Chain of ponds helps firies fight Currawan blaze

Landscape resilience in action

Like so many thousands of other Australians this summer, The Mulloon Institute’s Peter Hazell, and his wife Donna, were confronted with the full fury of bushfire recently. 

On the 10th of January 2020, the Currawan (renamed locally as the Charleys Forest) fire burnt through two thirds of Peter and Donna’s 350ha property, Baarlijan, near Braidwood. Many firies and locals along a 10km front fought to pull the fire up before it could make yet another run towards Mongarlowe and Braidwood. All of them needed water!

Fortunately, they found it in ponds dotting the intact valley floor at Baarlijan in a hydrated part of the landscape that proved much more resilient to the fires. The fire trucks were able to safely rewater in this green oasis, surrounded by a desiccated landscape just wanting to burn, before continuing to fight the fire. 

Pictured is the Sunshine Coast Strike Team from Queensland – Alex, Ray, Trevor, Garry and Martyka, rewatering at what Peter and Donna call ‘Opera House Pond’.

Thank-you to everybody who has helped to fight these fires!

* Baarlijan and its chain of ponds featured in Rivers of Carbon’s video:
Buffers, Sponges & Moderators: A film about managing swampy meadows and wetlands.