PLANNED BURN MAGNETIC ISLAND

The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) conducts planned burns on parks and forests to support a healthy environment and reduce the risk and intensity of bushfires.

QPWS will conduct a planned burn in the National Park behind Arcadia and Nelly Bay between Monday the 14th and Friday the 18th of July 2025, weather permitting. Please see map below for burn location. QPWS will be working with other agencies including Horseshoe Bay Rural Fire Service and Queensland Fire Department to achieve this planned burn which will involve a combination of ground and aerial ignitions.

As a result of the planned burn, smoke may be seen in areas adjacent to the burn including; Nelly Bay, Arcadia, and Sooning Street, Aracadia Road and Magnetic Island Road.

To ensure public safety, the Forts Junction - Nelly - Arcadia Track (Route 4) will be closed from 7:00amTuesday the 15 July to 5:00pm Friday the 18 July. There will be no access from Mandalay Avenue in Nelly Bay, Endeavour Road in Arcadia, or from the Forts Junction on Horseshoe Bay Road.

Visitors to Magnetic Island National Park should observe all signs, barriers, and directions from QPWS Rangers and other fire authority staff. Do not enter closed areas for your own saftey.

Planned burns are vital in promoting ecological health, biodiversity, and the conservation of species and habitats.

They also aim to mitigate the risk and intensity of bushfires and their potential impacts on communities, infrastructure, parks, and forests.

Planned burns are highly weather-dependent, generally requiring milder conditions and minimal wind.

These same weather conditions can also allow smoke to accumulate and linger until weather conditions change and winds assist in dispersing the smoke.

If smoke affects you:

• stay indoors and close windows and doors; and

• keep respiratory medication close by.

Public safety is the highest consideration in all QPWS fire management activities. To find out more visit the Fire management webpage.

Live air quality data, and information on smoke and dust health actions, can be found on the Queensland Government’s website: https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/management/monitoring/air.

You can stay updated with local QPWS fire activities by visiting Park Alerts or by following Qld Park Alerts on X (formerly known as Twitter).