Smoke alert for Nerang planned burn

There's a smoke alert for a planned burn in Nerang National Park between Wednesday 22 April and Friday 24 April 2026, weather permitting.

Apr 21, 2026

Source: Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation

What’s Happening: A planned burn is set for Nerang National Park from 22 to 24 April, with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service carrying out hazard reduction, weather permitting.

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Why It Matters: These burns are a key tool to reduce bushfire risk and maintain biodiversity, especially as South East Queensland edges into another dry season.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, we are expecting below-average May to July rainfall for areas of eastern and south-west Australia.

By the Numbers:

The 3-day burn window is scheduled between 22-24 April
Multiple nearby suburbs likely to see smoke, including;
- Nerang
- Gaven
- Molendinar
- Pacific Pines
1 key goal of QPWS is to reduce fire intensity across parks and surrounding communities

Local Impact: Planned burns are highly weather-dependent, generally requiring milder conditions and minimal wind.

These same weather conditions can also allow smoke to accumulate and linger until weather conditions change and winds assist in dispersing the smoke.

Residents across the northern Gold Coast may notice smoke, particularly around the M1 corridor, with visibility and air quality likely to fluctuate.

Source: BoM. Below-average May to July rainfall for areas of eastern and south-west Australia.

Where There’s Smoke…

Stay indoors and close windows and doors; and
Keep respiratory medication close by.

What They Said: If visiting Nerang National Park, observe all signs, barriers, and directions from QPWS Rangers and never enter closed areas, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service has advised.

© Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation | Map information on emergency marker locations.

What To Look For Next: Live air quality data, and information on smoke and dust health actions, can be found on the Queensland Government’s website: https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/management/monitoring/air.

You can stay updated with local QPWS fire activities by visiting Park Alerts or by following Qld Park Alerts on X.