From the Mayor's Desk - 29 September 2020

As we approach the one-year mark since one of the worst Australian bushfire seasons in living memory, it is timely to discuss bushfire risk and mitigation strategies for the Goondiwindi region. This year, our region faces a significantly increased risk of fire - particularly fast-moving grass fires in the eastern area around Inglewood and Texas.

This increased risk is due to several factors: firstly, the ongoing drought has caused a reduction in stocking numbers for many graziers, and therefore a reduction in cattle grazing. In addition, we also face the growing issue of vegetation thickening across our region’s State stock route reserves. Unfortunately, many reserves on secondary or minor routes are now so overcome by invasive species that they are not currently suitable for stock and will require significant investment to restore their productivity. Without proper management, this increased vegetation could pose a real liability during the summer fire season.

Minimising the risk of bushfire to people, property and the environment is a priority for Council. As trustee of the State reserve land, Council is currently actively exploring various management options to address the increase in vegetation while improving the long-term health and productivity of these reserves.

At the end of last month, several Council representatives and I met with Victor Steffensen at Iminbah reserve. Mr Steffensen is the co-founder of the National Indigenous Fire Workshops and has 27 years’ experience of reviving traditional knowledge values - particularly around Indigenous cultural burning practices. In cooperation with Southern Queensland Landscapes, Council staff have also met with Victor over the past few months to inspect several reserves across the region and learn from his knowledge and teachings.

Mr Steffensen’s holistic approach to land management includes the use of fire itself: regular ‘cool burns’ – when practised in a careful, considered manner – can protect the larger trees and encourage native grasses to germinate, ensuring proper land care and healing. The principle of cool burning is different to hazard reduction burns – instead, cool burns promote the right vegetation and help to keep native species in balance in their right ecosystem. For example, in our region’s box country, cool burns can stop the pine thickening and allow the smaller box trees to geminate and replace the parent trees while still keeping the open box country structure.

Council is committed to its close working relationship with the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and other key organisations to manage our region’s immediate fire risks. But it will also approach the knowledge and teachings of cultural burning practitioners with an open mind – we must do all we can to work together to reduce our risks of bushfire and best manage our natural resources.

Hon. Lawrence Springborg AM
Mayor
Goondiwindi Regional Council