New forecasts for rainfall and temp for Sept to Nov

A new quarterly overview of weather for September to November indicates that South East Queensland is likely to have slightly above average rainfall and a 60-70% chance of above average temperatures during the period.

Have a look here for rainfall: http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/outlooks/#/rainfall/summary
and here for temperature: http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/outlooks/#/temperature/maximum/median/seasonal/0

You can click on each of the small maps at the above links for more detail, and follow various links  to other detailed information.   Maps below are from the above sources.  Note that the main maps at those links are zoomable down to quite local detail - as in the temperature forecast map excerpt below.

Chance of above average rainfall for September to November

Chance of above average temperature for September to November

Landscaping for Bushfire - a very useful guide

From: Landscaping for Bushfire, CFA Victoria, 2011

 It looks like we are at the beginning of a bad bushfire season.  Planning ahead is the only sensible way to help ensure that your house and other infrastructure are as safe as possible from bushfires.

 Landscaping for Bushfire was developed by the Country Fire Authority in response  to Recommendation 44 from the Victorian Bushfires Royal  Commission.

While it is a Victorian publication and the regulations and many of the species referred to are Victorian, those aspects take up only a small part of what is covered.  The document provides a very useful reference on the principles of landscaping for bushfire protection and also offers a lot of useful suggestions.

I highly recommend it for anyone in the Lockyer Valley Region, or anywhere for that matter.

Stay safe.

when it comes to bushfires, we are all neighbours

Permitted burns in the Ravensbourne area - pm Thursday 14 July

There will be two permitted burns this afternoon in fairly close proximity in the Ravensbourne area.  They will be between the Esk Hampton Road and the escarpment, north of the intersection of Seventeen Mile Road / National Park Road with the Esk Hampton Road.  Both are burning heaps of timber.

For QPWS: one of these burns is close to Ravensbourne National Park / Ravensbourne Nature Refuge.  Rain is expected in the area.

For Smokespotters: No need to report smoke from this vicinity.  If you have reason to believe that smoke seen in this general area is not from these permitted burns, please contact one of the Smokespotter Coordinators.

Controlled pm Wed 29 June and Thurs 30 June - Palm Tree / Buaraba area

Private Forestry Service Queensland will be carrying out controlled burns on Ergon properties south of the intersection of Palm Tree Road with Seventeen Mile Road this afternoon (Wed 29 June) and tomorrow 30 June.

Given the general dampness of the area the fires may be quite smoky.

Permitted burn in the Ravensbourne area 31 May and possibly 1 June

There will be a permitted burn lighting up this afternoon after 2.00pm and possibly again tomorrow 1 June.

The material is small heaps of timber so unlikely to be much smoke.

Smokespotters:  no need to report smoke in this area unless you are uncertain that it is coming from this permitted burn.

Thanks to Fire Wardens for your cooperation, and to permit holders for calling to advise when lighting up.

Smoke to the north of Gatton - to the NE of the Lockyer National Park

The last information I have - about 12.40pm today - Wed 25 May - is that this smoke is coming from private property to the north of the Lockyer National Park - north and northeast of the area burned at the weekend - and is most likely burning off being done by the landowner.  You will be able to see where the northern edge of the fire was on the map I circulated a day or so ago - that edge was still burning but was in the control of the landowner.

The wind is moving sometimes dense smoke from this fire into areas up to 10km and more from the fire.

A QPWS crew checked the edge of the earlier fire in the National Park this morning and confirmed that it had not spread from where it was when they contained it a couple of days ago. They are currently on-site mopping up in the burnt area.

Fire in the NE of the Lockyer National Park contained

I was advised late yesterday evening that the fire in the NE of the Lockyer National Park has been contained.  It will continue to be monitored by QPWS.

QPWS also provided the map below showing the approximate area burned.  They point out that at this stage the map is indicative only and that ground truthing and further investigation are required.

The area to the south of the track (orange line) on the southern boundary of the burned area was burned not too long ago in a QPWS controlled burn.

It must have been an incredibly difficult task to contain this fire given the topography, the periods of gusty winds, and the dryness of the vegetation and soils (we have had only 7mm of rain since late March and I assume that it would not have been much different there). 

On behalf of the communities in and around the Hills we extend our sincere thanks to the fire crews from QPWS and the Gatton-Springdale, Grantham and Woodlea Rural Fire Brigades.

We are also grateful to QPWS for their regular updating of the community through the Smokespotter group on the changing situation.