BURN-OFFS BEGIN IN TOWNSVILLE AND THURINGOWA

State and local government agencies will join forces for a series of burn-offs on unallocated state land in Townsville and Thuringowa.

Minister for Natural Resources and Water Craig Wallace said the department’s fire management unit, in conjunction with other agencies, had organised the burns as part of its pro-active approach to fire management.

Mr Wallace said the hazard-reduction burns would take place from next Tuesday (June 12) to June 22, weather permitting.

“These planned burns will reduce large quantities of dry grass and minimise the risk of wildfires,” Mr Wallace said.

“Hazard-reduction burns are designed to produce low-intensity, slow-moving fires that remove accumulated fuel loads such as dry grasses and weeds.

“The lighting pattern for each burn is planned to create a wildlife corridor so that slow-moving native animals can easily escape the low-intensity flames.

“These incomplete burns also leave uncured vegetation for the native animals to graze.”

Mr Wallace said burns would take place on state land at Toomulla and Condon, as well as Oonoonba and South Townsville.

He advised residents with respiratory problems to take adequate precautions.

“Residents bordering state land will be notified,” he said.

“We will try hard to minimise the inconvenience, but in the end this program is essential. It’s a pro-active way of reducing the risk wildfires pose to our communities and infrastructure.”

Mr Wallace said representatives from Townsville City Council, Rural Fire Brigades, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services and Queensland Fire and Rescue Services would all take part in the operation.

“These agencies are part of the local wildfire management committee, which is basically an inter-agency support group for authorities concerned with land or fire management,” Mr Wallace said.

“Member agencies pool personnel, equipment, and knowledge to help better manage our resources and protect the community.”

Media contact: Caroline Kaurila, Craig Wallace’s office, on 3896 3694.