can apply?
Landholders who own more than 1.5 hectares of land and whose properties were impacted by the Deep Creek or Tooperang/Nangkita fires are eligible to apply.
Applicants must contribute at least 25 cents for every $1 of grant funding requested. This may be cash and/or in-kind labour.
What activities are eligible for funding?
The following activities will be considered for funding:
- Livestock access to water troughs
- Sediment control – silt trapping
- Erosion control – ground cover
- Control of environmental weeds
- Pest animal control (includes over-abundant kangaroos)
- Watercourse fencing
- Livestock fencing for temporary containment
- Fencing off native vegetation
- Revegetation
You can seek reimbursement for recovery works that have already begun, provided they align with the eligible activities. Please note that any works started before 18 January 2026 for the Tooperang/Nangkita fire, or before 1 February 2026 for the Deep Creek fire, are not eligible for funding.
What activities are not eligible for funding?
- Items generally covered by property insurance
- Boundary fencing
- Significant asset purchase, e.g. All-Terrain Vehicles or Utility Terrain Vehicles; chainsaws
- Property-scale water reticulation systems for livestock
- Removal of burnt agroforestry
- Arborist works
- Gardens
- Other capital purchases unrelated to fire recovery
For full terms and conditions please refer to the Bushfire Recovery Grant Eligibility Guidelines.
How do I apply?
Click here to start your application
The Nangkita, Tooperang and Deep Creek Bushfire Recovery Grants are funded through the Landscape Priorities Fund and delivered by the Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board
Personalised property advice
After a bushfire, our Stewardship Officers can provide advice and guidance on land recovery specific to your property. They can help you think through options for watercourse repair, revegetation, weed control and restoring habitat for wildlife.
Every property and situation is different, and support is available at a pace that works for you. Please email or phone us to arrange an initial discussion.
What to consider after a bushfire
Managing burnt ground
Act early to protect bare soil.
Reduce traffic from livestock, vehicles and people on burnt paddocks to limit erosion and soil damage. Where possible, shift stock to containment areas or unburnt ground.
Burnt soil often forms a thin surface crust - keep this intact. The soil underneath may be loose and vulnerable to wind and water erosion.
If pasture is singed but still present, trial a small area first. Light irrigation (where available) can help you assess recovery. Some soils may become temporarily water repellent after fire — this usually improves with rainfall and regrowth. Compost or mulch can help protect the surface while pastures re-establish.
Start small and monitor how your ground responds before scaling up treatments.
Get support:
Contact our team to discuss ground recovery options or arrange a property visit.
Managing livestock
Move stock off burnt paddocks as soon as possible.
Keeping livestock off burnt ground will improve the rate of recovery for your land and pastures. Consider setting up a temporary containment feeding area to reduce pressure on fragile ground and make feeding, watering and monitoring easier.
Key actions
- Raise hay off the ground (use troughs or feeders) to reduce ash ingestion.
- Monitor stock closely - some health impacts appear weeks later.
- Plan supplementary feeding with advice from a livestock specialist.
- Assess early whether to agist or sell if feed, water or welfare cannot be maintained.
Feeding in containment areas also helps reduce weed spread from donated hay.
Further information for fire-affected grazing properties
- Meat and Livestock Australia Bushfire Recovery ELearning: This training provides the essential information you need as a livestock producer to recover from a bushfire.
- Urgent livestock assistance through the PIRSA 24-hour hotline: 1800 255 556
- Livestock assessments for injured livestock
- Livestock SA / Primary Producers SA fodder & agistment register: 8297 2299 (Mon–Fri)
- Containment area fact sheet
Keeping burnt trees
Pause before removing burnt trees.
Many native species recover naturally, even if they appear dead. Give trees time to reshoot before deciding to remove them. Some native species will re-shoot within five weeks of being burnt.
Standing dead trees (especially those with hollows) provide critical habitat for birds, microbats and other wildlife. Retaining trees where safe to do so supports biodiversity and can also reduce erosion in agricultural landscapes.
Remove only those trees that pose a clear safety risk to people, stock or infrastructure.
Learn more:
Find out more about post-fire tree recovery here.
Managing water quality, dams and creeklines
Inspect dams and creeks after rainfall.
Ash and exposed soil can wash into waterways, reducing oxygen levels and increasing the risk of algal blooms.
Immediate actions
- Check water regularly for odour, colour changes or algal growth.
- Install temporary sediment controls upslope of dams and waterways.
- Maintain ground cover as quickly as possible to reduce runoff.
Sediment fences can be constructed using star droppers, coir logs, hay bales or mesh. Design will depend on slope and soil type.
Some sediment works in bushfire-affected areas may not require a Water Affecting Activity Permit. Refer to the Current Recommended Practice for Sediment Control within a Watercourse in a Bushfire-Affected Area.
Healthy creek lines can help moderate fire behaviour and protect water quality — consider long-term creek restoration as part of recovery.
Further guidance:
- Managing contaminated farm dams Post-bushfire water quality in farm dams and creeks'
- Caring for creek lines to reduce bushfire risk
Pest animal control
Act quickly to reduce grazing pressure on regenerating areas.
After fire, reduced ground cover and food shortages can concentrate kangaroos and rabbits in recovering paddocks and revegetation sites.
Practical steps
- Use temporary fencing to protect vulnerable areas.
- Monitor grazing pressure on new pasture and seedlings.
- Implement early rabbit control (baiting, warren ripping and follow-up).
Early intervention helps protect soil stability and reduces long-term control costs.
Learn more:
Visit ourpest animal page for property-specific options.
Rebuild your garden
Start small and rebuild gradually.
Even a few pots or a small planting area can mark the beginning of recovery.
Assess how fire affected your garden — what burned, what survived, and how soil and ash have changed conditions. Test soil before replanting, especially around fruit trees or productive areas.
Plan before planting:
- Decide what you want from your garden (shade, cooling, habitat, food, fire-safe).
- Group plants by watering needs.
- Prioritise species suited to your soil and local climate.
Resources:
Managing soil
Test before you treat.
Fire can alter soil nutrients, pH and structure. Before applying fertiliser or amendments, undertake soil testing to understand what has changed.
Landscapes Hills and Fleurieu supports post-fire soil testing to help landholders tailor nutrient correction to grazing, cropping or horticulture systems. Contact us to discuss what soil testing support is available.
Soil recovery actions
- Reduce erosion through ground cover and sediment control.
- Use containment feeding areas to protect soil structure.
- Apply amendments (lime, gypsum, compost) based on test results.
Learn more:
Controlling weeds
Act early while weeds are small.
Many weeds are ‘fire responsive’ geminating in large numbers after fire and quickly establish in the bare ground.
Post-fire conditions often make weed control easier and more effective in the long term, controlling before plants flower and drop seeds can dramatically reduce years of follow-up weed control.
Practical steps
- Identify and prioritise high-risk species.
- Control weeds before they set seed.
- Monitor containment feeding areas for new infestations.
Further guidance:
- Download the “Five steps to effective weed control” guide for practical advice or contact your local Stewardship Officer for advice tailored to your property.
Replacing and restoring native vegetation
Support natural regeneration first.
Allow time to see what regenerates naturally before replanting.
Where planting is needed:
- Select local native species suited to soil and rainfall.
- Protect seedlings from grazing.
- Mulch and water strategically during establishment.
Revegetation helps stabilise soil, protect waterways and provide habitat as landscapes recover.
Learn more:
- Download “Five steps to thriving native vegetation” guide
The Nangkita, Tooperang and Deep Creek Bushfire Recovery Grants are funded through the Landscape Priorities Fund and delivered by the Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board