Queensland residents draws to the attention of the House that in semi-rural residential areas, mainly properties under 2Ha, property owners burn off vegetation, grass clippings and garbage when there is no reasonable cause to do so, there are alternatives such as mulching and composting. To be clear this petition is not to prevent back yard pit fires and BBQ’s burning cut dry logs. There has been an increase of owners of larger residential blocks where, even during fire bans, they light up and burn grass and tree clippings smoking out neighbours and putting neighbouring properties, native animals and wildlife at risk and cause health issues for other residents. In circumstances where fires are permitted under the local government laws, such as health, safety and amenity local laws, a person is still required to comply with s491 Environmental Protection Act 1994 by preventing environmental nuisance and smoke impacts on neighbours. Currently the state government and local councils are taking no action to prevent harm to the residents and the environment, causing many complaints and health issues for older residents.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to call on the state government to be proactive in preventing breaches of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 and provide proper funding to install appropriate neighbourhood signage advising of the fines that could be imposed should there be breaches in the state act.