An influencer has been fined more than $834 for illegally lighting a fire on the World Heritage-listed K’gari (Fraser Island).
Queensland’s Environment Department said the woman also received a warning for flying a drone to record video above a camping area, where use of drones is restricted.
Campfires on K’gari are strictly prohibited, except in communal fire rings provided by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service at select camping areas when fire bans are not in place.
Fires are strictly prohibited on the World Heritage-listed island. (Supplied: Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation)
People were quick to comment on a video posted to YouTube last month by Bridget Crosato, that fires were prohibited and she should re-edit her content.
Senior ranger Chad Hoult said content creators were not exempt from the rules.
He said social media influencers were not an official source of information on K’gari’s regulations.
“Disregarding these rules poses a serious threat to K’gari’s delicate environment, unique wildlife, and rich cultural heritage,” Mr Hoult said in a statement.
In 2020, a bushfire burned for three months and devastated about half the island after a campfire was not properly extinguished.
Bridget Crosato was also issued a warning about using a drone in a restricted area, over a campsite. (Supplied: YouTube)
Mr Hoult said the fire ban was to protect K’gari’s unique environment.
“Illegal fires can quickly become bushfires that impact the island’s natural and cultural values and put lives at risk,” Mr Hoult said.
“We are lucky this wasn’t the case with this fire. However, we have seen illegal campfires become significant bushfires on Mulgumpin (Moreton Island) and at Teewah.”
In the past quarter, Mr Hoult said they had given six infringement notices for illegal fires, which he described as an improvement.
The Department of Environment has issued six infringement notices in the past quarter for illegal fires on K’gari. (Supplied: Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation.)
Mr Hoult said rangers did keep an eye on social media content to ensure rules were being followed.
“In this case, we got a number of members of the public who did alert us to the situation,” he said.
At a symposium on the management and sustainability of K’gari yesterday Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation director Conway Burns spoke about the value of cultural burns in helping to regenerate the island after it was devastated by bushfires in 2020.
He urged all visitors to understand the regulations when visiting any national park.
“Today it’s still suffering because it’s coming back wrong and sick,” Mr Burns said.
“We need to help heal it by connecting with her [K’gari].”