Our Planned Burn Program helps assist with hazard reduction (reduce wildfire danger) and native revegetation within council managed bushland. By burning selected parts of parks, we can help to control the spread of bushfires. We work with Queensland Fire and Emergency Services - Urban & Rural (QFES), and adjoining land management authorities to undertake the annual planned burn program.
Planned burns, also known as hazard reduction or prescribed burns, are undertaken during low risk periods generally through the cooler months of the year. most planned burn in Redlands take place between March and September. The aim of planned burns is to reduce ground fuel and lessen the impact of bushfires, reduce the threat to life and assets, while also protecting and enhancing the diversity and abundance of native plants and animals. Before a burn takes place, an ecological assessment of each site is carried out to determine the environmental values that require protecting, such as hollows, nests, dens, significant species, and cultural heritage. As the burns are spot ignited and burn slowly at low intensity, these values can be protected from fire by raking and/or wetting around them. Council staff involved in fire management activities are trained in bushland management, planned burning techniques, wildfire suppression and take care to minimize the impact to local wildlife.
To protect wildlife during a planned burn, Council:
- aims to carry out cooler, less intense and slower burns with lower flames
- excludes sensitive wildlife habitat from planned burn areas
- burns in a mosaic/patchy manner
- inspects sites for wildlife and clears around hollow-bearing trees and important habitat features prior to burns
- walk through the site during burn preparation activities (days leading up to the burn date) and also on the day of the burn
- tries to ensure that wildlife has safe movement corridors if they need to move out of the area temporarily.
An exact day for a planned burn cannot be provided in advance. Burning is highly dependent on suitable weather and site conditions. These conditions include temperature, soil moisture, humidity, wind-speed and wind direction. When a fire can't go ahead, it will be reassessed against emerging priorities and may be rescheduled.
Preparation of the sites is usually undertaken in the days leading up to the date of the burns and consist of clearing around significant logs and habitat trees. Some limited test burning may be conducted during this time. Planned burn may cause some inconvenience, however all attempts are made to limit any smoke hazards.
Planned Burn Program
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We will be seeking to undertake 35 separate burns throughout the Redlands Coast and the islands in 2024. These burns will be undertaken in cooperation with QFES and adjoining land management authorities. Specific dates for burns can't be given, but neighbours adjoining the burn areas will be notified by letterbox drop. Notifications are posted on our Redlands Coast Today - Planned Burns page on the day of a burn.
Mainland sites
- Bayview Conservation Area - 273-305 Days Road, Redland Bay (5 hectares)
- Bayview Conservation Area - 243-271 Days Road, Redland Bay (20.8 hectares)
- Bayview Conservation Area - 110-186 Days Road, Redland Bay (26.7 hectares)
- German Church Road Bushland Refuge - 754-776 German Church Road, Mount Cotton (4 hectares)
- Sanctuary Drive Bushland Refuge - 158 Sanctuary Drive, Mount Cotton (3.3 hectares)
- Heinemann Road Conservation Area - 277-293 Heinemann Rd, Mount Cotton (9.4 hectares)
- Sanctuary Drive Bushland Refuge - 35 Sugarglider Court, Mount Cotton (5 hectares)
- Heinemann Road Conservation Area - 277-293 Heinemann Road, Mount Cotton (11.3 hectares)
- Giles Road Conservation Area - 17-25 Giles Road, Redland Bay (3.7 hectares)
- Eastern Escarpment Conservation Area - 807-825 West Mount Cotton Road, Mount Cotton (24.7 hectares)
- Eprapah Creek Corridor - Luke Street - 122-136 Luke Street, Thornlands (3.3 hectares)
- Greater Glider Conservation Area - 250-354 Redland Bay Road, Alexandra Hills (2.5 hectares)
- Greater Glider Conservation Area - 250-354 Redland Bay Road, Alexandra Hills (17.5 hectares)
- Scribbly Gums Conservation Area - 23-141 Flinders Street, Alexandra Hills (20 hectares)
- South Street Conservation Area - 187-197 South Street, Cleveland (7 hectares)
Coochiemudlo and Southern Moreton Bay Islands
- Coochiemudlo Island Melaleuca Wetlands - 51-77 Elizabeth Street, Coochiemudlo Island (4.5 hectares)
- Whistling Kite Wetlands - 13-23 Minjerriba Road, Russell Island (1.5 hectares)
- Whistling Kite Wetlands - 172-216 High Street, Russell Island (2.8 hectares)
- Jupiter Street Bushland Refuge - 17 Jupiter Street, Russell Island (2.5 hectares)
- Turtle Swamp Wetland - 93-129 Centre Road, Russell Island (4 hectares)
- Turtle Swamp Wetland - 165-153 Centre Road, Russell Island (4 hectares)
- Turtle Swamp Wetland (Bilambil Drive - Murraba Road) - 12-30 Bilambil Drive, Russell Island (2 hectares)
- Turtle Swamp Wetland (Darwallah Avenue - Bamberry Street) - 14 Darwallah Avenue, Russell Island (2 hectares)
- Water Mouse Wetlands (Grove Road - Bimbad Crescent) - 33 Grove Road, Russell Island (3 hectares)
- Melomys Wetland (Stradbroke Dr - Evendale Ave) - 2-24 Stradbroke Drive, Russell Island (1.5 hectares)
- Coolabah Street Bushland Refuge (Bunya Street - Bilbungra Street) - 3-19 Coolabah Street Russell Island (2 hectares)
Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island)
- Tramican Drive Conservation Area (South of Tramican Street) - 143-151 East Coast Rd, Point Lookout (12 hectares)
- Tramican Drive Conservation Area (South of 102-140 Tramican Street) - 75-105 George Nothling Drive, Point Lookout (4 hectares)
- Tramican Drive Conservation Area (east of Donahue Street) - 75-105 George Nothling Drive, Point Lookout (8.7 hectares)
- Tramican Drive Conservation Area (South of Tramican & Grant Streets) - 75-105 George Nothling Drive, Point Lookout (13 hectares)
- East Coast Road Conservation Area (North of 31-55 Tramican Street) - 87-99 East Coast Road, Point Lookout (4 hectares)
- George Nothling Drive Conservation Area (End of Yarrong Road) - 27-43 Samarinda Way, Point Lookout (7.5 hectares)
- George Nothling Drive Conservation Area (East of George Nothling Drive) - 27-43 Samarinda Way, Point Lookout (19 hectares)
- Tramican Drive Conservation Area (South of Tramican & Donahue Streets) - 75-105 George Nothling Drive, Point Lookout (46 hectares)
- Tramican Drive Conservation Area (South of Tramican & Donahue Streets) - 75-105 George Nothling Drive, Point Lookout (31 hectares)
Completed burns
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The 2023 planned burn program was restricted by unsuitable weather conditions from April to September. We achieved a total of 25 burn covering 158.3 hectares.
Mainland sites
- 21 June 2023: Emu Street Bushland Refuge - 58 Hillcrest Road, Sheldon (5 hectares)
- 14 June 2023: Don &Christine Burnett Conservation Area - 361-381 Avalon Road, Sheldon (13 hectares)
- 13 June 2023: Redlands Indigiscapes Centre - 17 Runnymede Road, Capalaba (1.2 hectares)
- 1 June 2023: Windemere Road Bushland Refuge - 54-68 Windemere Road, Alexandra Hills (5.5 hectares)
- 30 May 2023: Bayview Conservation Area - 243-271 Days Road, Redland Bay (23 hectares)
- 25 May 2023: Ford Road Conservation Area - 319-359 Avalon Road, Sheldon (7.5 hectares)
- 24 May 2023: Swamp Box Conservation Area - 87A Lyndon Road, Capalaba (7.5 hectares)
- 9 May 2023: Bayview Conservation Area - 243-271 Days Road, Redland Bay (3 hectares)
- 5 May 2023: Birkdale Community Precinct - 362-388 Old Cleveland Road East, Birkdale (10 hectares)
Coochiemudlo and Southern Moreton Bay Islands
- 30 June 2023: Fern Terrace Bushland Refuge - Fern Terrace, Russell Island (1 hectares)
- 29 June 2023: High Street Nature Belt - 136-146 High Street, Russell Island (1.8 hectares)
- 29 June 2023: Whistling Kite Wetlands - 13-23 Minjerriba Road, Russell Island (2.5 hectares)
- 28 June 2023: Melomys Wetland (Karangi Dr - Evendale Ave) - 8-22 Kirribin Street, Russell Island (3.5 hectares)
- 27 June 2023: Whistling Kite Wetlands - 172-216 High Street, Russell Island (2 hectares)
- 27 June 2023: Jackson Road Park 37-71 - Jackson Road, Russell Island (1 hectares)
- 26 June 2023: Aimeo Esplanade Wetland (Dempsey Street-Cynthia Crescent) - 60-72 Dempsey Street, Russell Island (1 hectares)
Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island)
- 3 August 2023: East Coast Road Conservation Area (North of 31 - 73 Tramican Street) - 87-99 East Coast Road, Point Lookout (2 hectares)
- 2 August 2023: George Nothling Drive Conservation Area (End of Billa Street) - 27-43 Samarinda Way, Point Lookout (1.5 hectares)
- 1 August 2023: East Coast Road Conservation Area (North of 75 Tramican - 4 Roseby) - 87-99 East Coast Road, Point Lookout (10.8 hectares)
- 31 July 2023: East Coast Road Conservation Area (North of Merinda Crescent) - 87-99 East Coast Road, Point Lookout (1.5 hectares)
- 20-25 March 2023: Tramican Drive Conservation Area (South of Tramican Street) - 143-151 East Coast Rd, Point Lookout (54 hectares)
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
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- Planned burns reduce the fuel hazard in bushfire-prone areas by slowly burning off undergrowth in controlled conditions that allow animals to escape.
- Planned burns improve forest health by allowing and promoting natural regeneration of local plants.
- Planned burns maintain bushland safety. They are only conducted under a Permit to Light, issued by Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES), and they are only conducted in suitable weather conditions.
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Weather conditions that can lead to burns being cancelled include:
- Rain - predicted rainfall and recent rainfall can both impact on burn effectiveness. During winter it can take over a week for the ground to dry out enough for a burn to be successful after even a small amount of rain due to the lack of heat in the air and ground.
- Wind - burns are carefully planned to ensure that they remain controlled and smoke dissipates ensuring the safety of both the workers and the community.
While every effort is made to conduct a burn program each year and planning is undertaken ALL burns can be cancelled up to and including the day of the burn if the weather is unsuitable.
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Each year council staff identifies sites for possible burns sites using criteria that can include:
- Time since last burnt
- Amount of vegetation growth within the area
- Surrounding vegetation and/or estates
A draft burn plan is created and, dependant on weather and resources, as the proposed date approaches a preparation of the sites is undertaken including cleaning around significant logs and habitat trees and possibly some limited test burning.
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You can review the list of sites of the list provided with the 2024 Planned Burn program.
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Planned burns are undertaken by a number of different entities both within our area and adjoining council areas that can cause smoke haze. If a planned burn is not on the Redlands Coast Today - Planned Burns page please check the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services - Permit to burn map to see if a permit has been issued nearby.
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Tips for protecting yourself and your family:
- keep up to date with our planned burns
- if you have a chronic medical condition, ask your doctor about how you can help control your symptoms when air quality is poor
- be prepared with enough medication in the house to last you for several days
- if you experience trouble breathing or chest pain, seek medical advice immediately
- avoid physical activity and stay indoors
- keep indoor air as clean as possible
You can review further recommendations here: Bushfire smoke and your health | Health and wellbeing | Queensland Government (www.qld.gov.au)