UPDATE: MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
The planned hazard reduction burn at Broadwater National Park will start on Wednesday, September 3.
Original story
National Parks and Wildlife Service staff will be doing a hazard reduction burn in the Broadwater National Park starting this Tuesday, September 2.
Burning will begin from 9.30am on Tuesday and is expected to continue until September 5.
The burn is likely to create smoke visible to people in Evans Head, Woodburn, Broadwater and Rileys Hill, as well as travellers on the highway.
Hazard reduction burning, sometimes called controlled burning or prescribed burning, is done in strategic areas of a park to reduce fire-prone fuel hazards.
Through the Enhanced Bushfire Management Program National Parks and Wildlife Service plans to treat more than 135,000 hectares each year in 800 or more hazard reduction activities.
In the last five years, more than 1000 burns were carried out by NPWS, treating more than 635,000 hectares.
In addition to prescribed burning, the NPWS hazard reduction program includes mechanical works, such as slashing and mowing. It’s important to remember planned hazard reduction isn’t the same as back-burning, which is a fire suppression tactic used during active bushfires.
While it’s vital that prescribed burning is done for the protection of the whole community, these burns can have temporary impact on visitors through smoke, road and park closures.
This information was provided by NPWS.