2021-02-09 P&E Agenda - Item 6 - Attachment 2 - Draft Noosa Bushland Reserve Strategic Fire Management Plan 2021

1. Introduction
Noosa Shire has a great diversity of landscapes consisting of coastal vegetation, wetlands, open
forest and rainforest. Much of the vegetation we see today was originally shaped by indigenous
cultural burning practices. Some vegetation types such as heath requires burning to maintain
biodiversity, while other vegetation types such as rainforest can be destroyed by bushfire.

Through climate change, bushfire seasons are becoming longer and more intense. Climate change
presents greater risks to life, property, essential infrastructure and biodiversity. Although Council’s
bushland reserve estate is relatively small (less than 4% of the shire), compared with the area of
private land and national park, the Noosa Bushland Reserve Strategic Fire Management Plan 2021
will help inform actions to build greater community resilience with bushfire, while protecting the
natural values of the bushland reserve network.

Like other landowners, Noosa Council has certain obligations in relation to fire management. This
extends to controlling fire on bushland reserve and maintaining the natural values of the reserve
consistent with its management intent. Protecting ecosystems, vegetation and habitats and building
community resilience are key objectives in the Noosa Environment Strategy 2019. The aim of the
Noosa Bushland Reserve Strategic Fire Management Plan 2021 is to help protect life and property
while maintaining biodiversity values on bushland reserves. It is a 5 year plan that provides principles
of bushland reserve fire management and identifies responsibilities, hazards and risks, and an action
plan to mitigate those risks based on reserve priorities.




DRAFT Noosa Bushland Reserve Strategic Fire Management Plan                                      Page 3