The rainforests of south-east Queensland bushfire region is defined by the south-east Queensland Natural Resource Management boundary and covers nearly 2.4 million hectares. It includes a portion of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area.
The Traditional Owners of this region include: Jinibara, Kabi Kabi, Kombumerri, Ngaraghwal, Mununjali, Wangerriburra, Quandamooka and Yuggera Ugarapul.
Impacts of the 2019-20 bushfires
The 2019–20 bushfires burnt approximately 97,200 hectares in this region. Of this, 46 per cent was burnt at a high or very high severity. Approximately 36 per cent of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area in this region was burnt.
This map shows the extent and severity of the 2019–20 bushfires in the rainforests of south-east Queensland region.
Text version of image
This map shows the extent and severity of the 2019–20 bushfires in the rainforests of south-east Queensland region.
Environmental values
Important environmental values impacted by the bushfires that were identified by the Expert Panel for management intervention in the region include:
- Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area
- four Threatened Ecological Communities, including Lowland Rainforest of Subtropical Australia
- 34 animal species such as the freshwater crayfish Euastacus jagara, Albert’s Lyrebird, Fleay’s Frog, Oxleyan Pygmy Perch, and the Honey Blueye freshwater fish
- eight plant species such as the Mountain Wax Flower, Mountain Zieria and the Bertya ernestiana shrub.
 Photo: Mike's Birds licensed with CC BY-SA 2.0. |
 Photo: Froggydarb licensed with CC BY-SA 3.0 |
 Photo: Geoff Derrin licensed with CC BY-SA 4.0 |
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Rarely seen but frequently heard, Albert’s Lyrebird has a spectacular call that rings out through winter. Around 18 per cent of its habitat in the region was burnt. |
Fleay’s Frogs often hide amongst the leaf litter on the rainforest floor near to fast-flowing streams. This endangered frog has 38 per cent of its habitat in this region, of which 12 per cent was burnt. |
The Mountain Zieria is a native citrus shrub found only in Queensland. It has 64 per cent of its range in the region, 84 per cent of this was burnt, 51 per cent at high or very high severity. |
Australian Government bushfire recovery funding in the region
More than $6.4 million has been invested in recovery of native wildlife and their habitat in the rainforests of south-east Queensland bushfire region. This investment is in two phases.
Phase 1 – Emergency Response
The Australian Government directly invested $1.95 million in the south-east Queensland region, as part of the initial $50 million investment in bushfire recovery for wildlife and habitats. This includes:
- $450,000 to Natural Resource Management organisations for recovery actions throughout the region including weed and pest control, and boundary fencing:
- $350,000 to Healthy Land and Water
- $100,000 to Southern Queensland Landscapes
- $1.5 million to the Queensland Government for post-fire evaluation and fire severity mapping, and field surveys of threatened plant and animal species.
Phase 2 – Resilience and Recovery
The Australian Government is investing $4 million in the rainforests of south-east Queensland bushfire region under the $110 million Regional Bushfire Recovery Fund to increase the resilience and recovery of fire-affected species, ecological communities and natural assets.This includes:
- $1.65 million to Healthy Land and Water to work closely with landholders to implement pest and weed management activities and to work with communities on fire management actions
- $2.35 million to the Queensland Government to undertake work across Main Range, Lamington and Mount Barney National Parks and the Cooloola section of the Great Sandy National Park. Actions include pest control, weed control and fire management and planning, including fire line enhancement and additional water storage points.
This investment was guided by recommendations from a co-design workshop held with stakeholders for this region on 28 August 2020. The workshop report is available on the Workshops and ministerial roundtables page.
A further $500,000 is being invested in this region through 6 projects supported under the $10 million Bushfire Recovery for Wildlife and Habitat Community Grants Program.
A detailed list of funded projects is available on the Activities and Outcomes page.
Australian Government funding for NRM projects is delivered through the Commonwealth’s broader Regional Land Partnerships (RLP) program. See current National Landcare Program investments.