The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service has claimed a new record as it fires ahead with planned burns in national parks.
Environment Minister Andrew Powell said the patchwork burn program aimed to cut down on the bushfire fuel load in the parks, enhancing human safety and ecosystem health.
“The QPWS conducted 637 planned burns across 968,884ha from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025,“ Mr Powell said.
This exceeded the target burn area by 52 per cent, he said.
“The Government has invested in additional staff dedicated to fire management, more equipment, training and improved community engagement, as part of conserving our environment and delivering a plan for Queensland’s future,“ he said.
“The burns are crucial to promoting ecological health, biodiversity, and the conservation of species and habitats; and aim to mitigate the risk and intensity of bushfires and their potential impacts on communities, infrastructure, parks, and forests.“
He said people living adjacent to national parks across Queensland had previously voiced their frustration at a lack of pest management and fire preparedness.
The new Government had committed to becoming better neighbours and to ensuring national parks were better cared for in future.
This included restoring funding for 40 specialist fire rangers.
Mr Powell said planned burns were highly weather-dependent, generally requiring milder conditions and minimal wind to create a mosaic pattern of burnt and unburnt landscape.
QPWS fire services director Troy Spinks said the burns would continue to deliver planned burns over the coming weeks and months.
