The K’gari collaborative fire program is well underway with twenty-three QPWS planned burns approved for this season. These include small-block asset protection burns, mitigation burns, larger land management (conservation) burns and several Butchulla cultural burns to return traditional burning practices to areas of K’gari.

Targeted planned burning is a key management tool conducted seasonally with the aims of reducing fuel loads to protect infrastructure and residential areas, achieving fire regimes that are appropriate to the ecosystems and mitigating the risk of severe bushfires.

The QPWS K’gari Fire Enhancement Team, consisting of four staff specialising in fire management, are responsible for the implementation and collaboration of the fire program, to ensure planned burn program objectives are met. On-ground fire application is supported by strategic aerial incendiary for selected large-burn areas.

Fire block preparation is an important part of the burn program and is essential to preserve habitat trees, infrastructure, and assets (including cultural assets). 

Collaborative fire management is important, and we acknowledge and thank stakeholders and other fire practitioners who apply appropriate fire regimes on K’gari.

Article contributed by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) K’gari Natural Resource Management – Fire Enhancement Team