General News
15 September, 2024
Timings for fire management
MAREEBA Shire Council is reminding landowners to begin fire safety preparations as early as possible as the weather warms up around the region.
Setting the example, Council had already completed numerous fuel reduction burns across the shire in joint operations with rural fire brigades.
In an update to councillors at the 21 August Ordinary Council meeting, councillors were told fire breaks were created in Mareeba, Mt Molloy, Mt Carbine, Irvinebank, Watsonville and Chillagoe and two hazard reduction burns were completed during July.
“Fuel reduction burns, and the creation of fire breaks form a major component of Council’s fire management strategy and are programmed to occur at the earliest possible time after the wet season when vegetation is in a condition to be burnt,” Deputy Mayor Cr Lenore Wyatt said.
“The hazard reduction burns were completed in Mareeba at Adil Road and Hickling Avenue and on the corner of Hastie Road and Emerald End Road, with the second burn a joint effort between Council and the Davies Creek Rural Fire Brigade.
“One burn was carried out by the Mt Carbine Rural Fire Brigade between the Mulligan Highway and Mt Spurgeon Road and Brooklyn Village.
“Additionally, the Watsonville Rural Fire Brigade and the Department of Resources completed a burn at Watsonville and volunteers completed a burn in Chillagoe.”
Cr Wyatt noted many constituents may not know fire breaks were created around the shire’s smaller towns to keep them safe.
“We just finished doing fire breaks around Mt Molloy, places like Dimbulah, also a lot of work done in Irvinebank, so we do a lot of preparedness work,” she said acknowledging that smaller town residents were aware.
She said the fire council’s Fire Mitigation Plan prepared for disasters by reducing the risk and intensity of bushfires and the potential impact on these communities and infrastructure.
Planned burns also assisted with the ecological health of the shire, promoting the biodiversity and conservation of species and habitats.
“Visit Council’s Emergency Management Dashboard and click on ‘Get Ready’ to learn more,” Cr Wyatt concluded.
