Scroll down for a full list of locations in the Illawarra, Shoalhaven and Southern Highlands
Neighbourhood safer places are areas of last resort during a bushfire emergency, they can be used when all other options in your bushfire survival plan can't be put into action safely.
They are areas of open space such as ovals or built-up areas that are away from bushland.
The NSW Rural Fire Service urges people to know where their closest neighbourhood safer place (NSP) is prior to a bushfire emergency.
What to do during a bushfire emergency
If it is unsafe to leave the area or stay and defend your home, you should go to your pre-identified NSP, but only if the path is clear, the RFS says.
Drive carefully, as there may be heavy smoke or poor visibility on the road.
"Travelling to or sheltering at a neighbourhood safer place does not guarantee your safety," the RFS says.
"People with special needs, such as the elderly and disabled, should always leave before the threat of fire."
Remain at the NSP until the bushfire threat has passed.
NSPs are not recommended for livestock and pets. Advice on what to do with animals can be found here.
Where's your nearest neighbourhood safer place?
If there is no NSP near you, go to a nearby well prepared home, shopping centre or oval, provided they are away from the bush.
"On a bad bushfire day got to the beach for the day, go to a shopping centre, go to a built up area so you're away from the risk," Illawarra Sutherland Team Inspector David Bartlett said.
Wollongong local government area
- Austinmer: Pinecourt Park - Lawrence Hargrave Drive
- Balgownie: Judy Masters Oval - 17 Para Street
- Helensburgh: Charles Harper Park - Walker Street
Kiama local government area
- Foxground: Foxground RFS Station - 205 Foxground Road
- Gerroa: Gerroa Fishermans Club Carpark - Crooked River Road
Shellharbour local government area
There are no designated NSPs in Shellharbour as it is quite a built-up LGA, people are recommended to go to lower risk areas that are not on bushfire prone land.
Shoalhaven local government area
- Basin View: Basin View Boat Ramp - Basin View Parade
- Bawley Point: Bawley Point Reserve - Tingira Drive
- Berrara - Road reserve in front of 8 Beachway Avenue - Beachway Avenue
- Berry: Berry Showgrounds - Corner of Gillam Street and Alexandra Street
- Bomaderry: Artie Smith Oval - Cambewarra Road
- Burrill Lake: Queanbeyan Avenue Reserve - Queanbeyan Avenue
- Callala Beach: Parkes Crescent Park - Parkes Crescent Park
- Cambewarra Village: Ray Abood Village Green - The Concourse
- Cudmirrah: Lakeside Cabins and Holiday Village Oval - Goonawarra Drive
- Dolphin Point: Dolphin Point Reserve - Off Seaside Parade
- Erowal Bay: Erowal Bay Public Hall Grounds - 19 King George Street
- Greenwell Point: Greenwell Point Wharf Carpark - Greenwell Point Road
- Huskisson: Huskisson Public School - Sydney Street
- Kangaroo Valley: Kangaroo Valley Showground - Moss Vale Road
- Kioloa: Australian National University Research Site - Murramerang Road
- Lake Conjola: Lake Conjola Community Centre - 7025 Lake Conjola Entrance Road
- Manyana: Manyana Community Hall - Cnr The Barbette and The Palisade
- Milton: Milton Showgrounds - Croobyar Road
- Mollymook: Mollymook Beachfront Reserve - Corner of Ocean Street and Golf Avenue
- Nowra Hill: Tom Smith Oval, HMAS Albatross - Intersection of Albatross Road and BTU Road
- Nowra: Nowra Showground - Corner of Junction Street and West Street
- North Nowra: Greys Beach Reserve (Boat Ramp Car Park) - Fairway Drive
- Sanctuary Point: St Georges Basin Country Club - 11 Paradise Beach Road
- Sanctuary Point: Frances Ryan Reserve - Paradise Beach Road
- Sussex Inlet: Sussex Inlet Bowling Club - St Georges Avenue
- Sussex Inlet: Sussex Inlet RSL Club - 200 Jacobs Drive
- Tomerong: Tomerong Public School - 355 Hawken Road
- Ulladulla: Ulladulla Foreshore Reserve - Wason Street
Wollondilly local government area
- Appin: Main street Appin - Appin Road
- Bargo: Land adjacent to Bargo Hotel - 225-227 Great Southern Road
- Bargo: Bargo Shops - Remembrance Drive
- Bargo: Hall within Bargo Showground - Radnor Road
- Buxton: Buxton Fire Shed - West Parade
- Cawdor: Cawdor Public School - 685 Cawdor Road
- Douglas Park: St Mary's Towers - 415 Douglas Park Drive
- Mount Hunter: Mount Hunter Community Hall - Corner of Burragorang Rd and Clyde Place
- Oakdale: Oakdale Shops - Burragorang Road
- Oakdale: Willis Park - 1515 Burragorang Road
- Picton: Picton Bowling Club - 55-56 Argyle Street
- Picton: Picton High School - 480 Argyle Street
- Picton: Carpark between Coles and council admin building - Margaret Street
- Tahmoor: Tahmoor Town Centre Carpark - Cnr of Thirlmere Way and Remembrance Drive
- Tahmoor: Wollondilly Youth Hub/ Community Centre - Harper Close
- The Oaks: The Oaks Public School - John Street
- The Oaks: The Oaks Hall - Russell Street
- Thirlmere: Thirlmere Public School - Oaks Street
- Thirlmere: Thirlmere Memorial Park - Oaks Street
- Warragamba: Warragamba Public School Hall - Weir Road
- Wilton: Wilton Community Centre - Broughton Street
Wingecarribee local government area
- Balmoral: Balmoral Rural Fire Station - Railway Parade
- Berrima: Berrima Reserve - Corner of Old Hume Highway and Market Place
- Bowral: Loseby Park - Corner of Sheffield Road and Park Road
- Bowral: Bowral CBD - Bong Bong Road
- Braemar: Bunnings car park - Tyree Place
- Bundanoon: Bundanoon Oval - Erith Street
- Burrawang: Burrawang Park and Oval - 17 Church Street
- Exeter: Exeter Oval - Exeter Road
- Colo Vale: Colo Vale Community Hall - 28 Railway Avenue
- Hill Top: Hill Top RFS Station - West Parade
- Mittagong: Winifred Reserve - Regent Street
- Moss Vale: Lackey Oval - Lackey Road
- Penrose: Penrose Rural Fire Station - Cnr Kareela Road and Penrose Forest Road,
- Robertson: Robertson Community Centre - Caalong Street
- Suttons Forest: Coles Express Suttons Forest service stations (north and south) - Hume Highway
- Welby: Welby Hall - Currockbilly Street
- Willow Vale: Gantry Place, Willow Vale - Gantry Place
- Wingello: Casburn Park - Railway Parade
- Yerrinbool: Yerrinbool RFS Station - Everest Street
Neighbourhood Safer Places are assessed and determined by the RFS in consultation with the Bushfire Management Committee.
Reading this on mobile web? Download our news app. It's faster, easier to read and we'll send you alerts for breaking news as it happens. Download in the Apple Store or Google Play.
Nadine Morton
Breaking news journalist at the Illawarra Mercury. Email: nadine.morton@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Breaking news journalist at the Illawarra Mercury. Email: nadine.morton@austcommunitymedia.com.au
