Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner is calling on Brisbane residents to show their support if they want to make the popular backyard winter fire pits trial permanent, as it comes to an end tonight.
The Lord Mayor launched the three-month trial on 1 June after calls from the community.
“By all reports, the trial has been very warmly received, but residents need to hit Facebook or our council website to register their support if they want to keep the fires burning in the future,” Cr Schrinner said.
“With camping trips cancelled and vacations on hold during the coronavirus lockdown, the trial has given residents a taste of a holiday in their backyard instead, roasting marshmallows, staving off the cold and enjoying each other’s company at home.
“If you’ve got into your backyard brazier or fire pit gatherings, then you need to let us know by email, phone call or social media that you want this to happen again, Cr Schrinner said.
The trial ends tonight and after that Council will weigh up public feedback and make a decision on whether it should be made permanent.
No warnings or infringements were issued during the trial period.
City Standards, Community Health and Safety Chair Kim Marx said the trial was launched with a number of strict guidelines around safety and minimising smoke.
“Residents have really demonstrated they can use their firepits and brazier safely and responsibly,” Cr Marx said.
“The safety of residents is our priority and these stringent guidelines have helped residents keep their firepits safe, in control while minimising smoke impacts on neighbours. To spread the safety message further, we also partnered with Kidsafe Queensland to produce a video with tips to keep children safe around outdoor fires.
“Fires left to burn out overnight can still be 100 degrees the next morning leading to a risk of severe burns, so there’s a range of key messages in the video warning of the dangers of unsupervised kids around fire pits,” Cr Marx said.
Residents are encouraged to visit Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner and Brisbane City Council’s social media sites to vote on whether the trial should be made be permanent before it ends tonight.
