Dunns Road bushfire: Call for NSW fire inquiry to visit Snowy Valleys

Labor leader Jodi McKay said last week that people should have the chance to "tell their story" in person.

"I don't think that written submissions to an expert panel based in Sydney is appropriate at all," she said.

"Areas right across the state that have been impacted by these ferocious fires deserve the right to have a public inquiry in that area."

Mouats Farm owner and Batlow apple orchardist Greg Mouat said the inquiry should visit the Snowy Valleys and see the aftermath of the Dunns Road bushfire.

"It would help them become aware of the size of the disaster and make them more aware of the needs of the community," he said.

"A bit of first-hand knowledge goes a long way."

Mr Mouat said the region's horticultural and softwood timber industries had been affected "quite significantly".

"I don't think they could appreciate the tens of thousands of hectares of radiata pine burnt and the flow-on effects on the communities such as Tumut and Tumbarumba without seeing it in person," he said.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the inquiry would be "able to speak to whom they like, visit locations where they think is appropriate across the state".

Snowy Valleys mayor James Hayes said "seeing is believing".

"In my opinion, this council and Kangaroo Island are two of the councils that have been most adversely affected into the future," he said.

"It is going to take us longer to recover than most others. It would be wonderful if they could come down and have a look."

Wagga MP Joe McGirr said it was important the inquiry visited bushfire-affected areas and made as much of its work public as possible.

"I think the inquiry should do what it can to make sure the people who want to be heard are heard," he said.

"We have a lot of ground to cover and it's important we have recommendations before the next fire season so that will also govern what is possible."