Brisbane Lord Mayor, Adrian Schrinner, has announced a ramping up of the city’s annual planned burn program following warnings of increased bushfire risk this season.
He said Council’s expert officers were well advanced in preparations, with a planned burn undertaken earlier this week in Ransome and another to occur today in Burbank.
The Lord Mayor said Council’s $5.6 million investment in fire preparedness also included a series of new and improved fire access tracks through local bushland.
“From one of Brisbane’s biggest ever floods last year, we now must get prepared for the risk of fire,” he said.
“Authorities are warning that with a shift from a La Nina to El Nino weather cycle, there’s considerable risk of fire this season.
“Council has been preparing for this by investing in the equipment and undertaking the necessary work to reduce fire risks.
“Just like floods, we can’t prevent fires occurring but we can be better prepared.”
Council has undertaken 64 planned burns impacting 987 hectares across Brisbane since 2018.
Lord Mayor Schrinner said Council’s team had undertaken significant work to identify sites where planned burns may be needed this season and will proceed with these when weather conditions permit.
“Brisbane is Australia’s greenest capital city and Council manages more than 10,000 hectares of beautiful bushland and natural areas across our city,” he said.
“Our officers are constantly working to identify areas where there’s a build-up of fire fuel, such as grass, leaves and dead wood, that could have potentially devastating impacts on nearby residents if left unmanaged.
“By undertaking these planned burns now, our officers aim to reduce the amount of fire fuel available and mitigate the potential bushfire risk in those areas to protect our homes and surrounding habitats.”
Along with a team of 100 fire fighters, Council also operates 20 four-wheel drive light attack firefighting units.
Council’s investment in fire preparedness also includes fire trail construction, fuel hazard and fire response monitoring and fire management plans, as well as managing vegetation and maintaining fire access tracks and trials.