Bushfire management

Council's bushfire management program helps to protect and maintain ecosystems in the coast's 7,700 hectares of council environment reserves.

Bushfire management

The bushfire management program targets fire adapted forest. 

Community safety

We are committed to the safety of the Sunshine Coast community, in relation to fire and smoke:

  • report any threats to life and property, call 000 (triple zero)
  • any residents affected by smoke are advised to close windows and doors, utilise air-conditioning and keep respiratory medication close at hand. Seek medical advice if you are susceptible to smoke impacts
  • as a precaution, road users are advised to drive to suit conditions as smoke can reduce visibility
  • further health information can be found on the Queensland Government website.

Our bushland reserve network fire management guidelines (PDF, 4334KB) identify the range of bushfire management issues relevant to council and the actions required to address them.

Within council environment reserves, we undertake activities to reduce the risk of bushfires including:

  • making and maintaining fire trails and fire breaks
  • planning, assessing and managing bushfire risk
  • planned burns to reduce fuel loads and maintain ecosystems
  • mapping planned and unplanned fires
  • participating in regional fire management planning and supporting the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and Local Disaster Management Group in unplanned bushfire events as required.

Annual planned burn program (2024)

Planned burns usually take place across the region between March and September. Planned burns help to maintain healthy forests and reduce fuel loads before the typical Spring bushfire season.

An exact day for a planned burn cannot be provided in advance. Burning is highly dependent on suitable weather and site conditions. These conditions include temperature, soil moisture, humidity, wind-speed and wind direction. When a fire can’t go ahead, it will be reassessed against emerging priorities and may be rescheduled.

Advance notice of any upcoming burn will be placed on this page (refer to the planned burn notification and interactive map below) or on council’s Facebook page.

Planned burn notification

  • There are currently no plan burn notifications.

2024 Proposed planned burn list

The planned burn program list is indicative and may change or be added to. The interactive burn area map also provides details of proposed upcoming planned burns. 

Note: 2024 burn planning is still in progress, see interactive map for draft program.

Planned burn area map

Using the planned burn area map 

Click ‘OK’, zoom in to an area of interest. Red polygons are proposed planned burns and will show the year when zoomed in.  Previous or completed burns appear on the map also, they are dark polygons with a white outline and are labelled with a year.  Click on a polygon to show details of the burn site. A table view is available using the layer icon. To view a table of planned burns in the map: 

  • Select the layer icon 
  • next to the ‘SCC Planned Burn Program’ layer name select the three dots
  • select ‘view attribute table’.

Completed burns 2023

  • Alex Forest Conservation Reserve, Mari Street, Alexandra Headland - 7 September 2023
  • Gull'bu rah Environment Reserve, Yandina Creek - 22 August 2023
  • Lower Mooloolah River Environment Reserve, Palmview - 21 July 2023
  • Ben Bennett Bushland Park, Caloundra - 26 June 2023
  • The Springs Conservation Area, Buderim - 20 June 2023
  • Tuan Environment Reserve, Kenilworth - 6 and 7 June 2023
  • Racemosa Environment Reserve, Landsborough - 21 May 2023
  • Armstrongs Environment Reserve, Diamond Valley - 9 May 2023
  • Ben Bennett Bushland Park, Caloundra - 13 April 2023.

Fire and ecological management

Fire is a critical part of ecosystem function and health for many ecosystems and the species that rely on them. Our fire management program addresses bushfire risk to the community, but also contributes to the ecological management of environment reserves. Our fire management program includes an established ecological monitoring program for monitoring ecological response to fire and informs management. The monitoring program aims to appropriately manage fire adapted species and ecosystems, as well as those that are sensitive to fire. Council is an active member of the Qld Fire and Biodiversity Consortium and we apply established ecological guidelines and principals when planning and implementing fires.

Fire management plans

Council prepares fire management plans for larger council reserves. New plans are now in digital map format and are not provided here at this stage. Our digital fire management plans include planning and operational information. The plans include information relating to:

  • ecology
  • cultural heritage
  • burn area units and management zones
  • operational considerations
  • asset risk
  • fuel loads
  • access and containment
  • preferred weather and site conditions.

Some information on council's planned burn program can be viewed in the below video.

Council's annual planned burn program

For general queries relating to council's fire management program please contact council.

Note: fire trail and fire break mowing may be delayed by rain events or elevated fire danger periods. It will occur when site conditions improve or during the next scheduled maintenance period.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services is the primary provider of fire and rescue, emergency management and disaster mitigation programs and services throughout Queensland. For useful information and services including permits to burn, community safety and preparation please visit their website.

For details about other ways council is managing our natural environment view our environment page.