Matt Newman, Land Management Officer, writes about the recent controlled burn on the Goonderoo Reserve

Late one afternoon in the middle of August, a group of experienced Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) rangers ignited the first fuel hazard-reduction burn on a Bush Heritage Reserve. Goonderoo hasn't been burnt since the late 1960s, resulting in significant fuel loads in the Reserve's woodlands.

An example of a biodivesity burn on a conservation property
© Wayne Lawler/ECOPIX

The combination of risks to life, property and conservation values made a hazard reduction burn essential. Recent rainfall ensured that both the soil and vegetation held sufficient moisture to prevent a hot fire. Hazard-reduction burning is required as under summer conditions a canopy fire is likely, jeopardising the conservation values of the Reserve. Such an intense fire would also endanger life and property on Goonderoo and on neighbouring properties.

The QPWS crew started the 'cool burn' late in the day when the dew started to rise and the wind dropped. It lasted through the night, producing a mosaic of different fire intensities. Some areas burnt hotter, while in other places the fire put itself out where the fuel and moisture wouldn't carry enough heat.

Trent Vincent, who was in charge of the operation, said the result was "perfect", as it reduced fuel loads but wasn't hot enough to kill trees and other vegetation. The next morning, only a small amount of mopping up was required where logs and other timber smouldered.

Bush Heritage adopted a fire management and protection (FMP) policy earlier this year. Since then, a consultant has been hired to prepare FMP plans for all our reserves that will integrate nature conservation with the need to use and control fire.

Completing the Goonderoo FMP plan before burning-off would have been preferable. However, given the hazard of the upcoming summer thunderstorm season, the risks presented by not burning off seemed much greater than those of conducting a controlled burn.

Watch out for an update on the outcomes of the burn in the next newsletter.