Mt Maroon sees red for back burning season

Published Wednesday, 28 May, 2014 at 06:00 AM

Minister for National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing
The Honourable Steve Dickson

The 2014 back burning season has ignited at Mt Maroon, as part of a $7 million state wide program to improve fire management and make communities safer.

Minister for National Parks, Steve Dickson, said a helicopter mounted aerial incendiary device called a ‘Red Dragon’ was used to begin the planned burn process, with a number of ignition spheres dropped from above on the 3,000 hectare burn area.  

“Planned burns help to protect lives, property and infrastructure, as well as the environment and our wildlife,” Mr Dickson said.

“We promised at the election to revitalise frontline services and this program delivers.”

Mr Dickson said that more than 8,000 hectares would be burned at 30 south east Queensland national parks over the coming months, as part of the commitment to ensuring good park management.

“Each year Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service aims to burn around 700,000 hectares of national park and forest land, predominantly during the cooler months,” he said.

“They have a good track record, with 320 burns carried out in national parks and State forests from Cape York Peninsula to the southern border ranges in the year to February 2014.

“The number of wildfires, which generally occur during the ‘fire season’ in late winter to early summer, was also down on recent years despite the fact that the fire season was longer, continuing into late summer.”

Senior Ranger Peter Cavendish said planned burns helped to improve the health of the forest and reduce grasses and organic litter than could fuel wildfires in the hotter months.

“We’re hoping for suitable conditions to allow us to continue the good start we have had to this year’s planned burning,” Mr Cavendish said.

“Helicopter ignition allows us to significantly boost conservation and hazard reduction outcomes in inaccessible rugged terrain.”

Mr Dickson said Planned Burn Guidelines released by the Queensland Government last year had been incorporated into QPWS’ fire program to enhance fire management outcomes.

For information on local burns or information about upcoming burns please visit www.nprsr.qld.gov.au.

Notes to Editors

From August 2013 to the end of February 2014, QPWS responded to 318 wildfires that affected some 543,000 hectares of national park and forests estate. 91,000 hectares alone was on the Carnarvon National Park, and 8,000 hectares was on protected area on North Stradbroke Island.

That compares with 503 and 444 wildfires in the 2012 and 2011 fire years respectively.

QPWS has more than 500 qualified fire fighters in its ranks who have worked hard to ensure that that in past years fewer than 10% of fires that start in national parks and forests burn into adjoining lands. In reality, about 50% of fires that affect parks and forests actually start outside those areas and burn in

Audio available:

https://soundcloud.com/stevedicksonmp/mt-maroon-clip-1

https://soundcloud.com/stevedicksonmp/mt-maroon-clip-2

https://soundcloud.com/stevedicksonmp/mt-maroon-clip-3

https://soundcloud.com/stevedicksonmp/mt-maroon-clip-4

 

[ENDS] 28 May 2014

Media contact: Michelle Buckworth 0418 433 647