29 September 2021
Published 13 November 2019
Due to the continuing fire emergency in Queensland, all plantations managed by HQPlantations south of Mackay will remain closed for the rest of the week.
The closure, for public safety reasons, includes popular recreational locations in the Moreton Bay Region including within the Beerburrum and Beerwah State Forests, including logging areas in Glasshouse Mountains, Landsborough, Ningi, Toorbul and on Bribie Island.
Following several fires in and adjacent to plantation forests, HQPlantations Chief Operating Officer Mr Islay Robertson is appealing to the public to take this closure seriously to help ensure HQPlantations visitors, plantation neighbours, staff and contractors remain safe.
“Public safety is our highest priority, however we also want to reduce the chance of new fires starting due to hot exhausts in proximity with dry grass or unsafe behaviour such as discarding cigarettes,” said Mr Robertson.
“Conditions will continue to be extreme throughout the week. Forest fires can develop quickly, travel fast and can spot over a kilometre away in these conditions,” he said.
“We are currently fighting fires in multiple locations, some amongst the worst we have ever experienced.”
HQPlantations continues to monitor conditions from fire towers and cameras and has firefighting crew and equipment moving about its forests and on standby.
Mr Robertson said the situation will be reassessed on Friday 15 November but the closure may continue over the coming weekend if extreme conditions persist.
Further information about plantation closures can be found at www.hqplantations.com.au/closures