Fog

Protecting paddock trees while burning off

Wednesday 5 June, 2019
With fire restrictions now lifted across the region, authorities have come together to urge landholders to be vigilant about protecting their paddock trees during the stubble burning season.

As part of the Year of the Paddock Tree campaign, the Goulburn Broken CCMA, City of Greater Shepparton and the CFA have joined forces to protect the catchment’s scattered trees in coming months.

Phile Hawkey, the CFA’s vegetation management officer for the north east region, said landholders must establish a three-metre firebreak around trees.

“That means there can be no flammable material around the tree. Sometimes simply raking around the trees is all it takes,” Mr Hawkey said.

He said it was essential landowners monitored the fire to ensure a safe and effective burn.

“A person has to be in attendance at all times while the fire is alight and must have the capacity and means to extinguish the fire,” he said.

Quite apart from the loss of vegetation when paddock trees are destroyed during stubble burns, Mr Hawkey said burning trees were the single biggest killer of firefighters.

“Burning trees are the number one cause of deaths for fire firefighters in Australia. They are so unpredictable once they are fully ablaze and there’s no telling when they’ll fall or drop branches.”

Mr Hawkey said he’d detected a welcomed shift in thinking about the value of paddock trees during his tenure with the CFA.

“There’s still more work to be done but I’m convinced that many landowners now appreciate the value of the natural resources on their properties. You can’t replace a tree in a hurry.”

The Goulburn Broken CMA’s Rebecca Caldwell said stubble burns posed a significant threat to the viability of scattered trees in the landscape.

“Despite the recognised value of paddock trees and legislative measures aimed at protecting them, we continue to lose important trees during stubble burning season,” Ms Caldwell said.

She said landowners were required to check and follow regulations and laws set down by the CFA and local councils.

“They also need to register their burn with the CFA to ensure authorities aren’t called out unnecessarily.

“Failure to comply with these regulations could result in prosecutions.”

The Goulburn Broken CMA acknowledges and respects First Nations people and the deep connection they have with their land and waters.


We acknowledge the Yorta Yorta and Taungurung people and their ancestors/forbears as Traditional Owners of the land and waters in the Goulburn Broken Catchment (and beyond). We value our ongoing partnerships with Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation and Taungurung Land and Waters Council for the health of Country and its people.


We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge and recognise the primacy of Traditional Owners obligations, rights and responsibilities to use and care for their traditional lands and waters.

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