The Hobart City Council is carrying out a controlled burn in the Queen’s Domain today as part of its annual bushfire mitigation program.
Fire and Biodiversity Program Officer Melanie Gent said by undertaking burns in spring and autumn, crews can “implement a nice, cool, slow burn” that clears out undergrowth and fine fuels.
“We undertake these burns to reduce the bushfire risk across our Bushland Reserve Network but also to promote biodiversity values,” she said.
“The risk that we have if we’re not able to implement our planned burn program is that if a bushfire occurs over the summer bushfire period, it means that it will be a very hot and high intensity fire.”
Similar burns will soon be carried out at Bicentennial Park and Knocklofty Reserve.
Although the council plans to burn only in “appropriate weather” so smoke stays away from population areas, locals have reported the smell of smoke in the Hobart CBD, Lenah Valley and eastern shore.
Gent said while there has been some rainfall recently, the landscape is drying out quickly and is “quite deceptively dry” at the moment.
“Which is why we’re really urging people to get their properties ready for bushfire and to make sure that they have a bushfire plan for their family,” she said.
“You might see that your grass is green and growing nicely but it’s really important to keep your yard tidy, including mowing your lawn and clearing up leaf litter and fine fuels.”
“[Also] ensuring your gutters are clear and looking for gaps around your house where embers might be able to get in and sealing up those gaps.”
The council spends $2 million each year on its fire crew and bushland activities to manage bushfire risks.
It also maintains 120 kilometres of fire trails in the municipality.
