Review of Council landholdings underway to develop bushfire management strategy

Council is undertaking a review of its landholdings to assist in developing a cohesive bushfire management strategy in line with its Local Disaster Management Plan.

Council is working in close partnership with lead agency Queensland Fire and Emergency Services through the Local Disaster Management Group and Fire Management Group, to develop a bushfire risk management plan.

Council remains in the process of drafting a Bushfire Management Strategy, incorporating a policy and a plan, which will assess Shire wide priorities.

Mayor Andy Ireland said there are two important reasons Council is conducting the review.

“Firstly, it is to identify Council’s fire management responsibilities over freehold and tenure parcels of land and secondly, to develop a strategy around bushfire management for these parcels of Council land,” Mayor Ireland said.

“Council received joint Australian and Queensland Government funding to support its work in developing bushfire mitigation plans for the Shire, which provided a valuable opportunity to appoint a senior member of the rural fire service to assist Council with the audit and development of bushfire risk mitigation plans.

“A detailed report on the comprehensive bushfire management strategy will be presented at a future Council meeting in the coming months. Upon completion of the draft strategy Council will seek feedback through community and stakeholder consultation.

“As a result of recent assessment of localised fire risks, for example Emu Park landing strip, Council officers are progressing fire mitigation works to application stage with the view to mitigating the risk in the near future.

“In relation to Council covering the cost of rates for fire-affected victims as a result of the 2019 Cobraball wildfires, this matter will be discussed at a Council meeting on Tuesday 19 May 2020.”