NRW LEADS STATE LAND FIRE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

The Department of Natural Resources and Water has joined forces with firefighters to help prevent bushfires on more than 1.5 million hectares of unallocated state land.

Minister for Natural Resources and Water Craig Wallace said the Queensland Government was proactive in taking measures to prevent bushfires on state land.

“The threat of bushfire is a very real menace every time another scorching Australian summer is upon us,” Mr Wallace said.

“Once they take hold, they can spread at speeds of hundreds of kilometres an hour and destroy vegetation, homes and even lives in an instant.”

Mr Wallace said the Queensland Government had allocated $2.5 million in annual operating funding for bushfire management on unallocated state land.

“My department had joined forces with the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service and rural firefighters to help prevent bushfires on more than 1.5 million hectares of unallocated state land,” Mr Wallace sad.

“Using the department's substantial mapping resources, satellite imaging and technical expertise, staff have identified “high-risk” properties on unallocated state land, or those needing priority attention.

“We have developed 920 fire management plans over these properties and more than 800 of these have already been implemented.”

Mr Wallace said the department had also used data from the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service to plan where preventative measures such as hazard reduction burns need to take place.

“Between July and December last year, NRW staff carried out 160 planned burns, attended more than 50 wildfires, and ran fire management courses for several indigenous communities.

“Other fire management activities have included clearing of fire trails or fire breaks by dozing, slashing or mulching.

“In the south east region alone, approximately 100km of fire trails and fire breaks have been established and maintained.”

The department also recently conducted a combined burn/incident management team exercise at Herberton for 70 personnel from the Environmental Protection Authority, Forestry, Rural Fire Brigades, Civil Aviation and urban fire brigades.

Mr Wallace said bushfire risk on unallocated state land was managed on a regional basis by the department's four regions.

"Twenty-eight specially trained staff have been appointed and firefighting vehicles and specialised equipment have been purchased for our risk reduction program," Mr Wallace said.

"The department's initial focus has been on addressing risks to life and property in urban and near-urban environments.

"As part of this management, the department has actively pursued improved partnerships with other organisations such as local authorities, Rural Fire Brigades and the Environmental Protection Agency."

Departmental staff will implement more fire management plans this year and will continue to carry out fuel reduction burns and aerial incendiary operations on unallocated state land.

The department will also be involved with establishing and maintaining fire trails and fire breaks on unallocated state land.

Media inquiries: Caroline Kaurila, Craig Wallace’s office, on 3896 3694 or 0414 213 954.