Fire trail works commence to support ecological burns

• Works have commenced across five sites acquired under City of Moreton Bay’s Land Buyback for Environmental Purposes Program to establish fire trails to support ecological burns and minimise the risk to native species from uncontrolled wildfire
• The fire trails have been designed to minimise impacts to vegetation and habitat while supporting future restoration and land management activities, natural fire cycles through controlled ecological burns and Council’s wider fire management efforts
• Works are expected to run through to late June

Works have now commenced in City of Moreton Bay to establish fire and access trails, or fire management lines, across five properties acquired under Council's Land Buyback for Environmental Purposes Program.

The works are considered essential to support controlled ecological burns and support Council’s broader bushfire management objectives.

Mayor Peter Flannery said Council is committed to protecting and enhancing City of Moreton Bay’s biodiversity and natural ecosystem processes.

“The Land Buyback for Environmental Purposes Program allows us to acquire strategic properties to manage and restore City of Moreton Bay’s biodiversity and natural ecosystems. Additionally, the program enables us to connect, protect, enhance and expand conservation-significant wildlife habitats.

“Fire plays an important role in ecological processes and can be used to enhance biodiversity and minimise the risk to native species from uncontrolled wildfire.

“The proposed fire trail works have been designed to balance hazard reduction with the protection of ecological values, recognising the sites’ role within a broader landscape network. While some targeted vegetation management is required to manage the sites and mitigate fire risk, native canopy trees will remain, and over time be enhanced,” he said.

The majority of the new fire trails will follow pre-existing trails or “farm tracks” and have been designed to avoid or minimise impacts to sensitive ecological features and protected species. Qualified and licenced fauna spotter-catchers will also be present during all works to ensure native wildlife are protected.

Fire trail works will be carried out at the following locations between April to June:

• 2 Flowers Road, Caboolture – Division 3
• 309 Eatons Crossing Road, Eatons Hill – Division 9
• 18 Jagera Court, Closeburn – Division 11
• 519 Bunya Road, Bunya – Division 10
• 114 Collins Road, Everton Hills – Division 10

Targeted vegetation management to reduce a section of weed infestation and understory bushfire fuel load will also occur at 114 Collins Road, Everton Hills and 519 Bunya Road, Bunya.

“The construction of these fire trails will support Council’s planned works on these sites, by improving access for restoration activities and ecological burns as well as supporting bushfire response.

“As we enter bushfire preparation season, the more we can do now to reduce the risk of having a severe fire season later in the year, the better,” Mayor Flannery said.

In July 2025, Council’s Land Buyback for Environmental Purposes Policy was enhanced to include a greater focus on conservation-significant wildlife habitats as well as restoring native vegetation cover on previously cleared areas. Since the voluntary program was introduced in 2020, more than 100 hectares of key environmental land has been secured.

The policy supports Council’s goals to ensure City of Moreton Bay is renowned for its healthy environments that support biodiversity, including the target to maintain 42% native vegetation cover, with a view to increase over time.

To learn more, visit the Land Buyback for Environmental Purposes Policy page.