NSW bushfire inquiry finds climate change 'played a role' in black summer bushfires rejects national parks grazing option

Jeff Smith was one of many who told the NSW Independent Bushfire Inquiry at its public hearing in Glen Innes that the policy of "locking up" national parks "costs lives".

But the inquiry report, released on Tuesday, does not recommend the controversial bushfire mitigation tactic and refuted criticisms of the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Instead Commissioners Mary O'Kane and Dave Owens recommended government commission further research into a range of hazard reduction techniques, including grazing.

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Mr Smith, who is also a Glen Innes Severn councillor, said he feels like the inquiry didn't listen to them.

"I know everybody wants their point of view. I try and be a little bit practical if I can and come back and have a look and see what worked years ago, and why won't it work again now and the only reason it won't work again now is it's probably a political statement," he said.

"I'm going to go out on a limb and and say it's a political statement to try and get votes from city voters."

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Tuesday committed to implementing all 76 recommendations contained within the final report of the bushfire inquiry.

Some have already been acted upon, she said.

Others, like purchasing additional aerial resources, extra training and a new centre for bushfire research and technology, may cost money and take some time to implement.

The inquiry found climate change "clearly played a role in the conditions that led up to the fires and in the unrelenting conditions that supported the fires to spread", but said global warming "does not explain everything" about the unprecedented bushfire crisis.

Glen Innes Mayor Carol Sparks, who lost her Wytaliba home badly damaged in one deadly blaze, said the report would put pressure on government to take more action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to prevent future catastrophes.

"It's acknowledging that there is a problem with the climate and with climate change. It's acknowledging that we have to reduce our emissions," she said.

"It's addressing ways and means of fighting these catastrophic fires."

She welcomed the report though she also said it was "a bit soft" and had avoided some tougher questions.

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"Small steps at the moment. I think people are not really prepared for what might lie ahead if we don't address the matter of climate change and reducing our emissions."

The inquiry used a case study of land near Bees Nest to refute criticisms that the National Parks and Wildlife Service had not properly maintained land under their management.

Using light detection and ranging equipment, the inquiry's research hub compared land managed by the national parks service, state forest and private land. The inquiry found there was no obvious difference between the different tenure holders.

"Forest flammability... does not appear to have been a (sic) significantly influenced by different land management regimes."

The report also found that fuel loads were not unusually heavy compared to any season since 1990, blaming the unprecedented conditions on unusually hot and dry weather and the dryness of fuel.

Last year's Kangawalla blaze demolished 66 homes in Wytaliba last year, and killed two residents, injuring half a dozen more. The village of Torrington also lost dozens of homes.

The report received some 1967 submissions.

Some 2476 homes were destroyed in the bushfire season across NSW, with five million hectares burnt.

The black summer bushfires ended the lives of 26 people including six firefighters.

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