A FOUR-MONTH period of planned hazard reduction burns has begun on North Stradbroke Island.
It comes as part of the island's bushfire management strategy, which was developed after devastating blazes ripped across the island in 2014, impacting 70 per cent of the island's bushland and leading to mass evacuations.
The program is being led by the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation.
QYAC head Cameron Costello said extra fire fighting equipment and island-based contractors had been engaged this season to carry out the plan.
Fire trails surrounding Point Lookout, Dunwich and Amity Point had already been upgraded.
"The bushfire management strategy is unique in the combined use of traditional fire management practices and modern disaster mitigation strategies," he said.
"The Indigenous people are leading the way and working closely in partnership with the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and the Department of Environment and Science."
QYAC principal ranger Jacob Martin said upgrade works had strengthened 13 kilometres of fire trail surrounding the townships to fire management line standards.
"This season we are conducting hazard reduction burns around vulnerable and fire prone areas of Minjerribah's townships," he said.
"The works require the removal of shrubs and grasses of high flammability, leaving an effective fire break to ignite from for planned burning and a hazard buffer from bushfires.
"We are approaching fire risk by prioritising areas to burn based on risk assessment, regardless of whether they are owned by the public or by private land owners."
Mr Costello said land management agreements to carry out the essential works had been finalised with the state government and QYAC was continuing to negotiate an agreement with Redland City Council to deliver the fire management strategy.
Local residents will be notified when hazard reduction burns are scheduled to occur in their areas.
