Ipswich City Council

Bushland Fire Management

Managing fire in bushland areas is vital for the protection of homes and properties and the maintenance of healthy functioning ecosystems and habitats.

Management of Planned Fire on Council land

Ipswich City Council uses fire in a careful and planned way to maintain the health of bushland and reduce the impact of wild fires.

Some areas of the forest are left untouched for wildlife to use as a refuge and to help re-establish vegetation in the burnt sections.

Hazard reduction and ecological burns are planned by the Queensland Fire & Rescue Service (QFRS) and undertaken in conjunction with Ipswich City Council staff. QFRS officers are trained in fire planning, burning techniques and fire suppression.

Parks or specific park areas subject to planned burns are closed to the public immediately prior to, during and for a period of up to 2 weeks after the burn. These areas cannot be booked or used during this time and will be re-opened, where applicable, when deemed to be safe for the public.

When will controlled fires be used

As part of its natural area fire management program Council proposes to undertake a program of planned burns over the coming months.

Planned burning is used to maintain the health of bushland and reduce the threat and impact of wild fires. In SEQ planned burns are typically undertaken prior to the Spring wildfire season. Council's planned burns aim to reduce the amount of fire fuel such as dead wood and leaf litter by 70% over 60-80% of the burn block.

To achieve ecological outcomes large fallen timbers, hollows and unburnt patches are retained and opportunities provided for wildlife to escape to unburnt areas.

Neighbours of burn areas will be notified by letterbox drop before the burn. Weather and air quality forecasts will be used to determine the best day for each planned burn. Once a burn date is established it will be posted on Council's website. Burns postponed due to poor weather conditions will be rescheduled to a suitable time.

2012 Planned Burn locations

Council's planned burn program is available for viewing below. Planned burn locations are marked as red hatching on the attached maps.

Springfield Lakes:

White Rock - Spring Mountain Conservation Estate block 15

This burn block is located in the southeast corner of the park and is not accessible by any formal visitor or recreation infrastructure.

Planned burn date - 14 May 2012.

White Rock - Spring Mountain Conservation Estate (PDF, 57 kb)

Size - 26 ha
Last burn year - 2000
Burn objective - hazard reduction

Muirlea:

Hillview Drive Reserve block 3a

This burn block is located at the intersection of Riverside and Hillview Drives. It contains no formal visitor or recreation infrastructure.

Planned burn date - to be advised.

Hillview Drive Reserve (PDF, 17 kb)

Size - 9.5 ha
Last burn year - unknown
Burn objective - hazard reduction

Woolshed:

Woolshed Creek Reserve block 3

This burn block is located adjacent to the northern reserve boundary. It contains no formal visitor or recreation infrastructure.

Planned burn date - to be advised

Woolshed Creek Reserve (PDF, 19 kb)

Size - 17 ha
Last burn year - unknown
Burn objective - hazard reduction

For further information regarding the planned burn program, please phone Council on (07) 3810 6666.

Five FAQs About Fire Management

In a general sense, fire is a natural and essential requirement for the long term health and viability of bushland and associated wildlife species. How residents and Council prepare and manage their bushland are two major aspects of Fire Management.

1. What is the fire policy for Council-owned bushland?

Council owns and manages approximately 4600 hectares of Conservation Estates and 1200 hectares of bushland reserves. These areas are managed to protect life and property from wildfire and to maintain or enhance environmental values.

Specific aims of fire management are to:

Protect life, property and environment;
Fulfil Council's obligations under the Fire and Rescue Authority Act 1990;
Maintain or enhance biodiversity within all native vegetation associations;
Assist the protection of rare and threatened species of wildlife;
Ensure long term survival of native wildlife populations; and
Minimise impacts on regional air quality.

2. What does Council do on-ground within the smaller bushland reserves?

On Council owned and controlled land, Council is committed to both minimising fire risk and take all reasonable steps to control fire, and prevent its escape to other lands.

Council constructs and maintains fire access trails and buffer zones on over 700 hectares of bushland reserves (across urban and rural communities). Fire control lines and access trails are inspected every 6 weeks and mown every 9 weeks. However, this may vary between sites subject to different fire risk, weather and growth conditions. These form buffers between property and bushland, and allow vehicular access.

Council has mapped all fire access trails for all bushland reserves, and is committed to continually upgrading fire access trails and providing water storage points.

Bushland Maintenance Map - Denman Park (PDF, 1.2 mb)

3. What about the larger natural areas?

Council owns and manages some large areas of bushland including the 2000 hectare Flinders-Goolman Conservation Estate and 2400 hectare White Rock - Spring Mountain Conservation Estate. Council maintains fire management plans for each large reserve or conservation estate and these are regularly reviewed and updated to improve protection and management.

Council has constructed an extensive network of fire access trails and fire breaks which are regularly inspected and maintained. In addition, there is regular reduction of fuel loads around adjacent private infrastructure and Council owned infrastructure such as picnic areas, toilets and walking tracks. Council also undertakes other activities such as:

Twice yearly fuel load monitoring to access fire risk in fire blocks;
Installation of reflective markers along walking tracks to aid safe passage along tracks if visibility is reduced;
Closure of areas during extreme fire conditions; and
Provide clear directional signage on tracks and at information bays.

Conservation Estate Map (PDF, 639 kb)

4. Does Council work with the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service and Rural Fire Services?

Council has a close working relationship with both the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) and the Rural Fire Service (RFS). This includes joint planning initiatives, providing on-ground support (such as graders and water tankers) for wildfire response and on-going support for public fire awareness education.

Council also supports organisations such as the SEQ Fire and Biodiversity Consortium. This regional working group partners with a range of government and academic institutions to research and implement improved fire management practices.

5. What can I do on my land if I live near a park or reserve?

As a private landowner you are responsible for maintaining your own property, including being prepared for fire. However, the level of fire management required will vary greatly dependent upon size and location of the property, and the types of vegetation on the property.

Rural property owners with bushland can also email council@ipswich.qld.gov.au for access to Conservation Partnership Program opportunities including fire and property management planning.

Last Updated 9 May 2012 |

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