MCU21_0110 Proposed hotel - Noosa Springs - Bushfire_evacuation concerns

The report states:

The setback distance required to achieve a radiant heat flux of less than 29kW/m2 is 15.7m from the
potentially hazardous vegetation to the north. Figure 4 below designates the setback edge of
hazardous vegetation where the distance to the proposed building is 21.9m from the north-eastern
most corner, and 24.4m from the north-western most corner.

The findings of the Bushfire Hazard Assessment states that Resort Drive forms a firebreak that would
be sufficient for most ground fires but if a significant bushfire involving the Girraween Nature Reserve
occurred on a high fire danger day with an easterly wind it is likely that a fire would involve the
understorey and depending on connectivity between the understorey and canopy, it may also involve
the canopy and such a fire has the potential to cross Resort Drive and involve the vegetation within the
subject site.

It is noted that Figure 4 shows instances of roadside vegetation above the road, in some cases reducing
the distance from the Hazardous Vegetation Effective Edge Line by approx. 50%. This situation might
provide an opportunity for a canopy fire to breach Resort Drive. Other areas of Resort Drive, which can
be viewed in recent aerial mapping, present the same issue, particularly where the road island is.

RECOMMENDATIONS (Page 18)

4. Water Supply (Page 19)
   a) The hydraulic engineering consultant’s assessment should ensure there is capacity to meet
      potential needs should a structural and/or vegetation fire threaten the structures. This
      assessment and confirmation should be made available to Council as part of this MCU.
   b) Confirmation of sufficient hydrant standpipes or inground hydrants located within and around
      the facility to ensure compliance with relevant guidelines and standards must be provided as
      part of this MCU.
   c) The use of irrigation water from the golf course lake should be reviewed to ensure adequate
      pressure and supply performance can be achieved for bushfire purposes in all areas that might
      be simultaneously served by that supply. The supply from the lake may not be adequate during
      drought conditions. Confirmation should be provided to Council as part of this MCU.



5. Future Planning (Page 19)

This section states:

b) An emergency response plan which will include an evacuation plan should also be considered to
provide a set of responses should a vegetation fire involve adjacent vegetation and visitors and staff
need to be located to ensure they are safe until the fire is brought under control by the relevant
authorities. Within the community titles this could involve either;

i. evacuation onto the golf course,

ii. evacuation within the community titles area, located behind buildings with fire safety standards,

iii. Within the hotel evacuation of visitors and staff to reception area for further instruction is sufficient.

Given the potential numbers of people who may be required to evacuate from the hotel to the
clubhouse, where Golf Resort users (golfers, spa & pool users, function/event attendees) and other
evacuees may be assembled as part of the response to a bushfire, there should be an assessment of
how best to manage such numbers. Parts of the golf course are already identified in some of the
Evacuation Plans for Noosa Springs Precincts having given consideration to the trees planted around
the course and also the possibility of firefighting helicopter operations.


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