Planned burns in Cardinia Shire
Key points
- Planned burns on Council land are done to lessen the impact of bushfires and maintain the health of forests.
- Planned burns are conducted by the CFA or Forest Fire Management Victoria
- When planned burns take place you will notice more smoke in the area.
Future planned burns on Council land
Council is working with CFA to plan and undertake planned burns and fuel management activities across Cardinia Shire over the next three years.
Financial Year 2025/26
- Cockatoo - Third Avenue (Part completed - December 2025)
- Pakenham - Pakenham Grasslands Reserve
- Pakenham - Bathe Road Reserve (Hillview Reserve)
- Maryknoll - Snell Road Reserve 2
- Narre Warren East - Cardinia Reservoir (Cardinia Creek Road) - in conjunction with Melbourne Water
Financial Year 2026/27
- Maryknoll - Weatherhead Reserve
- Upper Beaconsfield - Dallas Brooks Scout Park (Private property)
Financial Year 2027/28
- Maryknoll - Barongarook Rd North
- Maryknoll - Wirragulla Rd
- Emerald Lake Park - North
- Avonsleigh - Avonsleigh Common East
- Garfield North - Gregory Rd (Private property)
For further details on planned burns and other fuel management activities across the Metropolitan Region see the Joint Fuel Management Program. Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMV) undertakes a range of bushfire fuel management activities on public land within the shire. FFMV-led activities are not included in this list, to find out about planned FFMV works, refer to the Joint Fuel Management Program.
Pakenham Grasslands Reserve - planned burn April 2026
The planned burn will be conducted this year by Cardinia Shire Council.
Planned ecological burns have been identified as an effective means of improving biodiversity of significant areas.
Ecological values
Pakenham Native Grassland Reserve is an endangered native plant community of state and national significance. Native damp grasslands are listed as critically endangered in Victoria and are predominantly made up of native orchids, herbs, grasses and flowers.
The grassland is 10 hectares and about 1,000 metres wide, representing one of the largest grassland remnants in south-east Melbourne. Grassland ecosystems such as this are restricted to small remnants along roadsides and areas of private land, making the protection and enhancement of this natural heritage critically important. In recognition of this, the reserve has been listed as Critically Endangered by the Australian government under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
Floral significance
The grasslands contain many significant or endangered species:
- Matted flax-lily (dianella amoena)
- Golden weather glass (hypoxis hygrometrica)
- Lemon beauty heads (caleocephalus citreus)
- Plain Quillwort (isoetes drummondii)
- Yellow star (hypoxis vaginata)
- Pale sundew (droseia peltata)
- Smooth solenogyne (solenogyne dominii)
- Wiry buttons (leptohynchos tenuifolius)
Native plants finish flowering between December and January. Some plants go into dormancy over this period. This planned burn will take place after flowering to mimic natural burning regimes.
Environmental benefits
Scientific research into the effects of controlled burns on flora and fauna underpins the preparation work for these programs. Part of the planning strategy is to mimic natural cycles of fire that suit the plants and animals in the area. This can be valuable in maintaining the health of plants and ecosystems that are fire dependant.
Ongoing works
Regeneration of the site will be closely monitored. Post-burn site rehabilitation including revegetation planting and weed control, will be carried out where appropriate. Temporary safety fencing may be placed at strategic points around the site for visitor protection.
Look up or get notified about planned burns
Visit Planned Burns Victoria to subscribe to notifications about planned burns in your area, and to look up planned burns across the state.