Council postpones scheduled escarpment park prescribed burns
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Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) has postponed its scheduled prescribed burns for Panorama Crescent Park, Prince Henry Drive and Jubilee Park to Redwood Park due to the significant rainfall over the weekend.
TRC Environment and Community Services portfolio Leader Cr Tim McMahon said that Council's prescribed burns form part of Council's bushfire mitigation strategy.
"While the cool, dry weather facilitated a good outcome at John Trousdell Park last week (8-12 June), the weekend's rain will effectively delay the remainder of Council's program," Cr McMahon said.
"The decision to burn is dependent on prevailing weather conditions.
"The burn for Jubilee Park to Redwood Park will be rescheduled and is still proposed to be a cooler ecological burn as well as for fuel reduction purposes.
'An ecological burn has the intention to enhance the health of native plants and animals. It is generally conducted earlier in the season when there is still green grass, and usually during the cool of the evening.
"Some plant species such as Eucalypt need fire to germinate their seeds. A cooler ecological burn assists propagation without destroying seed banks.
"An ecological burn is generally in a mosaic pattern, that also allows animals an easier escape from oncoming fire."
Cr McMahon said Council has an ongoing commitment in preparing for bushfire season.
"Council maintains over 225km of fire management trails on more than 7000 hectares of bushland reserve. Each year we invest in extending and upgrading this network of fire trails.
"Each year Council helps prepare high-risk areas by constructing and maintaining firebreaks and fire buffer zones," Cr McMahon said.
"In 2020/21 budget, announced today, we have allocated $940,000 for new, renewal and upgrade of Fire Management Access.
"Subject to appropriate weather conditions the proposed Council prescribed burn areas this year are:
Panorama Court Park - Prince Henry Heights Jubilee Park from Bridge Street to Harvey Street Redwood Park – From the lower slopes adjacent to Toowoomba Connection Road Perseverance Dam Tower Access Road to Perseverance Dam Wall Charles and Mottee Rogers Park - Highfields Cooby Dam Reserve – north-western side South Ruthven Reserve"Council will now review the prescribed burn program and will notify the community of the revised program as works are scheduled."
For more information on preparing for bushfire season go to http://www.tr.qld.gov.au/bushfire