Fire management planning is one of the most effective tools for improving land condition, managing fuel loads, and supporting healthy native vegetation. In the Kerry district of Queensland, this planning became a shared priority when local landholders came together for a recent Fire Management Planning Workshop delivered by Healthy Land & Water through the Natural Resource Recovery Program.

The workshop brought neighbouring landholders together to build their own property fire management plans and to consider how coordinated, cross-boundary burns can enhance the health of the broader landscape.

Workshop participants look over property maps, sharing localised fire history knowledge and finding opportunities to work with neighbours through their own property management planning.

Participants learned how well-timed, low-intensity fire can promote native vegetation, reduce the dominance of invasive species, stimulate regeneration, and maintain open, resilient ecosystems. This cooperative approach helps reduce fuel loads, support biodiversity, and strengthen landscape-scale fire resilience.

The event was supported by expert presentations from multiple agencies. Staff from the Queensland Fire & Biodiversity Consortium provided guidance on ecological fire regimes and planning tools. Representatives from the Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service shared insights into how well-planned burns can protect vulnerable and threatened wildlife and ecosystems. In contrast, unplanned, high-intensity bushfires can cause severe and, sometimes, irreversible impacts. Local crews from the Rural Fire Service also attended, offering practical advice on preparedness, safety, equipment, and engaging with fire wardens. Together, these partners ensured landholders had access to the best knowledge and support.

For the Kerry community, the workshop was more than a learning opportunity. It was a catalyst for action. Landholders left with strengthened confidence in planning for fire, a better understanding of seasonal windows for burning, and new connections with their neighbours and local fire agencies. The session demonstrated the power of community-led collaboration in managing the landscape safely and sustainably.

By investing in fire management planning now, communities like Kerry are taking proactive steps to safeguard properties, protect wildlife, and build long-term resilience. This workshop stands as a successful example of how shared knowledge, cooperation, and practical planning can strengthen landscape health, protect wildlife and ecosystems, and build long-term resilience.

Workshop participants observe fire behaviour, learning how seasonality, plant moisture, fuel loads, and fuel structure can impact a fires intensity. This demonstration allows landholders to consider how a fire could behave on their own property and where they have the ability to control factors that influence fire intensity.

This workshop and community engagement opportunity have been supported by the Queensland Government's Natural Resources Recovery Program.