COUNCIL has completed more than 40 of actions to better prepare the SMBIs for bushfires, but some residents say more needs to be done to plan for increasing island populations.
Last week, council announced it had completed 56 recommendations included in a 2017 fire review by Queensland Fire and Emergency Services. Of these, 42 recommendations were for the islands.
The report was commissioned by council after fires on Macleay and Russell islands in 2016.
The Russell Island blaze led to evacuations, threatened 60 homes and burnt out more than 150 hectares of land.
Mayor Karen Williams said SMBI communities were now much better prepared for emergency situations.
Tonnes of rubbish and car bodies had been removed from SMBI properties, 764 notices issued to landholders to reduce fire hazards, and 83 properties cleaned up by council and contractors.
Community campaigns and programs, like know your neighbour and community champions, had expanded support for vulnerable community members.
Actions also included updating evacuation routes, developing an emergency dashboard warning system, undertaking planned burns undertaken and installing telecommunications infrastructure.
Fire trails were cleared and widened, and a future program of work identified.
Island resident Greg Hartay-Szabo, who protested for better island fire protection four years ago, said some areas had been greatly improved in recent years but there was still dissatisfaction in the community.
"Looking at feedback from residents... the ongoing maintenance is something that's seriously lacking," Mr Hartay-Szabo said.
"Fuel load keeps accumulating on certain council blocks with no or mere symbolic maintenance done by chemical weed spraying on block edges."
An island resident reported three unkempt council blocks in one street.
Cr Williams said while the fire report recommendations were formally closed, fire management activity was continuing alongside council's annual disaster prepareness activities.
"Recent storm events have reminded us to be ever vigilant in the face of fire, flood and storm events and to look at and address risks around our properties," she said.
"Council will continue to support and advocate for well-co-ordinated fire and emergency responses across the Redlands.
"Locations with large bushland areas, unique logistical and access issues, and demographically higher aged and vulnerable communities continue to require a whole of government and community response."
Mr Hartay-Szabo said some residents felt there was no cohesive, long-term plan.
"If we decide to take the impacts of climate change seriously, we must make some relevant reforms to adapt our immediate environment to new conditions," he said.
"We cannot ignore the fact that both our general temperatures and the island population are rising, among other mitigating circumstances.
"I propose that we see a five year fire hazard mitigation review implemented by an independent authority ... reporting on SMBI fire hazard mitigation implementation progress due in 2022 at the latest."