Local residents will soon have access to a series of free bushfire management and planning workshops which are designed to support landowners throughout the region in preparation for the upcoming bushfire season.
An initiative of the Whitsunday Regional Council and part of the Whitsunday Resilience Bushfire Project, these workshops aim to provide landowners with the opportunity to learn how to assess bushfire risk and gain an understanding of important mitigation, response and recovery methods.
Mayor Collins said he encourages landowners to attend the workshop and take advantage of the opportunity to talk to experts and get hands-on experience.
"By investing in bushfire resilience training and developing community and property bushfire plans, we are demonstrating our commitment to the safety and protection of our community,” he said.
Mayor Collins added that workshop attendees would also be invited to observe hazard reduction demonstrations from a safe vantage point in Dingo Beach, Collinsville and Bowen.
“Late last year, Council developed Community Bushfire Plans in consultation with residents and regional bushfire management stakeholders for a number of communities identified as high bushfire hazard areas to improve community awareness and assist with bushfire preparation, mitigation and management,” he said.
As a results of these studies Council has identified many at-risk areas across the region and are now in the process of installing 10 new 26,000 litre steel water tanks in vulnerable localities throughout the region for firefighting purposes.
“The Community Bushfire Plans for Binbee, Crystalbrook and Whitsunday Paradise are available on the Council’s Your Say Whitsunday Bushfire Resilience Project page,” said Mayor Collins.
“Council will be undertaking further public consultation in 2024 to inform the development of community bushfire plans that may include Euri Creek, Brandy Creek and Brisk Bay.”
“Community water tanks have been installed in Conway, Binbee and Sugarloaf.”
Mayor Collins said Council had also developed the Airlie Beach Community Bushfire Management Plan (2022-2032), which covered 295 hectares of land between Eshelby Road at Cannonvale to Jubilee Pocket.
The Whitsunday Bushfire Resilience Project has been underway since September 2022, and is supported by funding from the Commonwealth Government’s Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants Program.
The program is also supporting the development of Free Property Bushfire Plans, coordinated by Council’s Bushfire Officer. Landholders with approved Property Bushfire Plans may be eligible for financial assistance of up to $2,000 per property with a 50:50 contribution between Council and property owners to help with firefighting mitigations, such as machinery for fire breaks, water tanks, pumps and hoses.
To register interest in bushfire training or developing a property bushfire plan, phone Greg McCarthy in the Whitsunday Regional Council’s Natural Resources Management and Climate unit on 0458 816 751, visit the Whitsunday Bushfire Resilience Project page on Council’s Your Say Whitsunday Online Engagement Portal, email info@whitsundayrc.qld.gov.au, mail to PO Box 104, Proserpine QLD 4800, or visit a Council Customer Service Centre.
To stay up-to-date with events, information and community engagement opportunities, residents are encouraged to register for Council’s Online Engagement Portal, Your Say Whitsunday, at www.yoursay.whitsundayrc.qld.gov.au.
WORKSHOP DATES
Upcoming training is planned for:
• Proserpine SES (Hinschen St) – Sunday, 26 May and Sunday, 4 August
• Collinsville Community Centre (Garrick St) – Sunday, 9 June
• Reef Gateway Hotel (Shute Harbour Rd, Cannonvale) – Sunday, 23 June
• Merinda Rural Fire Brigade (Linley St, Bowen) – Sunday, 7 July
The workshops will run from 1-5pm:
◦ 1-2pm – Bushfire management – introduction to hazards, safety and available support
◦ 2-3pm – Cultural heritage burning – sharing of information and experiences
◦ 3-5pm – Regenerative agriculture – safe use of fire in agriculture and ecosystems
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