Planned controlled burn at Brisbane Airport
Weather conditions are looking favourable for a controlled burn to take place in bushland adjacent to Brisbane Airport’s western runway this weekend (September 13 and 14).
During the operation, the western runway will be temporarily closed to aircraft, with all flights operating on the eastern runway.
There will be no impact to passengers or scheduled flight operations.
The purpose of the burn is to reduce the natural fuel load in bushland next to the western runway.
“We appreciate that the sight of smoke near an airport may be unsettling, which is why we’re reassuring the Brisbane community that any visible smoke this weekend is part of a planned, safe operation,” said Aaron Pond, Brisbane Airport’s Airfield Compliance Manager.
“This burn is being completed by specialists in bushfire management with more than 20 years of experience and will be carried out in small sections at a time.
“They’ll have six fire response vehicles and a bulldozer on standby to ensure the operation remains under control at all times.
“We thank residents in surrounding suburbs for their understanding as we undertake this hazard reduction burn.
“Many people are not aware our precinct spans 2,700 hectares, of which 270 hectares is a Biodiversity Zone, and it is important to responsibly manage its fuel load.
“It will have the added benefit of removing invasive weeds and promoting established desirable plant species as part of the airport’s broader land and environmental management program.
“We’ve been waiting for the right conditions over the past few months, and this weekend is the best suitable window before warmer weather arrives.”
“We’re also very keen to let runners taking part in the Bridge to Brisbane know that current forecasts show smoke will be carried away from the Gateway Bridge during the event, so there is no cause for concern.
The burn will only proceed if weather and wind conditions are safe on the day.
For more information, contact Brisbane Airport’s 24/7 media hotline: 0466 322 485
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