Hazard reduction burns on Castle Hill will start on Tuesday (June 30) as Council works with the Rural Fire Service and the State Government to minimise the risk of bushfires in Townsville.
The planned burn will cover about 40 hectares of Castle Hill, removing dense, overgrown vegetation from the area in a controlled environment.
Castle Hill Road and all Castle Hill walking tracks will be closed on Tuesday to maintain safety for residents and members of the public during this burn. The road and tracks will be reopened once the area has been assessed during a post-burn inspection.
Mayor Nick Dametto said these rotational Hazard Reduction Burns on Castle Hill were important for Townsville's disaster readiness.
"We had a very wet start to the year, which means heavily vegetated areas like Castle Hill have grown quickly over summer. Council's Fire Management Team is now working through these dense areas to remove overgrown vegetation, helping to reduce the bushfire risk to our city," Cr Dametto said.
"Council has already completed burns at Mount Stuart, Pinnacles, Ross River Dam, Jezzine Barracks and Kelso. Next month we will complete further burns at Castle Hill, just above Belgian Gardens State School, Mount Louisa and Oak Valley.
"If you have any medical conditions that can be made worse by smoke, make sure you take the right precautions to minimise your risk."
Councillor Dametto said this was also a good time for residents to make sure their home is prepared and protected from bushfires.
"Council is doing its part, but it's important for residents to be doing the same. Take the time to clean out your gutters and remove any leaves and other debris around your backyard, to help reduce you and your neighbours' risk from bushfires," he said.
"It's important to also make sure your Bushfire Survival Plan is up to date so you know what to do in the case of an emergency."
