Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing Planned Burn Guidelines Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland

DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 1 13/05/13 4:25 PM Prepared by: Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) Enhanced Fire Management Team, Queensland Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing (NPRSR).

© The State of Queensland Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing 2012. Copyright enquiries should be addressed to or the Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing, 41 George Street, Brisbane Qld 4000.

First published May 2013 Published by the Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing

National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication Planned Burn Guidelines – Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland First edition. Bibliography ISBN 978-1-7423-0927 1. Planned Burn – Guideline 2. Fire Management 3. Bioregion – Queensland

Disclaimer This document has been prepared with all due diligence and care based on the best available information at the time of publication. The department holds no responsibility for any errors or omissions within this document. Any decisions made by other parties based on this document are solely the responsibility of those parties. Information contained in this document is from a number of sources and as such, does not necessarily represent government or departmental policy. All Queensland Government planned burning should be done in accordance with government policies, procedures and protocols.

Acknowledgements The following people made substantial contributions to the intellectual content of this planned burn guideline based on experience and/or expert knowledge with regard to fire management in the Central Queensland Coast bioregion. QPWS staff include: Dr Rhonda Melzer, Dr Bill McDonald, Michael Koch, Irene Champion, Tony Frisby, Frank Mills, Leanne Simpson, John Lynn, Barry Nolan, Jeanette Kemp, Paul Harris, John Atkinson, Tina Ball, Graeme Bulley, Rod Mackenzie and Bruce Higham. This guideline has been developed and produced by the QPWS Enhanced Fire Management Team: Kerensa McCallie, David Shevill, Wayne Kington, Jenise Blaik, Troy Spinks, Mark Cant and Justine Douglas; supported by David Clark, Caroline Grayson, Ellen Thyer and Tim Killen. Following a successful pilot project (QPWS South East Region Planned Burn Guidelines) initiated and developed by QPWS staff: Wayne Kington, David Kington and Mark Burnham. Front cover photograph: Chance Bay, Whitsunday Island, Justin Heitman (Whitsunday Digital Pty Ltd, T/A Blue Turtle Digital) (2009). Bp2015

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DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 2 13/05/13 4:25 PM Foreword Comparatively small in area (some 1 800 000 hectares) this bioregion is centred on the high-rainfall coastal lowlands, ranges and islands of Central Queensland. Open forests and woodlands characterise the foothills and lowlands while rainforest and tall eucalypt forests are predominant in the ranges. The QPWS estate is comprised of a series of somewhat small isolated mountains and hills in the lowlands and larger contiguous areas in the ranges surrounded by intensive agriculture and a number of continental and coral islands off the coast. With the move towards green harvesting of cane and the subdivision of larger parcels of land into smaller ‘lifestyle’ sized blocks, fire management of this fragmented estate is becoming more challenging.

The use of fire on our estate and across the landscape will continue to be the single-most effective management tool to maintain and enhance the integrity for those fire-dependant ecosystems. I hope these guidelines will provide one of the tools that will assist in developing the most appropriate fire regimes to achieve this. I encourage you to take a proactive approach to fire management, use these guidelines as a basis, gather sound information through observations and monitoring and provide feedback on their application. It is through this adaptive management approach that we will be able to further develop our knowledge of fire in the landscape.

Michael Koch Senior Ranger Central Region Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.

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DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 3 13/05/13 4:25 PM Table of contents Foreword...... iii

Purpose of this guideline...... vi

Scope...... vii

Fire and climate in the Central Queensland Coast bioregion...... ix

How to use this guideline...... x

Chapter 1: Eucalypt forest and woodland...... 1 Issue 1: Maintain healthy eucalypt forests and woodlands...... 2 Issue 2: Reduce overabundant saplings...... 19 Issue 3: Manage high-biomass grasses...... 26 Issue 4: Reduce Lantana camara...... 27 Issue 5: Reduce rubber vine...... 28

Chapter 2: Tall open forest...... 29 Issue 1: Maintain healthy tall open forests...... 30 Issue 2: Reduce overabundant saplings...... 40 Issue 3: Reduce Lantana camara...... 41

Chapter 3: Grasslands and sedgelands...... 42 Issue 1: Maintain healthy fire-adapted grassland communities...... 43 Issue 2: Limit fire encroachment into fire-sensitive grasslands and sedgelands...... 53 Issue 3: Reduce Lantana camara...... 55 Issue 4: Manage high-biomass grasses...... 56 Issue 5: Reduce encroachment of woody species...... 57

Chapter 4: Heath and shrublands...... 58 Issue 1: Maintain healthy heath and shrublands...... 59 Issue 2: Avoid peat fires...... 72

Chapter 5: Melaleuca communities...... 73 Issue 1: Maintain healthy melaleuca forest and woodland communities...... 74 Issue 2: Avoid peat fires...... 84

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DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 4 13/05/13 4:25 PM Issue 3: Limit fire encroachment into melaleuca gallery forests and swamps...... 91 Issue 4: Manage high-biomass grasses...... 93 Issue 5: Reduce Lantana camara...... 94 Issue 6: Reduce rubber vine...... 95

Chapter 6: Dune communities...... 96 Issue 1: Maintain healthy fire-adapted dune communities...... 98 Issue 2: Limit fire encroachment into fire-sensitive communities...... 109 Issue 3: Reduce Lantana camara...... 111 Issue 4: Manage high-biomass grasses...... 112

Chapter 7: Rainforest...... 113 Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into rainforests...... 115

Chapter 8: Mangroves and saltmarsh...... 116 Issue 1: Limit fire encroachment into saltmarsh...... 117 Issue 2: Manage rubber vine in saltmarsh...... 119

Chapter 9: Common issues...... 120 Issue 1: Hazard reduction (fuel management) burns...... 121 Issue 2: Planned burning near sensitive cultural heritage sites.....130 Issue 3: Manage high biomass exotic grasses...... 138 Issue 4: Reduce Lantana camara infestations...... 151 Issue 5: Limit fire encroachment into non-target fire vegetation groups...... 159 Issue 6: Reduce rubber vine...... 170 Issue 7: Post cyclone planned burning...... 182 Issue 8: Manage exotic pine wildings...... 197

Glossary of fire terminology...... 207

References...... 215

Appendix 1: List of regional ecosystems...... 217

Appendix 2: Mosaic burning...... 224

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DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 5 13/05/13 4:25 PM Bioregional planned Purpose of this guideline burn guideline This guideline was developed as part of the (and other parameters) Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing’s (NPRSR) Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) Fire Management System to support the formation of fire strategies, burn proposals and Park-based fire on-ground planned burn implementation (supported management strategy by the Planned Burn Guidelines: How to Assess if Your Burn is Ready to Go). They assist rangers and other land managers to:

• protect life and property Planned burn • maintain healthy ecosystems program/burn proposal • promote awareness of fire management issues in the field • identify clear fire management objectives to address those issues; and how to assess objectives to assist in adaptive management Planned burn • identify suitable fire behaviour, burn tactics and implementation weather conditions to achieve objectives • provide information and tools to assist in How the planned implementing planned burns. burn guideline fits Please note that this planned burn guideline uses ‘fire into the QPWS Fire vegetation groups’ provided in ParkInfo that assist Management System. their integration into maps and fire strategies. A fire vegetation group is a group of related ecosystems that share common fire management requirements.

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DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 6 13/05/13 4:25 PM Scope • This guideline applies to the Central Queensland Coast bioregion (refer to Figure 1) and covers fire vegetation groups including eucalypt forests and woodlands, tall open forests, grasslands and sedgelands, heath and shrublands, melaleuca, dune communities, rainforests, mangroves and saltmarshes (refer to Appendix 1 for regional ecosystems contained in each fire vegetation group). • It covers the most common fire management issues arising in the Central Queensland Coast bioregion. In some cases, there will be a need to include issues in fire strategies or burn proposals beyond the scope of this guideline (e.g. highly specific species management issues). • This guideline recognises and respects Traditional Owner traditional ecological knowledge and the importance of collaborative fire management. Consultation and involvement should be sought from local Traditional Owners in the preparation and implementation of planned burns and specific guidelines incorporated into fire strategies where relevant. • Development of the guideline has been by literature review and a knowledge- capturing exercise, using both scientific and practical sources. It will be reviewed as new information becomes available.

Joy Brushe, QPWS, Mt Westall (1997).

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DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 7 13/05/13 4:25 PM Figure 1: Map of the New England Tableland bioregion of Queensland.

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DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 8 13/05/13 4:25 PM Fire and climate in the Central Queensland Coast bioregion The Central Queensland Coast bioregion is characterised by high rainfall (1300–2000 mm per year) with ranges that surround lowlands adjacent to the coast. Distinct wet and dry seasons characterise the climate and the area is periodically affected by cyclones and flooding. The wet season (during which more than half the annual rainfall occurs) extends from about November to April with gradual drying of the land from about April until the start of the next wet season. The start or end of the wet season can vary by up to a few months in any year.

The ranges support areas of wet sclerophyll and rainforest vegetation while lower slopes and lowlands are predominantly eucalypt woodland and semi-deciduous vine forests.

Summers can be hot (up to 33ºC) and humid, but temperatures are generally lower on the ranges and close to the coast. Winter days can be warm and dry, but evenings cool to cold (as low as 0ºC) with frosts inland. The ‘fire’ season normally begins around April as the wet season ends and fuels begin to cure. Nominally, April to mid-June is defined as the early dry, mid-June to early September as the mid dry and the late dry from then until the start of the wet season around November to December but which may be as late as January. Accelerated curing can occur in the winter (May/June) as early cold snaps quickly cure the fine fuels. Wildfires can occur at almost any time during the dry season but become more severe and difficult to control as fuels cure and are most severe in the late dry season.

Fire risk is linked to the occurrence of fire weather days or sequences of days (FDR very high+ / FDI 25+). In the Central Queensland Coast bioregion these days have an average temperature above 30ºC, low humidity (less than 20 per cent) and sustained winds of more than 20 km/hr (refer to Figure 2).

Mackay Fire Danger Index (1972-2010) A fire weather day or FFDI 25+ (VH+) GFDI 25+ (VH+) 1.0 sequence of days (FDI 25+) 0.9 rarely occurs in this bioregion. 0.8 Data (Lucas 2010). 0.7 0.6 Further information can be 0.5 found in the QPWS Planned Burn Guidelines: How to 0.4 Assess if Your Burn is Ready 0.3

Average days per month to Go and on the Bureau of 0.2 Meteorology website at 0.1 www.bom.gov.au . 0.0 < > Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July AugSept Oct NovDec Month Figure 2: Fire weather risk in the Central Queensland Coast bioregion. ix

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x Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: How to use this guideline a 1. this simple exercise: you go about your work. To assist you inobserving theenvironment, undertake this guidelinesoit becomes partof your observation of theenvironment as that you manage (andthesurrounding landscape). Familiarise yourself with Step 2:Observethecountry. It is essential to regularly observethecountry 1999 andotherlegislative requirements). Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act issues are considered (e.g. zoning plan, threatened species, fire histories, strategy before completing your planned burn proposal to ensure all ecological the majority of issues in your area, it is essential you also review your fire and supports your local fire strategy. While theguidelineshould address Step 1:Know your local fire strategy. This planned burn guidelineworks with How to use this guideline or fire vegetation groups with a 3. or fire vegetation groups with a 2.

tree branch foliage dying? Is there epicormic regrowth onbranches? a) s theground-layer have adiversity of species oris it dominated d) e shrubs looking healthy and vigorous? Are there dying crowns onthe c) there abuild-up of dead anddecaying matter associated with grasses, esence of grasses andgrass clumps. Dothegrasses look healthy b) a) there evidence of fire? What is theprevalence andheight of blackened at are themid-layer trees (young canopy trees, wattles, casuarinasb) or a) e there rainforest, scrub orriparian ecosystems nearby? e there habitat trees (e.g. trees with hollows)? c) b) observe where relevant: shrubs andgrasses but not yet inthecanopy) observe thefollowing: following: F F If

understorey? by oneorafew juvenile tree species? Are weeds dominating the shrubs? shrubs, ferns orsedges? and vigorous? Are there well-formed grass clumps? bark? rainforest species)? How openordense is themid-layer? Are there any dead trees? Doe Ar Is The pr Is Wh Ar Ar Is canopy is present (e.g. for openforests andwoodlands) observethe ground-layer of grasses, sedges orshrubs, mid-layer (trees above theheight of 13/05/13 4:25 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 11 estate. Instructions can beobtained from the QPWS Fire Management System. as partof astructured photo-monitoring process at various locations within the shortfalls in your fire strategy, consider reviewing it. Step 9 can beimplemented or difficult to understand please seek advice. further If this process identifies to keep observing theland. If theresults of fire management are unexpected (such as weed control) are not resolved with asingle burn andit is important years aftertheoriginal burn—once again applying this guideline.Many issues area starting from Step 1).Return to theburn area afterone year andthenafew Step 9:Review your fire management issue (re-apply this guideline to the burn your fire report. objectives. This guidelineprovides information onhow to reporttheresults in in your burn proposal). This will indicate if you have achieved your planned burn undertake thepost-fire assessment recommended by this guideline(as defined Step 8:Review themeasurable objectives in your burn proposal. Afterafire, proposal objectives. this guidelinewill enable you to predict fire behaviour andachieve your burn How to Assess if Your Burn is Ready to Go. Becoming familiar with thetools in Step 7:Is your burn ready to go? Refer to theQPWS Planned Burn Guidelines: have to adjust thewording. guideline andpaste them(ctrl+v)into theburn proposal. Note that you may into your burn proposals. Copy (ctrl+c)statements from aPDF version of this tactics andweather conditions sections of each chapter can becopied directly Step 6: Write aburn proposal. The management ranger orequivalent. If you findit difficult toidentify your objectives, contact your natural resource Do you needto develop objectives not already included inthese guidelines? the land. Do you needto adjust theobjectives sothey apply to your situation? objectives in your fire strategy). Choose oneormore objectives whilst observing measurable objectives to include in your burn proposals (beguidedalso by the Step 5:Choose measurable objectives. Each chapter of this guidelineprovides intended to guidebothland managers andapproval bodies. based onastandard QPWS planned burn proposal prioritisation framework for determining fire management priorities. The statements about priorities are Step 4:Consider your fire management priorities. Each chapter offers guidance proposal. more than oneissue—do not necessarily limit yourself to oneissue perburn apply to thearea you are observing. It is common for burn proposals to address Step 3:Read therelevant chapters of this guidelineanddecide which issues measurable objectives, fire behaviour, 13/05/13 4:25 PM xi Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: How to use this guideline DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 1

1 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland cylindrica eucalypt communities ondunes refer to Chapter 6). lowlands andcoastal ranges andislands (for fire management guidelines for vegetation group is found ontheClarke-Connors Ranges, Proserpine-Sarina legumes andscattered shrubs such as grasstrees, cycads andwattles. This fire fire due to a lack of ground layer fuels. increase inelevated fuel andtherefore fire severity, ortheinability to maintain some highbiomass grasses). Lantana camara may bepresent, causing an leading to achange in vegetation structure orpromotion of weeds (including In otherareas fires have been too frequent, severe orapplied at thewrong time, saplings/seedlings which can have undesirable impacts ondiversity. is lack of fire. A lack of fire promotes the overabundance of pioneer rainforest A major fire management issue for eucalypt forest and woodland communities Fire management issues by amix of grasses including kangaroo Themeda triandra also bedominated by asingle species. The ground layer is generally dominated ash Corymbia tessellaris orpink bloodwood Corymbia may intermediabut ), species (such as Queensland blue gumEucalyptus tereticornis, Moreton Bay health. The canopy is usually dominated by amix of eucalypt andcorymbia Queensland Coast bioregion andfire management is critical to maintain their Eucalypt forests andwoodlands dominate thelandscape intheCentral Chapter 1:Eucalypt forest and woodland 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. Issues: State Forest 3,3426ha; Ben MohrForest Reserve, 2 980ha. 3 821ha; Conway National Park, 3590ha; Crediton Forest Reserve,3585ha; Epsom National Park, 4538ha; Byfield National Park, 4123 ha; West Hill Forest Reserve, 2, 5524ha; West Hill State Forest, 5337ha; Cathu State Forest, 5322ha; Dryander Islands National Park, 8034ha; Proserpine State Forest, 7424ha; Epsom State Forest 10 204ha; Crediton State Forest, 8747ha; Mia Mia State Forest, 8099ha; Whitsunday Examples of this Byfield FVG: State Forest, 11836 ha; Eungella National Park, Appendix 1for complete list. Extent within bioregion: 645472hectares (ha), 44percent;Regional ecosystems: Refer to

Reducerubber vine. Reduce Lantana camara. Manage high-biomass grasses. Reduce overabundant saplings. Maintain healthy eucalypt forests andwoodlands.

and spear grasses Aristida spp., but may also contain lilies, sedges,

, blady blady , Imperata 13/05/13 4:25 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 2 • • • • Key indicators of healthy eucalypt forest orwoodland: Awareness of theenvironment Issue 1:Maintain healthy eucalypt forests andwoodlands Kerensa McCallie, QPWS, Homevale National Park (2011). This eucalypt woodland has ahealthy mix of native grass species. • •

Logs in various stages of decay are present. isolated small clumps. Lantana (where present), is limited to scattered individuals or occurs in Shrubs (where present) have healthy foliage. occasional legumes, lilies andsedges. Native grasses appear upright and vigorous andmay beinterspersed with the ground stratum plants. species andshe-oaks) but are not having any noticeable shading effects on Lower andmidstratum trees are scattered (e.g. eucalypts, wattles, rainforest and ahealthy canopy exist. Stags orlive trees with hollows are present. Canopy species of variable sizes (enough to eventually replace thecanopy) 13/05/13 4:25 PM

2 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland Issue 1: Maintain healthy eucalypt forests and woodlands DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 3 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland 3 Issue 1: Maintain healthy eucalypt forests and woodlands This Eucalypt community has amix of grasses andshrubs intheunderstorey. Joy Brushe, QPWS, Shoalwater Bay (1997). eucalypt forest andwoodland. The presence of logs in various stages of decay can beagood indicator of ahealthy Kerensa McCallie, QPWS, Homevale National Park (2011). 13/05/13 4:26 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 4 (2002). Queensland Herbarium Jeanette Kemp, open forest. and vigorous inthis Grasses are upright near Clairview (2004). Queensland Herbarium, Jeanette Kemp, community. layer of this eucalypt present in theground perennial grasses is A mix of annual and (2002). Queensland Herbarium Jeanette Kemp, stratum. dominate theground may grasstrees and A mixture of grasses 13/05/13 4:26 PM

4 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland Issue 1: Maintain healthy eucalypt forests and woodlands DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 5 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland 5 Issue 1: Maintain healthy eucalypt forests and woodlands • • • • • • • or woodland: The following may indicate that fire is required to maintain aeucalypt forest

Lantana may bebecoming more frequent. no recruitment of newshrubs (lack of juvenile shrubs). Shrubs have sparse crowns and/orbeginning to die. There is limited or shrubs) has declined. The diversity of mid/ground stratum species (grasses, herbs, sedges and elevated fuels. suspended leaf litter, bark andtwigs. There is anaccumulation of There is abuild-up of fine-fuels such as dead grass material, leaf litter, Grass trees where present, have accumulated brown skirts. understorey plants, refer to Issue 2for guidelines. progressed, andshading begins to impact onthediversity and health of are beginning to emerge above theground layer plants. Where this has Larsenaikia jardinei, Alphitonia excelsa, Alyxia spicata, orGlochidion spp. Pioneer rainforest species such as Macaranga spp., swizzle bush, dead material. Grasses are thinning, collapsing orappearing matted with abuild-up of extensive areas. contrast to wildfires, which burn and habitat features remain—in burn conditions, unburnt patches perish. With appropriate planned habitat features would eventually absence of fire, such open forest that allows themto exist. Inthe them, it also maintains theforest although fire initially reduces etc. develop again over time— dense pockets, fissured bark and also dead matted grass, Microhabitat such as this, forest with anopenstructure. fire management to maintain a up they indicate theneedfor However, as theskirts build- invertebrates andskinks. spp. provide habitat for National Park (2011). Kerensa McCallie, QPWS, Byfield Brown skirts on Xanthorrhoea 13/05/13 4:26 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 6 David Kington,QPWS, D’Aguilar National Park. crowns beginning to die. A shrubby understorey indecline dueto absence of fire. Note dead shrubs and shrub Frank Mills, QPWS, Byfield State Forest (2010). eight years without fire. burning. This grassy understory shows build-up of fine fuel andthinning of grasses, after A build-up of fuel ineucalypt woodlands can indicate aneedto consider planned 13/05/13 4:26 PM

6 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland Issue 1: Maintain healthy eucalypt forests and woodlands DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 7 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland 7 Issue 1: Maintain healthy eucalypt forests and woodlands • • • • Discussion • • •

to burning to allow for theaccumulation of fuel. Where relevant, grazing pressure may needto bealleviated inthe year prior poor soil andtherefore grasses may always appear less vigorous. could compound health problems. Consider whetherthearea has naturally Implementing fire during drought conditions is not recommended as this Be aware that signs of poorhealth can also bearesult of drought. open forest generally. abundance of rainforest pioneers colonising beyond these pockets into the Although pockets of rainforest are desirable, there should not bean in this fire vegetation group. transition to aclosed forest. System change to closed forest can be very rapid Eventually it is difficult to reintroduce fire andthe ecosystem is likely to and begin to shade-out grasses, herbs andseedlings of trees andshrubs. geological conditions, rainforests species can grow into themidstratum from seed)(Williams and Tran 2009).Intheabsence of fire, with suitable to resprout from thebase (althoughinsomecases they also germinate Fire generally keeps rainforest species low intheprofile and forces them frequency, allowing these species to mature andset-seed. unburnt andare around themaximum endof therecommended fire maintain food trees where they exist by ensuring somepatches remain of she-oaks (Casuarina andAllocasuarina spp.). Care should betaken to Byfield. This species has a very restricted diet, feeding only ontheseeds in Queensland andis found on theClarke Range andat Shoalwater Bay / The glossy black cockatoo Calyptorhynchus lathamiis considered vulnerable period andmaintain habitat (Lynn 2009). soon afterthewet season to promote apatchy fire, avoid the reproductive extensive, severe orfrequent.Ideally, planned burns should beconducted and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999)is threatened by fires which are too The endangered quoll northern Dasyurus hallucatus (Environment Protection regular early season dry burns. favour black spear grass Heteropogon contortus. The reverse may occur with grasses. Regular, late season dry fires may disadvantage kangaroo grass and The frequency andseason of aburn can affect thespecies composition of 13/05/13 4:26 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 8 • •

during this period,low-severity patchy burns will helpretain food resources. Queensland blue gum,ironbarks and/orpink bloodwood. If fire is required scented gumCorymbia citriodora, gum-topped box Eucalyptus moluccana, known to forage for insects innearby woodlands which contain lemon- predominantly inhabits rainforest, between July and September they are While thenear-threatened Eungella honeyeater Lichenostomus hindwoodi areas will assist inmaintaining patches of long unburnt grasses. and using landscape features such as creeks to break upburnt andunburnt Tactics such as ensuring highfuel moisture to encourage fine scale mosaics swamp rats can establish anetwork of tunnels as protection from predators. longer fire frequencies allow grasses to develop athatch layer inwhich Clarke Ranges andare considered locally significant. Inswamp rat habitat, Swamp rats Rattus lutreolus are found inonly afew locations within the Shoalwater Bay (1997). Joy Brushe, QPWS, honeyeater. source for theEungella and is a seasonal food yellow-bellied glider mammals such as the habitat for arboreal woodland provides Lemon-scented gum Queensland Museum. quoll. northern The endangered 13/05/13 4:26 PM

8 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland Issue 1: Maintain healthy eucalypt forests and woodlands DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 9 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland 9 Issue 1: Maintain healthy eucalypt forests and woodlands Select from below as most appropriate to thesite orburn outcomes: after fire, and by using counts where relevant. Estimations can beimproved by returning to thesame locations before and walk around andif visibility is good look about andaverage theresults. locations that will begood indicators for thewhole burn area. At these locations understorey or vegetation type.It is recommended that you select at least three Every proposed burn area contains natural variations intopography, Formulating objectives for burn proposals Assessing outcomes What is thepriority for this issue? stubble. remain as clumps grass > 90%of the tip. scorched to < 2mare of saplings > 75percent Very high Measurable Measurable Medium objectives Priority High recoverable. Planned burn inareas where ecosystem health ispoorbut health isgood. Planned burns to maintain ecosystems inareas where ecosystem significance. Planned burn required to maintain areas of special conservation after fire. Determine thepercentage retained five metres around the central point. the grass clumps inaradius of at least (immediately-very soonafter):count Before andafter theburn mark acentral point. landform andlikely fire intensity) and (taking into account the variability of Before theburn: select three sites scorched to thetip. count thenumberof saplings of landform andlikely fire intensity) (taking into account the variability After fire select three ormore sites How to beassessed Priority assessment < 75%bases remain. Not Achieved: remain. 75–90 %bases Partially Achieved: bases remain. Achieved: >90% Not Achieved: <25%. 25–75 %. Partially Achieved: Achieved: >75%. How to bereported (in fire report) 13/05/13 4:26 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 10 System orconsider formulating your own. burn objectives found inthemonitoring sectionof theQPWS Fire Management If theabove objectives are not suitable, refer to thecompendium of planned * < 20ha. patches multiple burn mosaic) with burn (spatial patchyscaled Create afine- retained. fallen logs > 95%of retained. trees) (habitat bearing trees live hollow- and standing dead trees standing > 95%of transect, apeg andacompass bearing can assist inrelocating theoriginal count location. It is important to return to thesame location before andafter thefire. If using aline  c. b. a. Choose oneof these options: the percentage retained afterfire. logs before andafterburn. Determine fire intensity) and count thenumberof the variability of landform andlikely more transects* (taking into account Select oneormore sites orwalk oneor percentage retained afterfire. of habitat trees. Determine the fire intensity) and count the number the variability of landform andlikely or more sites (taking into account Before andafterfire*, select three

determine therange of patch sizes. GPS, plot onGIS andthereby boundaries of burnt areas with Where practical, map the air. more vantage points,orfrom the Visual assessments from oneor Fire Information [NAFI]system). (e.g. using Australian theNorth Fire scar remote sensing data in size. patches are >20ha than 10%of burn Not Achieved: More > 20ha insize. burn patches Some (upto 10%) Partially Achieved: > 20ha insize. with noburn patches mosaic produced Achieved: fine scale < 90%logs retained. Not Achieved: 90–95 %retained. Partially Achieved: > 95%logs retained. Achieved: <90 %retained. Not Achieved: 9–95 %retained. Partially Achieved: > 95%retained. Achieved:

13/05/13 4:26 PM

10 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland Issue 1: Maintain healthy eucalypt forests and woodlands DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 11 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland 11 Issue 1: Maintain healthy eucalypt forests and woodlands Retaining stags andlogs is important to maintain habitat for many vertebrate and Kerensa McCallie,QPWS, Homevale National Park (2011). clumps remain as stubble. Under theright conditions, patches of unburnt grasses are retained andburnt grass Kerensa McCallie, QPWS, Homevale National Park (2011). invertebrate species. 13/05/13 4:26 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 12 appropriate fire regimes. and set-seed. Monitoring thehealth of these species can beused as anindicator of • • Suggested monitoring issues include: ManagementFire System. observation points can beobtained from themonitoring sectionof theQPWS by photographs andby recording observations. Instructions for establishing observation points beestablished. Observation points are usually supported to keep observing theland. To support this, it is recommended that Many issues are not resolved with asingle planned burn andit is important Monitoring theissue over time Frank Mills, QPWS, Byfield National Park (2007). The Byfield fern

ensure future canopy tree replacement. Monitoring therecruitment andestablishment of young canopy trees to stratum to ensure overabundance is managed. Monitor theabundance of saplings and/orseedlings intheground ormid Bowenia serrulata, like many othercycads, takes along timeto mature 13/05/13 4:26 PM

12 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland Issue 1: Maintain healthy eucalypt forests and woodlands DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 13 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland 13 Issue 1: Maintain healthy eucalypt forests and woodlands • Fire severity What fire characteristics will help address this issue? Fire parameters Note: This table assumes good soil moisture andoptimal planned burn conditions. Moderate

severity Low class High Low Fire (M) (H) (L) . The majority high.The to

150–500 intensity (kWm < 150 500– 1000 (during thefire) Fire Fire intensity -1 )

Average 0.5–1.5 1.5–3.0 height flame < 0.5 (m) low

. 7.5–15.0 Average 2.5–7.5 height scorch scorch < 2.5 (m) Fire severity (post-fire) Little ornocanopy scorch. scorching of elevated fuels. grass stubble retained. Some habitat trees, fallen logs, and layer retained. Nearly all retained but charred. Humus Significant patchiness. Litter Little ornocanopy scorch. Some scorch of elevated fuels. trees andfallen logs retained. stubble remain. Most habitat half thehumus layer andgrass scorched litter remains. About patchiness.Moderate Some completely (ornearly so). canopy, midstratum burnt moderate <20metre height least somecanopy scorch in and fallen logs affected. At remains. Some habitat trees Some patchiness. Some humus (loss of biomass) Description 13/05/13 4:26 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 14 Mosaic (area burnt within anindividual planned burn) Other considerations Landscape mosaic • • • Fire frequency /interval (refer to Appendix 2for adiscussion) • • • • •

patchiness assessment of vegetation health, fuel accumulation andprevious fire poorer soils’, onmap). more exposed. These areas are more limited inextent (see‘eucalypt forest – around seven to twelve years because they are drier, are onpoorsoils orare Other areas, particularly near the coast, require longer fire frequencies of senescing grasses andgrass skirts (good insect habitat), bark etc. she-oak (for theglossy black cockatoo), areas of denser vegetation, areas of some areas to retain obligate seedershrubs, habitat features such as black to maximum timeframe). Consider abroad create varying stages of Apply Do not burn during orimmediately following drought. accumulation will vary. Fire frequency is only aguide. Be aware that some years will bewetter ordrierthan normal andfuel of burnt andunburnt areas). the fire frequency), and spatially (each fire creating a slightly different mosaic season, frequency (donot burn to aprescription of every‘x’ years but vary Variability: Ensure successive fires are somewhat variable inintensity, communities within thesame year. Do not burn more than 20percent of Central Queensland Coast eucalypt (spatial mosaic) with multiple burn patches <20ha. communities. Where possible, aimto create afine-scaled patchy burn A mosaic is achieved with generally 30–50percent burnt within thetarget Fire frequency

seven years. At least seven years should beallowed between burns in

mosaic planned burns across thelandscape

and adjusted for

should primarily bedetermined through

post-fire response

wildfire risk

and drought cycles. fire interval range of between

(i.e.

recently burnt

at arange of on-ground

through to the

intervals to

three 13/05/13 4:26 PM

14 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland Issue 1: Maintain healthy eucalypt forests and woodlands DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 15 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland 15 Issue 1: Maintain healthy eucalypt forests and woodlands Showing theresults of apatchy low-severity fire. Joy Brushe, QPWS, Shoalwater Bay (1997). obligate seeders. In areas with astrong shrubinfluence, allow alonger fire frequency forthe retention of Frank Mills, QPWS, Five Rocks area, Byfield Conservation Park (2007). 13/05/13 4:26 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 16 the area orwater is pooled increek beds andcreeks are trickling. single falls should beof at least 15mm)orseasonal creeks that are flowing in least 75millimetres (mm) of combined rainfall over atwo week period(ideally soil moisture include moist soil to adepthof greater than five centimetres, orat in therapid regeneration of native grasses post fire. Someindicators of good Soil moisture: The presence of good soil moisture is essential as it will assist Wind speed: Beaufort scale 1–3,or<15km/hr DI (KBDI):30–100orupto 140for storm burns FFDI: <11 • • Season: with burn planning. so that undesirable conditions andweather changes can beavoided, orto help It is important to beaware of weather predictions priorto andfollowing burns What weather conditions should Iconsider?

consideration of containment issues. period of increasing fire danger. If fire is required, use with cautionand Care should betaken anytime between August to December, as this is a Be aware that winds may beunpredictable around September to October. remain uncured for longer andcan not carry fire until winter. November to December). Winter burns are also acceptable inareas that Burn during late wet to early season dry with occasional storm burns (around 13/05/13 4:26 PM

16 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland Issue 1: Maintain healthy eucalypt forests and woodlands DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 17 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland 17 Issue 1: Maintain healthy eucalypt forests and woodlands • • suggested tactics. objectives. What is offered below is not prescriptive, rather atoolkit of tactics should bereviewed andadjusted as required to achieve theburn at thesame location (e.g. dueto topographical variation). During theburn, Tactics will besite-specific anddifferent burn tactics may need to beemployed What burn tactics should Iconsider? • • •

severities andseasonal variability. Progressive burning helps create burnt andunburnt areas, amosaic of provide opportunistic barriers to fire to support burning later inthe year. year, but this depends onresource constraints. These burnt areas can Ideally, at least three periods of ignitionshould occur ineach park, each to carry fire) with numerous small ignitions creating afine-scale mosaic. begin soonafterthewet season (as soonas fuel has cured sufficiently carried out throughout the year whenever conditions allow. Ignitioncan Progressive burning is anapproach to planned burning where ignitionis consider containment issues priorto ignitionnear cane areas. cane areas as it helps ensure conditions of declining hazard. Carefully fire may self-extinguish overnight. This tactic is useful when burning near of burnt andunburnt patches. Undermild evening conditions theresulting to escape. Often this tactic will assist with creating a varied internal mosaic is particularly important late season inthedry where fire can bemore prone weather changes (e.g. wind changes) oftenexperienced during theday. This weather conditions have become more stable andare not prone to sudden Afternoon ignition.Generally, ignitionshould occur after2.00pmwhen of spread are kept to aminimum. reducing overabundant saplings, while ensuring fire intensity and rate consumption of fuel. This tactic creates highresidence time,useful for will generally result inamore complete coverage of anarea andabetter A low intensity backing fire. Aslow-moving, low-intensity backing fire can assist inachieving alandscape mosaic. communities including rainforests to reduce fire spread, this technique landscape features such as drainage lines, moist gullies and vegetation Aerial ignition.Used intandem with good soil moisture andother rapidly increasing relative humidity. the fire andprevent wildfire. A goodindicator of animpending storm is impending cold front which may bring follow-up rain to assist incontrolling second orthird storm of theseason Monitoring theweather for an wet season andensure good soil moisture exists by burning afterthe Specific conditions are required for storm burning. Burn during theearly 13/05/13 4:26 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 18 • • •

containment areas andlandscape mosaics. fires (except in dry very conditions). Natural barriers are useful in creating rainforests andgullies are present they can beused to prevent large scale Use of natural barriers. Where natural barriers such as rock outcrops, creeks, weather conditions, topography andfuel loads. The spacing of thespots may vary throughout theburn dueto changes in lower-intensity fire andgreatly varied mosaic of unburnt and burnt patches. apartorasinglefurther spot ignitioninsimilar conditions will result ina a greater intensity (as spots merge they create hot junction zones). Spots shots andpower launchers). Spots closer together will result inalineof a range of methods including driptorches, matches andincendiaries (sling the desired mosaic of burnt andunburnt areas. This can beachieved using Spot ignitioncan beused to alter thedesired intensity of afire and create neighbour relations. neighbour notification protocols should be followed to ensure good direction) will direct theresulting smoke away from settled areas. Standard undertaken whentheprevailing weather conditions (inparticular wind mines etc. andairports Planned burns inadjoining areas should be Smoke issues. Be aware of potential smoke impacts onurban settlements, 13/05/13 4:26 PM

18 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland Issue 1: Maintain healthy eucalypt forests and woodlands DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 19 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland 19 Issue 2: Reduce overabundant saplings • • • • • Key indicators Awareness of theenvironment and insomecases to through competition andshading, andmay result inthesystem transitioning Overabundance of rainforest pioneers may reduce thehealth of theground layer Issue 2:Reduce overabundant saplings

a more closed forest inwhich planned burning can Mid stratum overabundance has reduced tree andshrubrecruitment. Shrubs (where present) are declining indiversity andabundance. layer plants are reduced inabundance andhealth. Grasses are scattered, poorly-formed and/orare collapsing. Otherground The understorey is difficult to seethrough or walk through. other overabundant seedlings/saplings such as casuarinas. The midstratum is becoming dominated by young rainforest pioneers or

is beyond recovery.

be difficult to reintroduce 13/05/13 4:26 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 20 Bill McDonald, Queensland Herbarium, MidMolle Island (2010). recruitment of canopy species. Shading impacts will eventually greatly reduce lower-layer diversity andreduce Dave Kington,QPWS, LamingtonNational Park (2007). become sparser intheground layer. Fire is required to restore thehealth of grasses. Rainforest pioneers inthemidstratum are becoming more abundant andgrasses have 13/05/13 4:26 PM

20 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland Issue 2: Reduce overabundant saplings DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 21 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland 21 Issue 2: Reduce overabundant saplings • • • Discussion What is thepriority for this issue? • •

Medium Priority need for subsequent fires. monitor thekill rate andgermination of these species—this will ascertain the will berequired to address theissue. Post-fire observations are essential to event afterafire. Where this has occurred, it is likely that more than onefire absence of fire, seed stock can build upand lead to a mass germination Certain eucalypts, acacias andcasuarinas can germinate enmasse. Inthe sometimes only asingle year, it may not bepossible to kill them). as fuel andappropriate conditions allow (as within a timeframe,very short are observedandappear to bethickening, afire should beapplied as soon Seedlings are more vulnerable to fire and may be killed by fire. seedlingsIf will bereduced to below thegrassy layer, enabling otherspecies to compete. Overabundant saplings triggered inresponse to: An overabundance of saplings orseedlings intheunderstorey may be require analtered fire management approach. Seek advice if you are unsure. shrubs andtrees are anatural partof theecosystem and donot necessarily It is important to recognise that insomeareas, anabundance of some before andafterfire may assist inthis issue. species thecompetitive advantage. Spelling anarea for aperiodof time (and avoid the‘toxic’ plants such as somequininetrees) allowing woody concentrate feeding effortsonregrowth grasses intherecently burnt areas overabundant seedlings/saplings. This is compounded further whencattle grazing reduces fuel loads, preventing fires of sufficient severity to manage is combined with repeated early season burns oralack of fire. Stock Woody thickening becomes much more severe where heavy stock grazing • • • • High

above causes). a highrainfall event which has exacerbated thickening (dueto oneof the heavy grazing a high-severity fire event triggering aflush of newseedlings a lack of, oralong absence of fire recoverable. Planned burn inareas where ecosystem health ispoorbut health isgood. Planned burns to maintain ecosystems inareas where ecosystem are unlikely to bekilled outright by fire—rather they Priority assessment

13/05/13 4:26 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 22 System orconsider formulating your own. burn objectives found inthemonitoring sectionof theQPWS Fire Management If theabove objectives are not suitable, refer to thecompendium of planned after fire, and by using counts where relevant. Estimations can beimproved by returning to thesame locations before and walk around andif visibility is good look about andaverage theresults. locations that will begood indicators for thewhole burn area. At these locations understorey or vegetation type.It is recommended that you select at least three Every proposed burn area contains natural variations intopography, Formulating objectives for burn proposals Assessing outcomes or midstratum to ensure overabundance is managed. continue monitoring theabundance of saplings and/orseedlings intheground Often, this issue is not addressed by asingle fire. It may beimportant to ManagementFire System. observation points can beobtained from themonitoring sectionof theQPWS by photographs andby recording observations. Instructions for establishing observation points beestablished. Observation points are usually supported to keep observing theland. To support this, it is recommended that Many issues are not resolved with asingle planned burn andit is important Monitoring theissue over time the tip. scorched to saplings are mid stratum > 75%of Measurable Measurable objectives scorched to thetip. count thenumberof saplings of landform andlikely fire intensity) (taking into account the variability After fire select three ormore sites How to beassessed Not Achieved: <25%. 25–75 %. Partially Achieved: Achieved: >75%. How to bereported (in fire report) 13/05/13 4:26 PM

22 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland Issue 2: Reduce overabundant saplings DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 23 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland 23 Issue 2: Reduce overabundant saplings Mosaic (area burnt within anindividual planned burn) • Fire severity What fire characteristics will help address this issue? Fire parameters • • Fire frequency /interval (refer to Appendix 2for adiscussion) Note: This table assumes good soil moisture andoptimal planned burn conditions. Moderate

severity overabundant saplings (seescorch heights inthetable below). Moderate High.Aimfor to scorch height sufficient to scorch to thetipof be burnt. Greater than 75 percent of thearea dominated by understorey trees should sufficient to it. carry and consideration given to applying asecond fire as soon as fuel build-up is an initial moderate to high-severity fire. An assessment should be made In most cases, overabundant saplings andseedlings can bemanaged within class High Fire (M) (H) 150–500 intensity (kWm 500– 1000 (during thefire) Fire Fire intensity -1 )

Average 0.5–1.5 1.5–3.0 height flame (m)

7.5–15.0 Average 2.5–7.5 height scorch scorch (m) Fire severity (post-fire) Little ornocanopy scorch. Some scorch of elevated fuels. trees andfallen logs retained. stubble remain. Most habitat half thehumus layer andgrass scorched litter remains. About patchiness.Moderate Some (or nearly so). mid stratum burnt completely moderate <20mheight canopy, least somecanopy scorch in and fallen logs affected. At remains. Some habitat trees Some patchiness. Some humus (loss of biomass) Description 13/05/13 4:26 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 24 re-ignitions whenusing fire at driertimes of the year. Other considerations: Be aware of containment issues, andthepotential for fuels are low. Wind speed: <23km/hr. Winds greater than 15km/hrcan helpcarry where FFDI: 8–18 Season: July to November (drierconditions). with burn planning. so that undesirable conditions andweather changes can beavoided, orto help It is important to beaware of weather predictions priorto andfollowing burns What weather conditions should Iconsider? • Repeated fires Mark Parsons, QPWS, Wallaman Falls (2011). a quick recovery of grasses. consistently scorched to thetip yet grass stubble andunburnt fuels remain to promote An example of asuccessful fire to control overabundant saplings. The saplings are

regime (refer to Issue 1). controlled, it is important to return to mostly alow canopy species recruitment. Therefore once mid-stratum overabundance is mid-stratum sapling overabundance, it may also have animpact on Although moderate high-severity to fires may benecessary to control to moderate to -severity fire 13/05/13 4:26 PM

24 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland Issue 2: Reduce overabundant saplings DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 25 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland 25 Issue 2: Reduce overabundant saplings • • • suggested tactics. objectives. What is offered below is not prescriptive, rather atoolkit of tactics should bereviewed andadjusted as required to achieve theburn at thesame location (e.g. dueto topographical variation). During theburn, Tactics will besite-specific anddifferent burn tactics may need to beemployed What burn tactics should Iconsider? • •

minimum. Greater residence timeis useful inreducing understorey density. amount of residence timewhile fire intensity and rate of spread are kept to a more complete coverage of anarea. This tactic ensures thefire has agreater against thewind onthesmoky edge orlit from upslope) may result ina A backing fire with good residence time.Aslow-moving backing fire (lit area. to create acontainment edge for ahigher-severity fire ignited inside the burn Commence lighting ontheleeward (smoky) edge. This can beauseful way in the year to assist inmanaging overabundant saplings/seedlings. burnt areas can provide opportunistic barriers to fire to support burning later carry fire (with numerous small ignitions creating afine-scale mosaic). These begin soonafterthewet season andas soonas fuel has cured sufficiently to carried out throughout the year whenever conditions allow. Ignitioncan Progressive burning is anapproach to planned burning where ignitionis overabundant trees (through scorching). fire throughcarry moist orinconsistent fuels. This is also useful to reduce Line orstrip ignitionis used to create afire of higher-intensity or to help years aftertheinitial fire to kill the surviving saplings andany newseedlings. instance, afollow-up planned burn will likely berequired inthetwo to three surface fuels (e.g. dueto shading if thethicket is well developed). Inthis intensity may berequired initially where there is alack of surface andnear is dependent upontheheight of thesaplings. Arunning fire of ahigher- While amoderate-severity fire is often sufficient to address this issue, it 13/05/13 4:26 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 26 Refer to Chapter 9(Issue 3),for fire management guidelines. may also beanissue. Hyparrhenia rufa grass . Inmoisterthatch areas para grass Urochloa mutica Melinis grass minutifloramolasses , grader grass Themeda quadrivalvis and in this fire vegetation group include guinea grass Megathyrsus maximus, severity andare oftenpromoted by fire. High-biomass grasses of concern during planned burn operations as they can dramatically increase fire It is important to beaware of thepresence of highbiomass exotic grasses Issue 3:Manage high-biomass grasses 13/05/13 4:26 PM

26 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland Issue 3: Manage high-biomass grasses DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 27 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland 27 Issue 4: Reduce Lantana camara camara has become aninfestation. Refer to Chapter 9(Issue 4),for fire management guidelines where Lantana and woodland should beapplied. are still continuous therecommended fire regime for healthy eucalypt forest Where Lantana camara occurs as ascattered understorey plant andgrass fuels Issue 4:Reduce Lantana camara Kerensa McCallie, QPWS, BeesSt. Island (2009). be applied to helpcontrol lantana. relatively continuous and therefore thestandard fire regime for eucalypt forest could Lantana occurring as ascattered understorey plant. Notice that grass fuels are still 13/05/13 4:26 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 28 Refer to Chapter 9(Issue 6),for fire management guidelines. management. The presence of rubber vine may require analtered approach to fire Issue 5:Reduce rubber vine 13/05/13 4:26 PM

28 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 1­—Eucalypt forest and woodland Issue 5: Reduce rubber vine DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 29

29 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­— Tall open forest wildfire. fires will beinfrequent. These communities will usually only burn with severe ground stratum means that planned burns are generally not possible and In forests dominated by Eucalyptusmontivaga loss of ground layer diversity. present insomeareas andmay contribute to anincrease infire severity and rainforest saplings/seedlings dueto along fire absence. Lantana camara is also The main fire management issue for tall open forests is the overabundance of Fire management issues Connors Ranges at higheraltitudes. Queensland Coast bioregion, tall openforest is only found intheClarke and combinations. Ashrublayer is occasionally present. Within theCentral layer is usually dominated by grasses, sedges, ferns andherbs in various confertus, acacia andpink bloodwood Corymbia intermediaground . The layer is sometimes present with she-oaks, grevilleas, brush box Lophostemon and/or Eucalyptus portuensis; orEucalyptusmontivaga mahogany Eucalyptus resinifera, yellowstringybark 40 metres) dominated by rose gumEucalyptus grandis This fire vegetation group includes tall openeucalypt forests (generally up to Chapter 2: Tall openforest 3. 2. 1. Issues: Ben Mohr State Forest, 2ha. Reserve, 57ha; Kelvin State Forest 10ha; Cathu State Forest, 8ha; Pelion State Forest, 7ha; Forest, 111ha; Connors Forest Reserve,107ha; West Hill State Forest, 76ha; Pelion Forest 171 ha; Porphyry Hill State Forest, 133ha; Kelvin Forest Reserve,125ha; Byfield State State Forest 3,277ha; Spencer Gap Forest Reserve, 259ha; PioneerPeaks National Park, State Forest, 888ha; Collaroy State Forest, 444ha; Homevale National Park, 435ha; Epsom 3 092ha; Crediton State Forest, 2626ha; Ben MohrForest Reserve,1098ha; Macartney Examples of this Eungella FVG: National Park, 6422ha; Crediton Forest Reserve, for complete list. Extent within bioregion: 32024ha, 2percent; Regional ecosystems: Refer to Appendix 1

Reduce Lantana camara . Reduce overabundant saplings. Maintain healthy tall openforests. , low fuel accumulation inthe Eucalyptus acmenoides , . Asecondary tree

a combination of red 13/05/13 4:26 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 30 • • • • Key indicators of health Awareness of theenvironment Issue 1:Maintain healthy tall openforests Bruce Higham, QPWS, Gamma National Park. legumes andshe-oaks. Tall openforest with ahealthy anddiverse understorey of grasses, sedges, bracken, •

Bracken fern andblady grass are notdominant intheground layer. effects onground layer plants. to eventually replace thecanopy), but are not having noticeable shading Some young canopy trees are present inthemidandlower stratums (enough Shrubs (where present) have healthy foliage. sites. grassy A diverse range of grasses, sedges, ferns andlegumes should bepresent in within gullies). including scattered rainforest species andpockets of rainforest (particularly the landscape ranging from grassy through to shrubby orwith alow tree layer Diversity intheunderstorey (of rose gumandred mahogany forests) across 13/05/13 4:26 PM

30 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­— Tall open forest Issue 1: Maintain healthy tall open forests DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 31 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­— Tall open forest 31 Issue 1: Maintain healthy tall open forests Jeanette Kemp, Queensland Herbarium, west of Crediton State Forest (2006). In rose gumforests, areas with arainforest understory oftenoccur. Shoalwater Bay (1999). Joy Brushe, QPWS, the midstratum. trees are recruiting in Young red mahogany 13/05/13 4:26 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 32 QPWS. Rose gumforest with anopenandmixed understorey. Tina Ball, QPWS, Gamma National Park (2009). Rose gumforest with ashrubby understorey. 13/05/13 4:26 PM

32 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­— Tall open forest Issue 1: Maintain healthy tall open forests DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 33 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­— Tall open forest 33 Issue 1: Maintain healthy tall open forests • Discussion • • • • • The following may indicate that fire is required to maintain a tall open forest. • • • • •

severe enoughto scorch rainforest pioneers (Russel-Smith and Stanton 2002). low to moderate severity fires, as this exhaust fuel for higherseverity fires transitioning has begun, it can becompounded by theapplication of repeated (Williams and Tran 2009). Transitioning is oftenirreversible. Inareas where recommended can lead to atransition from anopento aclosed structure absence of fire ortheapplication of fire frequencies that are longer than Fire plays acentral role inthemaintenance of grassy tall openforests. The Bracken andblady grass are dominant intheground layer. recruitment of newshrubs (lack of juvenile shrubs). Shrubs have sparse crowns and/orbeginning to die. There is limited orno material. Grasses are thinning, collapsing orappearing matted with abuild-up of dead The community is difficult to seethrough and walk through. large areas of community. Rainforest pioneers are beginning to emerge above theground-layer across Herbarium 2011). in southeast Queensland andhighaltitudes of thewet tropics (Queensland narrow, high-altitude zone ontheClarke Range, which otherwise only occur Tall openforest is habitat for anumberof plant species restricted to the mature andset-seed. unburnt at themaximum endof thefire frequency, allowing these species to to maintain food trees (where they exist) by ensuring some patches remain restricted diet—feeding only ontheseeds of she-oaks. Care should betaken in Queensland andis found within tall openforest. This species has a very The glossy black cockatoo Calyptorhynchus lathamiis considered vulnerable hollow-bearing trees. years to form andcare should betaken whenplanning burns to protect the novaehollandiae Ninox strenua (listed as vulnerable inQueensland) andthemasked owl Tyto include yellow-belliedgliders A numberof fauna species rely ontree hollows intall openforest. These to burn these communities when suitable weather conditions allow. forests (as they are generally moister). It is critical to respond to opportunities There are limited windows of opportunity to conduct planned burns intall open level allowing otherspecies to compete. eucalypts they must re-sprout from theground level andfire keeps themat this transitioning. Most rainforest species re-sprout afterfire, however unlike In managing these forests, it is important to understand themechanism of

found ontheClarke-Connors range. Tree hollows take many Petaurus australis australis, thepowerful owl 13/05/13 4:26 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 34 What is thepriority for this issue? Very high Medium Priority High recoverable. Planned burn inareas where ecosystem health ispoorbut health isgood. Planned burns to maintain ecosystems inareas where ecosystem significance. Planned burn required to maintain areas of special conservation Priority assessment QPWS. bloodwood. gum, red mahogany andpink Corymbia citriodora, rose 1983), lemon-scented gum red stringybarks (Strahan as they feed onthesap of on tall openforest habitat Yellow-bellied gliders depend 13/05/13 4:26 PM

34 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­— Tall open forest Issue 1: Maintain healthy tall open forests DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 35 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­— Tall open forest 35 Issue 1: Maintain healthy tall open forests Select at least two of thefollowing as most appropriate for thesite: after fire, and by using counts where relevant. Estimations can beimproved by returning to thesame locations before and walk around andif visibility is good look about andaverage theresults. locations that will begood indicators for thewhole burn area. At these locations understorey or vegetation type.It is recommended that you select at least three Every proposed burn area contains natural variations intopography, Formulating objectives for burn proposals Assessing outcomes retained. trees) (habitat bearing trees live hollow- and standing dead trees standing > 95%of layer. the ground reduced to < 0.5m saplings rainforest > 50%of Measurable Measurable objectives percentage retained afterfire. of habitat trees. Determine the fire intensity) and count thenumber the variability of landform andlikely or more sites (taking into account Before andafterfire*, select three components) reduced by fire. overabundant saplings (above ground intensity), andcount thenumberof variability of landform andlikely fire more sites (taking into account the Before andafterfire, select three or How to beassessed < 85%retained. Not Achieved: 85–95 %retained. Partially Achieved: > 95%retained. Achieved: < 25%reduced. Not Achieved: 25–50 %reduced. Partially Achieved: > 50%reduced. Achieved: How to bereported (in fire report) 13/05/13 4:26 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 36 Refer to Chapter 1(Issue 1),for monitoring suggestions. ManagementFire System. observation points can beobtained from themonitoring sectionof theQPWS by photographs andby recording observations. Instructions for establishing observation points beestablished. Observation points are usually supported to keep observing theland. To support this, it is recommended that Many issues are not resolved with asingle planned burn andit is important Monitoring theissue over time System orconsider formulating your own. burn objectives found inthemonitoring sectionof theQPWS Fire Management If theabove objectives are not suitable, refer to thecompendium of planned * stubble. remain as bases grass the clumping > 90%of retained. ≥ 10cm) a diameter logs (with > 95%fallen location. transect, apeg andacompass bearing can assist inrelocating theoriginal count It is important to return to thesame location before andafter thefire. If using aline  remaining afterfire. fire intensity) and estimate grass bases the variability of landform andlikely or more transects (taking into account Select oneormore sites orwalk one percentage retained afterfire. logs retained afterfire. Determine the intensity) andcount numberof fallen variability of landform andlikely fire more sites (taking into account the Before andafterfire*, select three or < 75%bases remain. Not Achieved: remain. 75–90 %bases Partially Achieved: > 90%bases remain. Achieved: < 90%retained. Not Achieved: 90–95 %retained. Partially Achieved: > 95%retained. Achieved: 13/05/13 4:26 PM

36 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­— Tall open forest Issue 1: Maintain healthy tall open forests DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 37 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­— Tall open forest 37 Issue 1: Maintain healthy tall open forests • Fire severity What fire characteristics will help address this issue? Fire parameters Note: This table assumes good soil moisture and optimal planned burn conditions. Moderate

severity between sapling reduction andcanopy tree recruitment. establish to eventually replace thecanopy. It is important to strike abalance overabundant trees while low-severity fires helpensure enough canopy trees Low class High Low Fire (M) (H) (L) to Moderate to . Anoccasional high-severity fire helps manage emerging

150–500 intensity (kWm < 150 500– 1000 (during thefire) Fire Fire intensity -1 )

Average 0.5–1.5 1.5–3.0 height flame < 0.5 (m)

7.5–15.0 Average 2.5–7.5 height scorch scorch < 2.5 (m) Fire severity (post-fire) Little ornocanopy scorch. scorching of elevated fuels. grass stubble retained. Some habitat trees, fallen logs and layer retained. Nearly all retained but charred. Humus Significant patchiness. Litter Little ornocanopy scorch. Some scorch of elevated fuels. trees andfallen logs retained. stubble remain. Most habitat half thehumus layer andgrass scorched litter remains. About patchiness.Moderate Some completely (ornearly so). canopy, midstratum burnt moderate <20metre height least somecanopy scorch in and fallen logs affected. At remains. Some habitat trees Some patchiness. Some humus (loss of biomass) Description 13/05/13 4:26 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 38 Landscape mosaic Other considerations • • • • • • • • • Fire frequency /interval (refer to Appendix 2for adiscussion) Mosaic (area burnt within anindividual planned burn)

be planned at alandscape level (seebelow). less likely as these forests burn with ahigherseverity. Rather, mosaics can closed-forest to low open-forest amosaic within anindividual burn will be Within red mahogany, yellow stringybark and/orEucalyptus portuensis Within rose gumopenforest leave approximately 20percent unburnt. Do not apply fire directly to Eucalyptusmontivaga low open-forest. mahogany, yellow stringybark and/orEucalyptus to portuensis closed-forest Consider abroad fire interval range of between five to twelve years for red gum openforest. Consider abroad fire interval range of between five toseven years for rose the maximum timeframe). to create varying stages of post-fire response (i.e. recently burnt through to Apply mosaic planned burns across thelandscape at arange of frequencies burnt andunburnt areas). the fire frequency) and size (each fire creating a slightly different mosaic of season, frequency (donot burn to aprescription of every‘x’ years but vary Variability: Ensure successive fires are somewhat variable inintensity, landscape (Queensland Herbarium 2011). different years ensure acontinuum of habitat availability across thebroader Different localities containing these communities should betargeted in patchiness andadjusted for wildfire risk anddrought cycles. assessment of vegetation health, fuel accumulation andprevious fire Fire frequency should primarily bedetermined through on-ground openforest. 13/05/13 4:26 PM

38 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­— Tall open forest Issue 1: Maintain healthy tall open forests DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 39 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­— Tall open forest 39 Issue 1: Maintain healthy tall open forests accumulation will vary. Fire frequency is only aguide. Other considerations: Some years can bewetter ordrierthan normal andfuel the area orwater is pooled increek beds andcreeks are trickling. single falls should beof at least 15mm)orseasonal creeks that are flowing in least 75millimetres (mm) of combined rainfall over atwo week period(ideally soil moisture include moist soil to adepthof greater than five centimetres, orat in therapid regeneration of native grasses post fire. Someindicators of good Soil moisture: The presence of good soil moisture is essential as it will assist Wind speed: <23km/hr and fuel moisture conditions are appropriate. DI (KBDI):Ground ignition:80–100orupto 140if therelative humidity, soil FFDI: 8–20(moderate-high) • • Season with burn planning. so that undesirable conditions andweather changes can beavoided, orto help It is important to beaware of weather predictions priorto andfollowing burns What weather conditions should Iconsider? Refer to Chapter 1(Issue 1),for tactics to address this issue. What burn tactics should Iconsider?

conditions become available. rare. Ahighpriority should beplaced onconducting planned burns when Opportunities to burn these communities under suitable conditions can be and amixed ground stratum. same timesoil moisture is sufficient to encourage regeneration of grasses Conduct burns whenconditions areenoughto dry carry aburn, but at the 13/05/13 4:26 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 40 Refer to Chapter 1(Issue 2),for fire management guidelines. health of theground layer through competition andshading. Overabundance of rainforest pioneers, wattles orshe-oaks may reduce the Issue 2:Reduce overabundant saplings 13/05/13 4:26 PM

40 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­— Tall open forest Issue 2: Reduce overabundant saplings DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 41 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 2­— Tall open forest 41 Issue 3: Reduce Lantana camara Refer to Chapter 9(Issue 4),for fire management guidelines. fire andalter the structure and composition of native plant communities. conditions are thepresencevery dry of lantana can increase theseverity of Lantana camara is present insometall openforest communities. Where Issue 3:Reduce Lantana camara 13/05/13 4:26 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 42 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. communities are eitherof concern orendangered. area also occurs at Goorganga plains, southof Proserpine. All of these islands inpatches nomore than afew kilometres wide. However anextensive sedgelands are found predominantly within lowland areas, onheadlands and ferns andherbs, but can also include areas of openwater. Grasslands and They consist of sedges, forbs or(more rarely) grasses interspersed with rushes, Freshwater sedgelands are rare within this bioregion andoccupy very wet sites. or Eriachne spp. with occasional sedges inthemoister areas. Imperata cylindrica, black andgiant spear grass Heteropogon spp., andAristida or amix of grasses including kangaroo grass Themeda triandra grass blady , and shrubs are absent orrare. Grasslands are generally dominated by one This fire vegetation group includes grasslands andsedgelands inwhich trees Chapter 3:Grasslands andsedgelands Issues: where erosion issues may beaconcern andmost sedgelands. the uplands, grasslands/dwarf shrublands onheadlands, grasslands ondunes require infrequent fire. These include grasslands ondrainage depressions in A numberof grassland andsedgeland communities donot require fire oronly encroachment of native woody species from adjacent communities. biomass grasses. Grasslands onislands are sometimes threatened by the camara. Some sedgelands andgrasslands are also heavily impacted by high- grazed (orotherwise disturbed) is thepresence of weeds, inparticular The main fire management issue for grasslands which have beenpreviously Fire management issues National Park, 31ha; Byfield Conservation Park, 26 ha. National Park, 49ha; Slade Point Reserve,42ha; National Dryander Park, 35ha; Byfield Sound Islands National Park, 78ha; Cape Palmerston National Park, 68ha; Repulse Islands Lindeman Islands National Park, 153ha; Brampton Islands National Park, 137 ha; Broad 182 ha; Gloucester Island National Park, 172ha; Keppel Bay Islands National Park, 162ha; Park, 357ha; Whitsunday Islands National Park, 278ha; Smith Islands National Park, Islands National Park, 679ha; Percy Isles National Park, 422ha; Molle Islands National Examples of this FVG: South Cumberland Islands National Park, 718ha; Northumberland complete list. Extent within bioregion: 8138ha, 1percent; Regional ecosystems: Refer to Appendix 1for

Reduce encroachment of woody species. Manage high-biomass grasses. Reduce Lantana camara. Limit fire encroachment into fire-sensitive grasslands andsedgelands. Maintain healthy fire-adapted grassland communities. Lantana 13/05/13 4:26 PM 42 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 3— Grasslands and sedgelands DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 43 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 3— Grasslands and sedgelands 43 Issue 1: Maintain healthy fire-adapted grassland communities • • • • • Key indicators of healthy fire-adapted grassland: Awareness of theenvironment Use fire to maintain fire-adapted grasslands. communities Issue 1:Maintain healthy fire-adapted grassland Jeanette Kemp, Queensland Herbarium, Slade Point (2006). In healthy grasslands grasses are upright and vigorous and(more orless) continuous.

Lantana (where present) is very scattered. Grasslands are openandeasy to walk through. Trees andshrubs are absent oronly scattered. Grasses appear upright and vigorous. diversity of sedges, forbs, lilies andotherground-layer plants also present. There is acontinuous ornear-continuous layer of native grasses with a 13/05/13 4:26 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 44 Rosemary Lovatt, DSITIA, Shoalwater Bay (2007). grassland communities dueto theharsh growing conditions. Healthy grasslands oncoastal headlands require fire less frequently than inland Jeanette Kemp, Queensland Herbarium, southof Quinns Gap (2003). Grasslands are generally treeless orcontain only very scattered trees andshrubs. 13/05/13 4:26 PM

44 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 3— Grasslands and sedgelands Issue 1: Maintain healthy fire-adapted grassland communities DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 45 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 3— Grasslands and sedgelands 45 Issue 1: Maintain healthy fire-adapted grassland communities • • • • grasslands: The following may indicate that fire is required to maintain fire-adapted Jeanette Kemp, Queensland Herbarium, Goorganga Plains (1999). Grasses sometimes collapse as they cure.

Lantana (where present) is scattered but increasing. above thegrasses. macaranga Macaranga involucrata var. Swizzle bush Timonius timon,Acacia Pittosporum spp., ferrugineum The grass layer is not continuous oris becoming sparse. poorly formed grass clumps. There is anaccumulation of thatch (dead material), collapsing grass and mallotoides. are beginning to emerge

and 13/05/13 4:26 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 46 • • Discussion • • • •

ecotone. ensure good soil moisture is present andif possible burn away from the and Johnson 2001). When burning grasslands adjacent to dry vineforest vineforest, they feed inadjacent grasslands duringseason thedry (Nolan While thecore habitat of theendangered Proserpine rock-wallaby is dry Be guidedby local monitoring programs. this area, ensure it has alimited coverage, not burning all areas at once. species regenerate afterfire. When using fire in headland grasslands in fire requirements are poorly understood, but monitoring indicates both very limited distributions occurring intheByfield area onheadlands. Their endangered headland commersonia Commersonia perkinsiana bothhave The vulnerable Byfield matchstick Comesperma oblongatum andthe remain thesame. the man-made nature of these sedgelands, fire management guidelines bund walls have beenbuilt to prevent saltwater encroachment). Despite Some areas of sedgelands are man-made (e.g. Goorganga Plains where early dry-season burns). grass andfavour black spear grass (thereverse may betruewith regular of grasslands. Regular late dry-season fires may disadvantage kangaroo The frequency andseason of aburn can affect thespecies composition communities may besubjected to bothbefore andafterthefire. addition, consideration should begiven to thelevel of visitor impact these after rain whenrapid regeneration of thegrassy layer is expected. In where there is arisk of fire encroachment, they should be conducted burning (refer to Issue 2).If burning is occurring innearby communities Endangered grasslands ondunes are vulnerable to erosion. Avoid Chapter 1[Issue 2],for fire management guidelines). and controlling overabundance where it seems to beaproblem (refer to is poorly understood, fire is likely to play a role in maintaining grasslands causing transitioning. More monitoring is required. Although this process to shrubland. Although inotherareas, these species donot seemto be overabundant inisland grasslands, andmay cause themto transition macaranga (andperhaps Pittosporum ferrugineum) can become It is thought that native woody species such as swizzle bush and 13/05/13 4:26 PM

46 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 3— Grasslands and sedgelands Issue 1: Maintain healthy fire-adapted grassland communities DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 47 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 3— Grasslands and sedgelands 47 Issue 1: Maintain healthy fire-adapted grassland communities appropriate weather conditions are most likely to favour post-fire regeneration. perkinsiana is poorly known. However, planned burns with good soil moisture and Fire ecology of theByfield matchstick andheadland commersonia after fire, and by using counts where relevant. Estimations can beimproved by returning to thesame locations before and walk around andif visibility is good look about andaverage theresults. locations that will begood indicators for thewhole burn area. At these locations understorey or vegetation type.It is recommended that you select at least three Every proposed burn area contains natural variations intopography, Formulating objectives for burn proposals Assessing outcomes What is thepriority for this issue? Kerensa McCallie, QPWS, Byfield National Park (2011). Medium Priority High recoverable. Planned burn inareas where ecosystem health ispoorbut health isgood. Planned burns to maintain ecosystems inareas where ecosystem Priority assessment Commersonia 13/05/13 4:26 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 48 System orconsider formulating your own. burn objectives found inthemonitoring sectionof theQPWS Fire Management If theabove objectives are not suitable, refer to thecompendium of planned Select from below as most appropriate for thesite: Fire ManagementFire System. observation points can beobtained from themonitoring sectionof theQPWS by photographs andby recording observations. Instructions for establishing observation points beestablished. Observation points are usually supported to keep observing theland. To support this, it is recommended that Many issues are not resolved with asingle planned burn andit is important Monitoring theissue over time to thetip. are scorched < 2metres saplings > 75%of stubble. remain as clumps grass > 90%of the Measurable Measurable objectives scorched to thetip. count thenumberof saplings of landform andlikely fire intensity) (taking into account the variability After fire select three ormore sites after fire. Determine thepercentage retained five metres around the central point. least at of radius a in clumps grass (immediately-very soon):count the Before andafter theburn mark acentral point. landform andlikely fire intensity) and (taking into account the variability of Before theburn: select three sites How to beassessed Not Achieved: <25%. 25–75 %. Partially Achieved: Achieved: >75%. < 75%bases remain. Not Achieved: remain. 75–90 %bases Partially Achieved: > 90%bases remain. Achieved: How to bereported (in fire report) 13/05/13 4:26 PM

48 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 3— Grasslands and sedgelands Issue 1: Maintain healthy fire-adapted grassland communities DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 49 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 3— Grasslands and sedgelands 49 Issue 1: Maintain healthy fire-adapted grassland communities Landscape mosaic • Fire severity What fire characteristics will help address this issue? Fire parameters • • • Mosaic (area burnt within anindividual planned burn) Note: This table assumes good soil moisture andoptimal planned burn conditions. Moderate

severity encroaching. Low Coast bioregion within thesame year. Do not burn more than 30percent of grasslands intheCentral Queensland season, late afternoonburns (that extinguish inthecool of theevening). However, patchiness within anindividual fire may beachievable using early are targeted at once). grasslands at apark orlandscape level (ensuring not all areas of grasslands can bedifficult to achieve. As such, it may bemore realistic to manage Due to themostly continuous nature of grass fuels, ahighlevel of mosaic class Low Fire (M) (L) to moderate to . Usemoderate a -severity fire if woody species are

intensity 50–100 (kWm 100– 1500 (during thefire) Fire Fire intensity -1 )

Average 0.3–0.5 0.5–1.5 height flame (m)

Complete removed. standing biomass biomass Average height scorch scorch ≤ 2.5 (m) Fire severity (post-fire) have burnt. Stubble still evident. surface andnear surface fuels Some patchiness. Most of the blackened remnants. fuels burnt. Stubble burnt to All surface andnear surface (loss of biomass) Description 13/05/13 4:26 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 50 accumulation will vary. Fire frequency is only aguide. Other considerations: Some years will bewetter ordrierthan normal andfuel • • • Fire frequency /interval (refer to Appendix 2for adiscussion) • • Soil moisture: Wind speed: Beaufort scale 1–3,or<20km/hr DI (KBDI):40–80 GFDI: 2–7 environments). regenerative conditions for grassland onheadlands, inwhat are otherwise dry storm-burns inareas of woody thickening (storm burns will also improve providing good soil moisture is present (to promote rapid regeneration). Use Season: Conduct burns at any time(but avoid late winter to spring) with burn planning. so that undesirable conditions andweather changes can beavoided, orto help It is important to beaware of weather predictions priorto andfollowing burns What weather conditions should Iconsider?

patchiness assessment of vegetation health, fuel accumulation andprevious fire necessary target more directly with fire. However, monitor these grasslands for woody species invasion andif six years. It is usually sufficient to allow fire totrickle in from nearby areas. islands andheadlands) consider abroad fire interval of between four to When burning grasslands onpoorer/shallower soils (such as those on four years for alluvial areas. maximum timeframe). Consider abroad create varying stages of Apply conditions, exposure to strong winds andrapid dryingafterrain. Grasslands oncoastal headlands are heavily influenced by local weather are trickling. creeks are flowing inthearea or water is pooled in creek beds andthe creeks week period(ideally, single falls should beof at least 15mm)orseasonal centimetres, orat least approximately 75mmof combined rainfall over atwo after fire. Someindicators include moist soil to adepthof greater than five Good soil moisture is essential for therapid regeneration of native grasses Fire frequency

mosaic planned burns across thelandscape

and adjusted for

should primarily bedetermined through

post-fire response

wildfire risk

and drought cycles. fire interval range of between

(i.e.

recently burnt

at arange of on-ground

through to the

intervals to

two to 13/05/13 4:26 PM

50 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 3— Grasslands and sedgelands Issue 1: Maintain healthy fire-adapted grassland communities DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 51 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 3— Grasslands and sedgelands 51 Issue 1: Maintain healthy fire-adapted grassland communities Grasslands can beinvaded by woody species if fires are too infrequent. Bill McDonald, Queensland Molle Herbarium, North Island (2011). blady grass grassland is rapidly recovering. Good soil moisture will favour therecovery of native grasses. Three months afterfire this Dave Judd, QPWS, PrudhoeIsland (2008). 13/05/13 4:26 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 52 • • suggested tactics. objectives. What is offered below is not prescriptive, rather atoolkit of tactics should bereviewed andadjusted as required to achieve theburn at thesame location (e.g. dueto topographical variation). During theburn, Tactics will besite-specific anddifferent burn tactics may need to beemployed What burn tactics should Iconsider? • •

a low-intensity backing fire that burns away from thenon-target community. lighting patterns along themargin of thenon-target communities to promote Limit fire encroachment into fire-sensitive communities. Use appropriate Topography andwind can assist further increating arunning fire. headland grasslands) can assist incarrying thefire through these areas. trees. Alternatively, widely-spaced spots inareas of low fuel (such as some with thewind) may helpcarry the fire into areas that have beeninvaded by Creating arunning fire (through closely-spaced spot ignitionorline overabundant trees (through scorching). fire throughcarry moist orinconsistent fuels. This is also useful to reduce Line orstrip ignitionis used to create afire of higherintensity or to helpthe intensity fire. This may include aerial ignition. they create hot junction zones). Spots apartwill further result inalower- Spots close together will result inalineof agreater intensity (as spots merge Spot ignition.Can beused to effectively alter the desired intensity of afire. 13/05/13 4:26 PM

52 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 3— Grasslands and sedgelands Issue 1: Maintain healthy fire-adapted grassland communities DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 53 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 3— Grasslands and sedgelands 53 Issue 2: Limit fire encroachment into fire-sensitive grasslands and sedgelands Refer to Chapter 9(Issue 5),for fire management guidelines. burns inadjacent communities are allowed to trickle into these grasslands. generally not required, however good soil moisture should bepresent if planned shrublands onheadlands andgrasslands oncoastal dunes. Active protection is grasslands ondrainage depressions intheuplands, grasslands/ dwarf A numberof grassland communities donot require fire. These include grasslands andsedgelands Issue 2:Limit fire encroachment into fire-sensitive Jeanette Kemp, Queensland Herbarium (2002). conditions are available. directly targeted. Allow fire to trickle into these areas when suitable moisture Grasslands oncoastal dunes are prone to erosion. These areas are not usually 13/05/13 4:26 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 54 Rhonda Melzer, QPWS Shoalwater Bay (1993). sedgelands whensedgelands have standing water orare very moist. Planned burns should beconducted infire-adapted communities adjacent to Rhonda Melzer, QPWS, Shoalwater Bay (1993). Sedgelands donot require fire; avoid burning these areas. 13/05/13 4:26 PM

54 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 3— Grasslands and sedgelands Issue 2: Limit fire encroachment into fire-sensitive grasslands and sedgelands DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 55 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 3— Grasslands and sedgelands 55 Issue 3: Reduce Lantana camara Refer to Chapter 9(Issue 4),for fire management guidelines. control methods. or for well-established infestations theintegrated use of bothfire andother The presence of lantana may require analtered approach to fire management Issue 3:Reduce Lantana camara 13/05/13 4:26 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 56 Refer to Chapter 9(Issue 4),for fire management guidelines. eliminated using fire. polystachya. Some species of high-biomass grasses can bereduced or hymenachne Hymenachne amplexicaulis andAleman grass Echinochloa High-biomass grasses insedgelands include para grass Urochloa mutica, guinea grass Megathyrsus maximusandgrader grass Themeda quadrivalvis. include molasses grass Melinis Hyparrhenia minutiflorarufa grass , thatch , and are oftenpromoted by fire. High-biomass grasses of concern ingrasslands during planned burn operations as they can dramatically increase fire severity It is important to beaware of thepresence of high-biomass exotic grasses Issue 4:Manage high-biomass grasses 13/05/13 4:26 PM

56 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 3— Grasslands and sedgelands Issue 4: Manage high-biomass grasses DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 57 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 3— Grasslands and sedgelands 57 Issue 5: Reduce encroachment of woody species Refer to Chapter 1(Issue 2),for fire management guidelines. species such as swizzle bush, acacia, Pittosporum ferrugineum Grasslands onislands are sometimes threatened by theencroachment of woody Issue 5:Reduce encroachment of woody species

and macaranga. 13/05/13 4:26 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 58 Fire management issues be emergent. A very sparse ground stratum may contain grasses andsedges. Allocasuarina littoralis. Occasionally mixed Corymbia orEucalyptus Lophostemon suaveolens, Acacia Banksiaspp. spp., andblack she-oak, Leptospermum spp., brush box, Lophostemon confertus, swamp mahogany, National Park. The dominant species are oftenmixed andinclude tea-tree, on dunes, including thewet heaths found inswampy low-lying areas of Byfield headlands, including islands throughout thebioregion; andat lower elevations areas to low woodland. They are oftenfound onexposed hills, mountains and contain only scattered trees anddwarf to tall shrublands that vary insome This fire vegetation group includes open to closed heaths that are treeless or Chapter 4:Heath andshrublands 2. 1. Issues: andmaywhen dry take many years to re-form. Avoid burning peat inwet heaths andsedgelands. Peat is susceptible to fire infrequently, orwill occur naturally (e.g. as aresult of lightning strike). rock. Fires should not beactively applied to these areas but allowed to trickle in self-protecting as they are surrounded by rainforests orinterspersed with bare Some heaths andshrublands, particularly montane heaths, are essentially avoided. too-frequent unplanned extensive fire (particularly inthe late season) dry is It is important to apply fire inandaround theheath, to break up fuel, sothat Islands National Park, 15ha; Repulse Islands National Park, 11ha. IslandsNorthumberland National Park, 28ha; Byfield Conservation Park, 19 ha; Newry National Park, 88ha; Homevale National Park, 84ha; PioneerPeaks National Park, 83ha; Broad Sound Islands National Park, 175ha; Byfield State Forest, 114 ha; Brampton Islands Hillsborough National Park, 210ha; South Cumberland Islands National Park, 208ha; Lindeman Islands National Park, 362ha; Keppel Bay Islands National Park, 271ha; Cape 1 831ha; Gloucester Island National Park, 911ha; Percy Isles National Park, 371ha; Examples of this Byfield FVG: National Park, 2818 ha; Whitsunday Islands National Park, for complete list. Extent within bioregion: 16799ha, 1percent; Regional ecosystems: Refer to Appendix 1

Avoid peat fires. Maintain healthy heath andshrublands. species may may species 13/05/13 4:26 PM 58 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Heath and shrublands DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 59 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Heath and shrublands 59 Issue 1: Maintain healthy heath and shrublands • • • • • • • • Key indicators of health: Awareness of theenvironment Issue 1:Maintain healthy heath andshrublands Kerensa McCallie, QPWS, Byfield National Park (2011). Healthy heaths are naturally diverse communities.

There is a variation intime-since-fire across the landscape. In montane heath, orchids andferns are present. Heaths are treeless orhave only scattered trees. by sedges. In swampy heath, shrubs are sparse andinterspersed ordominated sparse andinterspersed by grasses. On headlands andotherexposed areas, shrubs are wind-sheared, There is generally acontinuous cover of shrubs. Obligate seedregenerating species (such as black she-oak) are present. (these may include tea-trees, wattles and/orbanksias). There is adiversity of shrubspecies that appear green and vigorous 13/05/13 4:26 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 60 (2011). Byfield National Park Kerensa McCallie, QPWS, even inheight. is lower andappears recently burnt areas canopy of more time-since-fire. The heathshowing varying A landscape mosaic of Swamp (1997). Joy Brushe, QPWS Dismal interspersed. low woody species by sedges with are oftendominated Swamp sand plains (2011). Byfield National Park Kerensa McCallie, QPWS, emergent trees. and nooronly afew vigorous green growth Healthy heaths have 13/05/13 4:27 PM

60 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Heath and shrublands Issue 1: Maintain healthy heath and shrublands DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 61 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Heath and shrublands 61 Issue 1: Maintain healthy heath and shrublands Ensure theregeneration of obligate seedspecies: • • • • • Indicators that fire management may be required inheaths andshrublands: Joy Brushe, QPWS, Shoalwater Bay (1999). she-oak communities to develop insomeareas. Black she-oaks are fire-killed. Care should be taken to avoid too-frequent fire to allow

regeneration. production) can indicate that sufficient seed exists for post-fire she-oaks, Allocasuarina litoralis (evidence of several years of seed A build-up of seedcapsules ontea-trees, Lophostemon spp. orblack Heath has returned to its pre-fire height. in shrubs. There is anabundance of dodder laurel Cassytha pubescens entangled significant loss of lower-level leaves. The crowns orbranches of shrubs are beginning to dieorthere is a There is alack of variation inages of heath across thelandscape. 13/05/13 4:27 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 62 Joy Brushe, QPWS, Shoalwater Bay (1997). A build-up of dead anddying material may indicate the needfor fire management. Rosemary Lovatt, QPWS, Shoalwater Bay (2007). The crowns of someplants inlong-unburnt heath are beginning to die. 13/05/13 4:27 PM

62 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Heath and shrublands Issue 1: Maintain healthy heath and shrublands DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 63 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Heath and shrublands 63 Issue 1: Maintain healthy heath and shrublands Rosemary Lovatt, QPWS, Shoalwater Bay (2007). in over 30 years. Plants have lost theirlower-level leaves. It is thought that this heath has not beenburnt Byfield National Park (2011). Kerensa McCallie, QPWS, unburnt heath plants. vine, can entangle long- Dodder laurel, aparasitic 13/05/13 4:27 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 64 • • • Discussion Jeanette Kemp, Queensland Herbarium, Homevale National Park (2003). rocky areas. Some heath communities are essentially self-protecting, as they are broken upby bare, •

burns within surrounding fire-adapted communities. are oftenunmapped andshould beassessed before exposure to planned particularly as stunted rainforest oracacia communities. These small areas Be aware that small pockets of heathland/shrubland can occur onislands, species. damaging andextensive andmay encourage thegermination of undesirable recovery (andthecommunity ingeneral). The resulting fire can also bemore instances plants will bedrought-stressed which impacts post-fire plant Implementing fire during drought conditions is not recommended. Inmost mitigating impacts onorchids andferns growing onrock faces. below montane heath will helpprevent frequent fire. They also assist in Mosaic planned burns conducted infire-adapted communities on slopes are killed by fire andonly recover from seedlings (Williams et 2006). al. decline inextent and/orloss of local populations of these species, as they seeders to bereplenished. fire intervalsShorter may lead to thegradual at intervals of more than seven years allow seedreserves of most obligate obligate-seeders enoughtimeto mature andset-seed more than once. Fires Before being exposed to fires, it is important to allow theseedlings of 13/05/13 4:27 PM

64 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Heath and shrublands Issue 1: Maintain healthy heath and shrublands DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 65 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Heath and shrublands 65 Issue 1: Maintain healthy heath and shrublands after fire, and by using counts where relevant. Estimations can beimproved by returning to thesame locations before and walk around andif visibility is good look about andaverage theresults. locations that will begood indicators for thewhole burn area. At these locations understorey or vegetation type.It is recommended that you select at least three Every proposed burn area contains natural variations intopography, Formulating objectives for burn proposals Assessing outcomes What is thepriority for this issue? burn. break upthe that features topographical reflecting burn area footprint or aerial ignition within the is achieved, areas unburnt burnt and pattern of A mosaic Measurable Measurable Medium objectives Priority High recoverable. Planned burn inareas where ecosystem health ispoorbut health isgood. Planned burns to maintain ecosystems inareas where ecosystem provide guidance. history mapping, where available, can or from theair. Fire reportsandfire fire –from oneormore vantage points, heights andstages of recovery from Heath can beseento beat various How to beassessed Priority assessment was achieved. height ornomosaic is all of asingle age/ Not Achieved: Heath planned burn area. achieved within Achieved: Mosaic How to bereported (in fire report) 13/05/13 4:27 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 66 System orconsider formulating your own. burn objectives found inthemonitoring sectionof theQPWS Fire Management If theabove objectives are not suitable, refer to thecompendium of planned Fire ManagementFire System. observation points can beobtained from themonitoring sectionof theQPWS by photographs andby recording observations. Instructions for establishing observation points beestablished. Observation points are usually supported to keep observing theland. To support this, it is recommended that Many issues are not resolved with asingle planned burn andit is important Monitoring theissue over time following fire. one month approximately is present seedlings of healthy A diversity seedlings within a10 x 10metre area. note thepresence/absence of healthy landform andlikely fire intensity) and (taking into account the variability of burn, walk into three burnt sites Immediately or very soonafterthe seedlings are present. < 10healthy Not Achieved: burn area. within someof the seedlings are present 10–50 healthy Partially Achieved: burn area. within most of the seedlings are present > 50healthy Achieved: 13/05/13 4:27 PM

66 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Heath and shrublands Issue 1: Maintain healthy heath and shrublands DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 67 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Heath and shrublands 67 Issue 1: Maintain healthy heath and shrublands • Fire severity What fire characteristics will help address this issue? Fire parameters • • • Fire frequency /interval (refer to Appendix 2for adiscussion) Note: This table assumes good soil moisture andoptimal planned burn conditions. Moderate

Extreme severity the burn area. and topography influence theseverity and unburnt patches may occur within Heaths usually burn with moderate extreme to severity. However moisture help to break-up fuel andcreate barriers to fire movement. protecting, but management of fire in surrounding fire-adapted areas will more frequently than everyfifteen years. These areas are often self- (and someshrubby headland areas), it should beprevented from occurring While fire should not beactively applied to montane heath andshrubland range of between seven to fifteen years. the maximum timeframe). For coastal heath, consider abroad fire interval to create varying stages of post-fire response (i.e. recently burnt through to Apply mosaic planned burns across thelandscape at arange of frequencies patchiness andadjusted for wildfire risk anddrought cycles. assessment of vegetation health, fuel accumulation andprevious fire Fire frequency should primarily be determined through on-ground class Fire (M) (E) to

(during thefire) Average flame Fire intensity height (m) > 1.0

Skeletal frames of shrubs. evidence of green vegetation remaining. Extensive to total foliage burnt.Minimal Greater than 60% vegetation burnt. Fire severity (post-fire) (loss of biomass) Description 13/05/13 4:27 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 68 Other considerations Soil moisture: heath. Wind speed: <23km/hr. 15–23km/hrmay berequired to push fire through and spotting distance increases. in relative humidity that is less than 40percent, heath is extremely volatile higher relative humidity heath will probably not burn, however beaware that Relative humidity:Less than 50percent (ideally 40to 45percent). At DI (KBDI):80–120orupto 140for storm burns FFDI: 5–12 Season: Late wet to early season dry with occasional storm burns or to helpwith burn planning. burns sothat undesirable conditions andweather changes can beavoided, It is important to beaware of weather predictions priorto andfollowing What weather conditions should Iconsider? • • • Landscape mosaic • • • •

saturated or standing water is present to avoid peat fires. Peat fires can occur in wet heaths andsedgelands. Ensure thepeat is moisture is present to avoid burning these plants. rocky shelters within themontane heath communities. Ensure good soil Banks of orchids andbasket ferns are oftencommon onrock faces andin granitic soils. winds andcan out dry very quickly, particularly where they occur on can receive regular moisture orrain, they are also exposed to strong Be aware that althoughcoastal heaths andshrublands onrocky outcrops (e.g. mountain andcoastal), dryingandexposure. These areas are heavily influenced by local weather conditions vary. Fire frequency is only aguide. Some years will bewetter ordrierthan normal andfuel accumulation will entering from theheath community. will protect thesurrounding fire-adapted vegetation from too-severe fire An established mosaic of burnt andunburnt patches incoastal heath years, usually with aerial ignition. A landscape mosaic is achieved by targeting different sites indifferent 13/05/13 4:27 PM

68 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Heath and shrublands Issue 1: Maintain healthy heath and shrublands DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 69 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Heath and shrublands 69 Issue 1: Maintain healthy heath and shrublands Do not bealarmed if heath burns with highseverity, it will recover. Frank Mills, QPWS, Byfield National Park (2008). may not burn at all. Variations inmoisture and topography inhealth will vary thefire severity. Someareas Frank Mills, QPWS, Byfield National Park (2008). 13/05/13 4:27 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 70 Rhonda Melzer, QPWS, Shoalwater Bay (1993). Fires may occur naturally inmontane heaths (e.g. as aresult of lightning strike). Joy Brushe, QPWS, Mt Westall (1997). dwarf shrubland onmountain tops. Occasional fires (nomore frequent than every15 years) should beallowed to trickle into 13/05/13 4:27 PM

70 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Heath and shrublands Issue 1: Maintain healthy heath and shrublands DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 71 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Heath and shrublands 71 Issue 1: Maintain healthy heath and shrublands Refer to Chapter 1(Issue 1),for additional tactics to address this issue. • • • suggested tactics. objectives. What is offered below is not prescriptive, rather atoolkit of tactics should bereviewed andadjusted as required to achieve theburn at thesame location (e.g. dueto topographical variation). During theburn, Tactics will besite-specific anddifferent burn tactics may need to beemployed What burn tactics should Iconsider? Frank Mills, QPWS, Byfield National Park (2008). was thenused to assist incarrying thefire across the standing water. A fire lit onthe windward edge of this swamp provided asecured fire break. A running fire

to igniting theheath communities to assist inminimising fire spread. Ensure adjacent ridge communities are burnt inthe year (ortwo years) prior low relative humidity will berequired to carry thefire through theheath. second orthird storm (to ensure sufficient soil moisture exists). Wind and Storm burning: Conduct burning at thestart of thewet season, afterthe extinguish within close proximity to theoriginal incendiary. spread. Without these additional ignitionpoints,thefire will oftenself- required to increase thefire severity andallow thefront to increase rate of additional ignitionpoints on(or very close to) thehead of thefire may be Multi-point aerial strip ignitionusing heli-torch: Afterthefirst ignition, swales. Anumberof ignitionpoints may berequired ineach swale. in thesame year. Burn these areas by ignitionineverythree orfour adjacent dune-swale heaths. Concurrent dune-swales should generally not beburnt crests that are upslope of heathlands should beburnt priorto lighting Burn inassociation with thesurrounding landscape. Woodlands ondune 13/05/13 4:27 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 72 Refer to Chapter 5(Issue 2),for fire management guidelines. years to re-form. can have very negative impacts onthe vegetation community. Peat takes many is easily ignited andcan result inapeat fire. Peat fires can burn formonths and packed vegetation known as peat. Intheabsence of good soil moisture thepeat Wet heaths andswamps gradually accumulate partially decayed, densely- Issue 2:Avoid peat fires Rosemary Lovatt, QPWS, Shoalwater Bay (2007). or thepeat is waterlogged. Wet heaths may have peat soils andshould only beburnt whenstanding water is present 13/05/13 4:27 PM

72 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 4—Heath and shrublands Issue 2: Avoid peat fires DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 73

73 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 5—Melaleuca communities and/or shade-out ground-layer plants making fire more difficult to apply. of high-biomass grasses, lantana, andrubber vine, can increase thefire severity swamp paperbark/weeping paperbark openforest to woodland). The presence tolerate theoccasional fire (e.g. some communities of swamp tea-tree and swamp communities are also generally fire-sensitive; however others can forests contain fire-sensitive species which require protection from fire. Some management which will limit theimpacts of late-season wildfires. Gallery drier woodlands is maintaining alandscape mosaic through broad-scale fire communities, different fire regimes are recommended. The main issue for Because there are considerable differences intheunderstorey of melaleuca Fire management issues understorey sedges, ferns, palms andpandanus. Wetter sites, found inlower-lying areas across thebioregion, can support understorey sometimes with sparse shrubs such as grass trees andbanksias. their understoreys andtherefore fire management. Drier sites support agrassy are associated with each community andthere are considerable differences in woodlands, gallery forests andmelaleuca swamps. Different melaleuca species This fire vegetation group consists of three broad melaleuca communities; Chapter 5:Melaleuca communities 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. Issues: Park, 1ha; Lindeman Islands National Park, 1ha. Byfield Conservation Park, 2 ha; Bakers Creek Conservation Park, 1 Nationalha; Dryander 4 ha; Proserpine State Forest, 3ha; Clairview Reserve,2ha; Eungella National Park, 2ha; National Park, 8ha; Additions to Byfield National Park, 6 ha; Skull Knob Conservation Park, Mohr Forest Reserve12ha, Conway National Park, 10ha; Collaroy State Forest, 8ha; West Hill Buffalo State Forest, 16ha; Slade Point Reserve14ha, West Hill Forest Reserve12ha, Ben National Park 18ha, Bluff Hill National Park, 18ha; Epsom State Forest 2,17ha; Mount Ben Mohr State Forest 20ha, Islands Newry National Park 18ha, Whitsunday Islands Conservation Park, 51ha; West Hill State Forest, 25ha; Percy Isles National Park, 21ha; Cape Palmerston National Park, 1561ha; Mia Mia State Forest, 244ha; Sandringham Bay Examples of this Byfield FVG: State Forest, 2713 ha; Byfield National Park,1662 ha; for complete list. Extent within bioregion: 40268ha, 3percent; Regional ecosystems: Refer to Appendix 1

Reducerubber vine. Reduce Lantana camara. Manage high-biomass grasses. Limit fire encroachment into melaleuca gallery forests andswamps. Avoid peat fires. Maintain healthy melaleuca forest andwoodland communities. 13/05/13 4:27 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 74 • • • • Key indicators of health: Awareness of theenvironment communities Issue 1:Maintain healthy melaleuca forest andwoodland Jeanette Kemp, Queensland Herbarium (2002). and sedges. Healthy melaleuca woodland with amix of understorey plants including grasses •

are only scattered. Weeds such as rubber vine, lantana andhigh-biomass grasses (if present) of pseudo bulbs. Swamp orchids Phaius australis (where present) are found with abuild-up varying heights (from low ontree trunks to theupper canopy). Tea-tree orchids Dendrobium canaliculatum (where present) are found at Sparse shrubs (e.g. grass trees, banksias andgrevilleas) may bepresent. sizes, enoughto eventually replace thecanopy; andahealthy canopy. (or any mix of these) intheunderstorey with afew canopy trees of variable Healthy melaleuca forest andwoodland has grasses, sedges, herbs, ferns 13/05/13 4:27 PM

74 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 5—Melaleuca communities Issue 1: Maintain healthy melaleuca forest and woodland communities DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 75 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 5—Melaleuca communities 75 Issue 1: Maintain healthy melaleuca forest and woodland communities Some melaleuca communities have anaturally sparse ground stratum. Joy Brushe, QPWS, Shoalwater Bay (1997). This melaleuca community has ahealthy dense ground stratum with scattered shrubs. Rosemary Lovatt, QPWS (2007). 13/05/13 4:27 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 76 Rosemary Lovatt, QPWS, Slade Point (1999). In moister areas ferns may dominate theunderstorey. Byfield National Park (2011). Kerensa McCallie, QPWS, vigorous andhealthy. ground stratum appears ages is present, andthe A range of trees of varying 13/05/13 4:27 PM

76 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 5—Melaleuca communities Issue 1: Maintain healthy melaleuca forest and woodland communities DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 77 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 5—Melaleuca communities 77 Issue 1: Maintain healthy melaleuca forest and woodland communities • • • • • • • • forests andwoodlands: The following may indicate that fire is required to maintain melaleuca

the grasses. An abundance of melaleuca seedlings are beginning to emerge above in diameter. Blackened bark is absent from trees that are greater than 20centimetres An invasion of pinewildlings has begun to shade-out theground layer. or dodder laurel is entangled amongst theplants. Alyxia vine some dead ordying branches. Where shrubs are present, there is abuild-up of dead leaves and/or becoming sparse dueto shading. Ground-layer plants are declining inhealth andabundance andare Pandanus (where present) have askirt of dead fronds. grasses are beginning to collapse. are poorly-formed. There is an accumulation of dead material andthe Grasses, where they were once abundant, are becoming sparse or Alyxia spicata has become common as anunderstorey plant, Shoalwater Bay (2007). Rosemary Lovatt, QPWS, to apply. and making fires difficult diversity andfine fuels, layer leading to aloss of impacts ontheground eventually have shading overabundant.may They seedlings can become Melaleuca saplings and 13/05/13 4:27 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 78 • • • Discussion (2011). Kerensa McCallie, QPWS, Byfield National Park in areas which are long-unburnt. Dodder laurel vine can entangle plants

these species. the general principles of mosaic burning should provide habitat for and poorly-known flora and fauna species (e.g. grey goshawk). However These communities are habitat for numerous rare, threatened, endemic to five years of growth before flowering. Skull 1994)but can bekilled by repeated severe fires. They require four are epiphytes that are capable of re-sprouting afterfire (Bartareau and orchids can beused as anindicator of appropriate fire. Tea-tree orchids The presence andcondition of tea-tree orchids andendangered swamp management guidelines). present orwhenthepeat layer is waterlogged (refers to Issue 2,for fire peat fires inthedriermonths. Always burn when standing water is Melaleuca communities that have apeat layer are vulnerable to Kerensa McCallie, QPWS, Byfield National Park (2011). since-fire increases. Lower layer plant diversity decreases as time- 13/05/13 4:27 PM

78 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 5—Melaleuca communities Issue 1: Maintain healthy melaleuca forest and woodland communities DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 79 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 5—Melaleuca communities 79 Issue 1: Maintain healthy melaleuca forest and woodland communities after fire, and by using counts where relevant. Estimations can beimproved by returning to thesame locations before and walk around andif visibility is good look about andaverage theresults. locations that will begood indicators for thewhole burn area. At these locations understorey or vegetation type.It is recommended that you select at least three Every proposed burn area contains natural variations intopography, Formulating objectives for burn proposals Assessing outcomes What is thepriority for this issue? Very high Priority High health isgood. Planned burns to maintain ecosystems inareas where ecosystem significance. Planned burn required to maintain areas of special conservation Priority assessment Herbarium. Michael Mathieson, Queensland frequent. that fires have not been too flowered twice. This indicates hasprobably and six old years This tea-tree orchid is around swamp orchids indicate age. A build-up of pseudo-bulbs on 13/05/13 4:27 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 80 Select at least two of thefollowing as most appropriate for thesite: or consider formulating your own. objectives found inthemonitoring sectionof theQPWS Fire Management System If theabove objectives are not suitable, refer to thecompendium of planned burn * stubble. remain as clumps grass > 90%of patches. of burnt mosaic spatial 40–60 % Burn transect, apeg andacompass bearing can assist inrelocating theoriginal count location. It is important to return to thesame location before andafter thefire. If using aline  Measurable Measurable objectives after fire. Determine thepercentage retained five metres around the central point. the grass clumps inaradius of at least (immediately-very soonafter):count Before andafter theburn mark acentral point. landform andlikely fire intensity) and (taking into account the variability of Before theburn: select three sites c. b. a. Choose oneof these options:

ground burnt within visual field. area estimating thepercentage of metres through planned burn burn area), walk 300ormore landform andecosystems within account of the variability of In three locations (that take burnt; determine thepercentage of area with GPS, plot onGIS andthereby Map theboundaries of burnt areas the air; or more vantage points,orfrom of vegetation burnt –from one Visual estimation of percentage How to beassessed < 75%bases remain. Not Achieved: remain. 75–90 %bases Partially Achieved: > 90%bases remain. Achieved: burnt. < 25%or>75 Not Achieved: 60–75 %burnt. between 25–40%or Partially Achieved: 40–60 %burnt. Achieved: How to bereported (in fire report) 13/05/13 4:27 PM

80 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 5—Melaleuca communities Issue 1: Maintain healthy melaleuca forest and woodland communities DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 81 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 5—Melaleuca communities 81 Issue 1: Maintain healthy melaleuca forest and woodland communities • Fire severity What fire characteristics will help address this issue? Fire parameters ManagementFire System. observation points can beobtained from themonitoring sectionof theQPWS by photographs andby recording observations. Instructions for establishing observation points beestablished. Observation points are usually supported to keep observing theland. To support this, it is recommended that Many issues are not resolved with asingle planned burn andit is important Monitoring theissue over time • Fire frequency /interval (refer to Appendix 2for adiscussion) Note: This table assumes good soil moisture and optimal planned burn conditions. Moderate

severity Low patchiness andadjusted for wildfire risk and drought cycles. assessment of vegetation health, fuel accumulation andprevious fire Fire frequency should primarily bedetermined through on-ground class Low Fire (M) (L) to Moderate to with most burns Moderate.

150–500 intensity (kWm < 150 (during thefire) Fire Fire intensity -1 )

Average 0.5–1.5 height flame < 0.5 (m)

melaleuca melaleuca metres on metres on (up to 20 Average 2.5–7.5 height scorch scorch trees). (up to trees) ≤ 2.5 eight (m) Fire severity (post-fire) Little ornocanopy scorch. scorching of elevated fuels. grass stubble retained. Some habitat trees, fallen logs and layer retained. Nearly all retained but charred. Humus Significant patchiness. Litter Little ornocanopy scorch. Some scorch of elevated fuels. trees andfallen logs retained. stubble remain. Most habitat half thehumus layer andgrass scorched litter remains. About patchiness.Moderate Some (loss of biomass) Description 13/05/13 4:27 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 82 Other considerations: area, orwater is pooled increek beds andcreeks are trickling. single falls should beof at least 15mm),orseasonal creeks are flowing inthe approximately 75mmof combined rainfall over atwo week period(ideally can include moist soil to adepthof greater than five centimetres, orat least regeneration of native grasses afterfire. Someindicators of good soil moisture Soil moisture: The presence of good soil moisture is essential for therapid Wind speed: Beaufort scale 1–3,or<23km/hr DI (KBDI):80–140orupto 180for storm burns FFDI: 9–11 Landscape mosaic Mosaic (area burnt within anindividual planned burn) What weather conditions should Iconsider? • • • • • • • Season: with burn planning. so that undesirable conditions andweather changes can beavoided, orto help It is important to beaware of weather predictions priorto andfollowing burns

Fire frequency is only aguide. Some years are wetter ordrierthan normal andfuel accumulation will vary. December) as most wildfires occur during this period. Care should be taken inspring andearly summer (around August to longer periods (providing good soil moisture is present). Winter burns are also acceptable inareas that tend to remain uncured for burns. Conduct burns during late wet to early season. dry Conduct occasional storm should beburnt inany one year. No more than 20percent of melaleuca communities within thebioregion communities. A mosaic is achieved with generally 40to 60percent burnt within thetarget tento years. the maximum timeframe). Consider abroad fire interval range of between six to create varying stages of post-fire response (i.e. recently burnt through to Apply mosaic planned burns across thelandscape at arange of frequencies 13/05/13 4:27 PM

82 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 5—Melaleuca communities Issue 1: Maintain healthy melaleuca forest and woodland communities DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 83 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 5—Melaleuca communities 83 Issue 1: Maintain healthy melaleuca forest and woodland communities Refer to Chapter 1(Issue 1),for additional tactics to address this issue. • • suggested tactics. objectives. What is offered below is not prescriptive, rather atoolkit of tactics should bereviewed andadjusted as required to achieve theburn at thesame location (e.g. dueto topographical variation). During theburn, Tactics will besite-specific anddifferent burn tactics may need to beemployed What burn tactics should Iconsider?

the base to thetop of thetree. Be aware of wind conditions andemberspot. described as a‘ladder fuel’ paperbark can cause fire to rapidly ascend from Be aware that thepaperybark of melaleuca is highly flammable. Often pandanus. patchiness. These burns also protect fire-sensitive species including Areas with standing water can beused to create fires with agreater 13/05/13 4:27 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 84 • • Key indicators of suitable conditions to avoid peat fires: Awareness of theenvironment on the vegetation community. If burnt, peat takes many years to re-form. a peat fire. Peat fires can burn for months, and can have very negative impacts the absence of good soil moisture thepeat is easily ignited andcan result in (an accumulation of partially decayed, densely-packed dead vegetation). In Moist low-lying melaleuca andwet heath communities contain apeat layer Issue 2:Avoid peat fires Neil Kershaw, QPWS, Shoalwater Bay (1993). A melaleuca community with peat. These communities are sensitive to fire whendry.

(it is possible to squeeze water out of it). In theabsence of standing water, thepeat should bewater logged water that covers thebases of sedges andgrasses). The presence of standing water (visible water onthesurface orsurface

13/05/13 4:27 PM

84 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 5—Melaleuca communities Issue 2: Avoid peat fires DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 85 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 5—Melaleuca communities 85 Issue 2: Avoid peat fires Melaleuca community with anunderstorey of ferns andsedges. Mark Parsons, QPWS, Sunday Creek, Girringun National Park (2010). Post fire inamelaleuca community with standing water. Sylvia Millington, QPWS, Mt Coom (2010). 13/05/13 4:27 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 86 Frank Mills, QPWS, Byfield National Park (2009). The results of peat fire can bedisastrous andpeat can take many years to re form. Frank Mills, QPWS, Byfield National Park (2009). fire carried through damp peat. If standing water is not present orpeat is not waterlogged, it can burn even if moist—this 13/05/13 4:27 PM

86 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 5—Melaleuca communities Issue 2: Avoid peat fires DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 87 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 5—Melaleuca communities 87 Issue 2: Avoid peat fires What is thepriority for this issue? • • • Discussion the observations. indicators for thewhole burn area. At these locations, walk through andrecord It is recommended that you select at least three locations that will begood Formulating objectives for burn proposals Assessing outcomes

Very high Priority ignition point well aftertheinitial peat fire commenced. visible smoke). Peat fires can cause wildfires some distance away from the undetected for many months until above-ground plants are ignited (causing When peat burns underground it can besmokeless, oftenremaining tactics such as burning away from wetland edges). fire carefully to minimise therisk of fire entering the peat areas (use suitable necessary to burn adjacent areas inless than ideal conditions, manage the burning to ensure that if thefire encroaches, apeat fire will not result. If it is heath communities. The condition of thepeat should bechecked priorto Be aware of peat issues whenburning inareas adjacent to melaleuca orwet re-ignitions andlong-term damage to ecosystems. andcanwhen dry burn /smoulder for anextended periodof time,causing Due to its porous nature and highcarbon content peat is easily ignited implementation. most appropriate management during burn planning and Where peat is present, it is important to consider the Priority assessment 13/05/13 4:27 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 88 System, orconsider formulating your own. burn objectives found inthemonitoring sectionof theQPWS Fire Management If theabove objectives are not suitable, refer to thecompendium of planned Mark Parsons, QPWS, Sunday Creek, Girringun National Park (2010). has beenused to control fire encroachment. A low-severity fire adjacent to a Melaleuca viridiflora community where ground saturation • Fire severity What fire characteristics will help address this issue? Fire parameters peat fire. not result ina burn does The planned

Measurable Measurable objectives Low to moderate to . into apeat fire. carried into peat layer anddeveloped post burn to ensure thefire has not Ongoing visual assessment during and How to beassessed peat fire. and developed into a carried into peat layer Not Achieved: Fire peat fire. and develop into a carry into peat layer Achieved: Fire didnot How to bereported (in fire report) 13/05/13 4:27 PM

88 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 5—Melaleuca communities Issue 2: Avoid peat fires DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 89 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 5—Melaleuca communities 89 Issue 2: Avoid peat fires • • Other considerations: avoid apeat fire. Soil moisture: Standing water orwater logged peat is thecritical factor that will Wind speed: <23km/hr DI (KBDI):<120 FFDI: <7low–moderate Season: Avoid late season dry fires inthe vicinity of peat with burn planning. so that undesirable conditions andweather changes can beavoided, orto help It is important to beaware of weather predictions priorto andfollowing burns What weather conditions should Iconsider?

to ignition—avoid burning during these conditions. one week) may thepeat dry surface more quickly making it more susceptible Continuous low relative humidity (e.g. less than 50percent for more than Avoid burning areas adjacent to peat in years that are drierthan normal. 13/05/13 4:27 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 90 Issue 5). Limit fire encroachment into non-target communities (refer to tactics, Chapter 9, • • logged peat is not present use tactics that limit fire encroachment. When burning adjacent fire-adapted areas where standing water or water What burn tactics should Iconsider?

to aminimum.Donot create arunning fire. A low intensity backing fire ensures fire intensity and rate of spread are kept lower-severity fire. merge they create hot junction zones). Spots apartwill further result ina Spots closer together will result inalineof agreater intensity (as spots Spot ignitioncan beused to effectively alter thedesired severity of afire. Shoalwater Bay (2007). Rosemary Lovatt, QPWS, is water logged. present orensure thepeat burn with standing water communities. The key is to some swamp paperbark Peat fires are an issue in 13/05/13 4:27 PM

90 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 5—Melaleuca communities Issue 2: Avoid peat fires DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 91 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 5—Melaleuca communities 91 Issue 3: Limit fire encroachment into melaleuca gallery forests and swamps other fire-sensitive species. Refer to Chapter 9(Issue 5),for fire management guidelines. mitigating theimpacts of wildfire. forests andswamps. Mosaic burning of adjacent communities will also assist in tactics andweather conditions that limit fire encroachment into adjacent gallery In general, planned burns insurrounding fire-adapted communities should use than everyfive years. peat is waterlogged. Fire should not beallowed to trickle inany more frequently communities from surrounding areas, ensure standing water is present orthe and consequently low fuel accumulation. If allowing fire to penetrate swamp stratum of these communities is generally moist with highdecomposition rates is likely to beamajor component of theecosystems function. The ground Some melaleuca swamp systems are fire-tolerant; andseasonal flooding require protection. Gallery forests contain fire-sensitive species which can be damaged by fire and forests andswamps Issue 3:Limit fire encroachment into melaleuca gallery Jeanette Kemp, Queensland Herbarium, 30kmsouth-west of Sarina (2010). Melaleuca gallery forests can contain river she-oaks Casuarina cunninghamiana, and 13/05/13 4:27 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 92 Joy Brushe, QPWS, Shoalwater Bay (1997). weather to prevent encroachment of fire. These areas may seasonally. dry When burning fire-adapted communities adjacent to melaleuca swamps, use tactics and Jeanette Kemp Queensland Herbarium (2002). allowed to trickle in(providing standing water orwater-logged peat is present). Swamp paperbark communities donot require fire. However occasional fires may be 13/05/13 4:28 PM

92 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 5—Melaleuca communities Issue 3: Limit fire encroachment into melaleuca gallery forests and swamps DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 93 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 5—Melaleuca communities 93 Issue 4: Manage high-biomass grasses Refer to Chapter 9(Issue 3),for fire management guidelines. grass. Some of these species can bereduced oreliminated using fire. include para grass, Indian couch, hymenachne, molasses grass andguinea High-biomass grasses of concern intheCentral Queensland Coast bioregion Issue 4:Manage high-biomass grasses 13/05/13 4:28 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 94 Refer to Chapter 9(Issue 4),for fire management guidelines. and othercontrol methods can beused. management. For well-established infestations, theintegrated use of fire The presence of Lantana camara may require analtered approach to fire Issue 5:Reduce Lantana camara 13/05/13 4:28 PM

94 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 5—Melaleuca communities Issue 5: Reduce Lantana camara DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 95 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 5—Melaleuca communities 95 Issue 6: Reduce rubber vine Refer to Chapter 9(Issue 6),for fire management guidelines. management. The presence of rubber vine may require analtered approach to fire Issue 6:Reduce rubber vine 13/05/13 4:28 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 96 Fire management issues be located onislands andupto around four kilometres inland from thecoast. Rainforest species are also found insomecommunities. Dune communities can and asparse to dense ground stratum is oftendominated by sedges orgrasses. integrifolia. Adense shrublayer (e.g. of Leptospermum spp.) may bepresent box, tea-tree Leptospermum Acacia spp., spp. orcoastal banksia Banksia Eucalyptus spp., ridges. Common canopy species include amixture of Corymbia Melaleuca spp., diverse range of opento closed forests andwoodlands ondunes andbeach oak forests, sand blows with eitherbare sand orsparse herbs/shrubs anda This fire vegetation group includes foredune communities such as beach she- Chapter 6:Dune communities 4. 3. 2. 1. Issues: vulnerable to erosion if burnt. are killed by fire. Areas of bare sand with sparse herbaceous plants can become fire-sensitive species including beach she-oak Casuarina equisetifolia which potential for subsequent weed invasion. Foredune communities contain many fire may beallowed to trickle infrom surrounding areas, providing there is no rainforest species, donot require fire. However anoccasional low-severity wattle Disparrima that Acacia disparrimaoccur subsp. inassociation with Communities dominated by Moreton Bay ash andcoastal banksia orhickory (e.g. grassy eucalypt forest). intervals inareas adjacent to more frequently burnt fire vegetation groups The main issue for fire-adapted dune communities is maintaining longer fire Dune communities contain bothfire-adapted andfire-sensitive ecosystems.

Manage high-biomass grasses. Reduce Lantana camara. Limit fire encroachment into fire-sensitive communities. Maintain healthy fire-adapted dune communities. spp., she-oak (Casuarina spp., orAllocasuarina spp.), brush 13/05/13 4:28 PM 96 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Dune communities DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 97

97 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Dune communities Dune andforedune communities closest to thecoastline are exposed to very harsh Andrew McDougall, QPWS, Byfield National Park (2007). growing conditions andare generally fire-sensitive. National Park, 2ha; Byfield Base 1 Reserve, ha; Seaforth Base (Port Newry Road) 1 ha. National Park, 12ha; Bloomsbury Conservation Park, 3ha; South Cumberland Islands Creek National Park, 17ha; Clairview Reserve,15ha; Slade Point Reserve,13ha; Dryander Cape Hillsborough National Park, 20ha; Islands Newry National Park, 19ha; Ext to Reliance 32 ha; Additions to Byfield National Park, 22 ha; Skull Knob Conservation Park, 21 ha; National Park, 52ha; Byfield Conservation Park, 44 ha; Broad Sound Islands National Park, Hill National Park, 334ha; Bakers Creek Conservation Park, 96ha; Keppel Bay Islands 854 ha; Percy Isles National Park, 563ha; Cape Palmerston National Park, 526ha; West Examples of this Byfield FVG: National Park, 5472 ha; Whitsunday Islands National Park, for complete list. Extent within bioregion: 25556ha, 2percent; Regional ecosystems: Refer to Appendix 1 13/05/13 4:28 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 98 • • • Key indicators of health Awareness of theenvironment burns inassociation with thesurrounding fire-adapted communities. Maintain healthy fire-adapted dune communities by conducting mosaic Issue 1:Maintain healthy fire-adapted dune communities Leanne Simpson, QPWS, Three Rivers Road, Byfield National Park (2011). This bloodwood andeucalypt openforest shows ahealthy, diverse shrubby understorey. • • •

Herbaceous weeds (including grasses) are absent orrare. isolated clumps. Lantana where present, appears as scattered individuals orinsmall, sedges, lilies andferns. A diverse andhealthy ground layer exists andmay include grasses, vines, The presence of occasional stags andlive trees with hollows. grass trees orfan palms). There is ahealthy low tree orshrublayer (e.g. tea-trees, acacias, banksias, There is ahealthy canopy. varying ages (andthere are enoughto eventually replace thecanopy). Canopy trees (e.g. eucalypts, Corymbia spp., acacias, melaleuca) are of 13/05/13 4:28 PM

98 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Dune communities Issue 1: Maintain healthy fire-adapted dune communities DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 99 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Dune communities 99 Issue 1: Maintain healthy fire-adapted dune communities Fire-adapted forests ondunes will oftenadjoin fire-sensitive communities. Use of Joy Brushe, QPWS, Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area (1999). good soil moisture exists to limit thefire severity and improve post-fire regeneration. Dune woodlands with adense shrubby understorey can burn with highseverity. Ensure QPWS, Keppel Bay Islands National Park (2008). minimise impacts onfire-sensitive areas. appropriate weather conditions combined with tactics to limit fire encroachment will 13/05/13 4:28 PM DEPNP10067_bp2015_CENTRAL QLD COAST PBG D4.indd 100 Joy Brushe, QPWS, Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area (1999). A healthy dense shrublayer inopenwoodland Joy Brushe, QPWS, Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area (1997). This dune forest has adense mixed understorey of grasses, sedges andferns. 13/05/13 4:28 PM 100 Central Queensland Coast Bioregion of Queensland: Chapter 6—Dune communities Issue 1: Maintain healthy fire-adapted dune communities