MCU14/0106 Appendix H - Bushfire Assessment Report

Noosa Civic Expansion
Bushfire Assessment Report




4 Bushfire    Hazard                                  Mitigation               and          Management
  Specifications
The appropriate mitigation and management of bushfire hazards involves the integration of a combination of
bushfire hazard mitigation measures during the design, construction and operational phases of any
development, including:
1.      ensuring development design, including the layout of roads and driveways, and the location, size and
        orientation of lots and buildings, is responsive to bushfire hazards;
2.      specifications and materials for building design and construction are in accordance with the Building
        Code of Australia;
3.      appropriate fire-fighting and management infrastructure is provided, including an adequate and
        accessible water supply, fire breaks and maintenance/access trails;
4.      management of potentially hazardous vegetation taking into account the conservation values of that
        vegetation and the important role that fire plays in the functioning of many Australian ecosystems;
5.      landscape design and maintenance requirements;
6.      community awareness, education and training; and
7.      identification of parties to be responsible for specific bushfire management tasks and actions.
The following sections provide detail concerning some of the key design elements of the proposed Noosa
Civic expansion that are relevant to ensuring that an acceptable level of risk to human health and property is
maintained in the event of a bushfire occurring in the general locality.

4.1              Buildings and Structures
The SPP 1/03 Guideline states that, for all development, buildings and structures on lots greater than
2,500m2:
           a)    are sited in locations of lowest hazard within the lot; and
           b)    achieve setbacks from hazardous vegetation of:
                           1.5 times the predominant mature canopy tree height or 10 metres, whichever is the
                            greater; and
                           10 metres from any retained vegetation strips or small areas of vegetation; and
           c)    are sited so that elements of the development least susceptible to fire are sited closest to the
                 bushfire hazard.
With respect to the above, the following aspects of the proposed development are noted.
1.      There would be no subdivision (reconfiguration) to create new lots with an area less than 2,500m2.
2.      The predominant mature canopy height of hazardous vegetation adjacent to the proposed Noosa Civic
        expansion is 20-25m.
3.      The equivalent 1.5 times the predominant mature canopy tree height SPP 1/03 Guideline
        recommended building setback to adjacent areas of retained hazardous vegetation is 37.5m.
4.      In most instances the layout of the proposed Noosa Civic expansion makes provision for building
        setbacks that comply with the SPP 1/03 Guidelines by one or more of the following:
          - the existing and proposed extension to Hofmann Drive;
          - the existing and proposed extension to the internal ring road; and
          - proposed car parking areas.


QIC Noosa Civic Pty Ltd                                  Version 1                                   3 December 2014
J13041_Bushfire Assessment V1.docx                 Commercial in Confidence                                 Page 10