Cultural burning practices will be used to undertake a burn activity at Meerwah (Table Top Mountain) on Wednesday 8 September 2021 by the Bunya Peoples' Aboriginal Corporation (BPAC) and Wirrinyah Conservation Services.
As part of a land use agreement between BPAC and Toowoomba Regional Council, General Manager of BPAC Paul Dawson said this was the first time this agreement has been used to facilitate a burn.
"Over the past year we've been working closely with Council to look at different ways we can complement its existing land management practices," Mr Dawson said.
"BPAC believe in rebuilding knowledge for all of our communities on how we apply fire in the landscape that will lead to healthier landscapes and safer communities based on long-standing Aboriginal cultural knowledge and connections to country."
While the mountain is at the foot of the Dividing Range on Yugara/Ugarapul country, Meerwah is a culturally significant place for many surrounding Aboriginal clans and tribes, as it was used to light smoke signals during the Frontier Wars.
To commemorate the history of the site and cleanse the area of bad spirits, a traditional smoking ceremony will be performed by the Yugara dancers and Yugara/Ugarapul Elders at the bottom of the mountain for those participating in the burn prior to commencement.
The burn will commence mid-morning with the mountain closed to the public until midday on Thursday 9 September 2021. Residents may observe the burn from Picnic point but for safety reasons only fire personnel will have permitted access to the mountain for the duration of the burning operations.
The burn will commence mid-morning with the mountain closed to the public until midday on Thursday. Residents will also be unable to observe the smoking ceremony.
TRC Environment and Community Committee portfolio lead Cr Tim McMahon thanked BPAC for partnering with Council to undertake land management of the Toowoomba Region.
"In a place like the Toowoomba Region, which is surrounded by vegetation, it's important our interventions comprise a range of fire management techniques," Cr McMahon said.
"More than a year ago, Council raised the idea of incorporating cultural burning practices into our existing land management arrangements and since then discussions with the BPAC have been positive.
"BPAC has a wealth of knowledge related to traditional burning techniques on country and Council intend to work with this group to assist us in reducing the risk of bushfires as well as the long-term conservation of our environment."
