This will be the fifth controlled ecological burn at Balcombe Park Reserve over the past two decades (2001, 2008, 2016 and 2019) and will be conducted in an area of vegetation that requires a burn.
The main purpose of an ecological burn is to restore original vegetation. Fire is an important management tool in managing Bayside’s bushland reserves where plant communities are highly adapted to fire. The heat of the fire and the chemicals released in the smoke and the ash act to stimulate the germination of seeds indigenous to the area, which are adapted to surviving in a smoke-prone environment.
Representatives from Council and Citywide onsite on the day will determine whether it is safe for the burn to proceed on that day.
Local residents, visitors and travellers passing close to Balcombe Park can expect to see smoke visible during the day.
We have already advised adjacent neighbours of the planned burn and our team will door knock those properties on the day of the burn, with confirmation of completion provided after the burn. The burn will be followed by extensive weed control.
The ecological burn has been approved by Fire Rescue Victoria.
