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The Granite Belt will bounce back from this week’s fires

One kilometre above sea level and boasting landscapes of dramatic beauty, the Granite Belt has become one of Australia’s successful tourism brands, and bushfires won’t change that. Southern Downs mayor Tracy Dobie

Bushfires continue to devastate QLD and NSW

One kilometre above sea level and boasting landscapes of dramatic beauty, the Granite Belt has in recent decades become one of Australia’s more successful tourism brands.

And bushfire and drought won’t change a thing.

The world class wines, the apples, strawberries, stone fruits, persimmons, figs and olives are still growing, and will hit supermarket shelves this year, even if in smaller quantities.

The Cambooya Rural Fire Service in action during the Stanthorpe Fire.
The Cambooya Rural Fire Service in action during the Stanthorpe Fire.

Southern Downs Mayor Tracy Dobie is confident the region has established itself firmly enough in the public mind to put the bush fires behind it, and continue to attract the visitors which now underwrite the local economy.

“We are suffering a few holiday cancellations as you would expect,’’ Cr Dobie said this week.

“But I would say to people, ‘please come and visit,’ and make that visit your donation to our region.

“Buy a coffee, eat in a local cafe, even come out for just the day and enjoy all we have to offer.’’

As more than 80 fires raged across the state this week the Granite Belt was very much in the line of fire.

Ballandean in the ashes. Picture: Annette Dew
Ballandean in the ashes. Picture: Annette Dew

By mid week fire crews had got most of the blazes under control, and turned their attention to the Sunshine Coast.

Four homes were destroyed around Applethorpe and nearby Stanthorpe.

the losses hit hard in a region already traumatised by a drought which has forced the council to secure contracts for water trucks which may be needed by year’s end.

Storm King dam just outside town has kept the town supplied for more than half a century but the last few months have rapidly emptied this reliable water source, so named because it’s perfectly situated to capture water provided by the late spring and early summer thunder storms.

Cr Dobie said fire fighters did an extraordinary shop in protecting homes and infrastructure this week, often using mechanical fire fighting techniques and keeping water use to a bare minimum with Storm King’s depleted supplies barely touched.

Nearly empty Storm King Dam, Stanthorpe. Picture: Liam Kidston.
Nearly empty Storm King Dam, Stanthorpe. Picture: Liam Kidston.

The water that was used came largely from Quart Pot Creek where meanders through the Granite Belt and the town of Stanthorpe before it joins the Severn River.

But Stanthorpe is still on track to run out of water by Christmas if those spring and early summer storms don’t arrive on schedule, and Bureau of Meteorology predictions offer little solace.

The BOM offers little hope for rainfall in the immediate future and long term predictions indicate rainfall is likely to be below average across most of the country from October to December.

Tracy Dobie, Mayor Southern Downs during a council water restrictions announcement, Stanthorpe. Picture: Liam Kidston.
Tracy Dobie, Mayor Southern Downs during a council water restrictions announcement, Stanthorpe. Picture: Liam Kidston.

But the Granite Belt brand has been built up over the last quarter of a century to such an extent it can absorb shocks.

With the help of Granite Belt Wine Tourism Inc, and innovative and energetic locals such as Ann Burke from Jester Hill Wines and Nathan Baronio, vice president of the Granite Belt Growers Association, the region will come out of this year’s difficulties even stronger.

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Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/insight/the-granite-belt-will-bounce-back-from-this-weeks-fires/news-story/601efe86fc06fb907f4e3b3c56a0b212