Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service is preparing for a busy schedule of planned burns over the coming months, to build Queensland’s resistance for the peak bushfire season.

Environment and Resource Management Minister Kate Jones said preliminary work is already underway in parks and forests, with controlled burns conducted over more than 100,000 hectares since the fire year started on March 1.

“Extreme wet weather of the past summer means our national parks and forests are now brimming with plant life,” Ms Jones said.

“While this makes for a beautiful environment, it also means there is a huge increase in fuel loads ahead of the fire season, particularly in western and northern parts of the State.

“So to manage this, our QPWS rangers and staff are aiming to run controlled burns across more than 1 million hectares in our National Park estate throughout this season.

“Already, burns have taken place in Boodjamulla National Park, northwest of Mt Isa, in Undara Volcanic National Park in Mount Surprise and nearby Bulleringa National Park in North Queensland, in Bladensberg National Park at Winton, and at Moorrinya in Torrens Creek southwest of Townsville.

“As always, the major focus of our fire management program is to protect human life, property and to reduce the risk to park infrastructure and the overall environment.”

Ms Jones said to help protect communities and maintain the biodiversity of conservation areas the State Government is investing $8.7 million in this year’s fire management program.

“This investment will not only help to fund planned burns, it will also assist with wildfire response, training, equipment maintenance and the upgrade of the department’s fire management capability,” Ms Jones said.

“Around 700 QPWS staff trained in fire management continue to work closely with the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service, neighbouring landholders and local councils, ensuring a whole-of-government and whole-of-community response to wildfire.

“We are constantly monitoring wildfire risk and fire danger conditions and our emergency response plans ensure our officers can conduct a rapid response to any wildfire outbreaks.”