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Attachment 3 - Bushfire Management Plan · MCU13/0251
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Scanlon Property Group Fire Management Plan for ‘Essence of Peregian’ – 215-219 David Low Way, Peregian Beach November 2007
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“IMPORTANT NOTE”
Apart from fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism, or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, no
part of this report, its attachments or appendices may be reproduced by any process without the written consent of Natural
Solutions Environmental Consultants Pty Ltd (“Natural Solutions”). All enquiries should be directed to Natural Solutions.
We have prepared this report for the sole purposes of [Scanlon] (“Client”) for the specific purpose only for which it is supplied.
This report is strictly limited to the Purpose and the facts and matters stated in it and does not apply directly or indirectly and will
not be used for any other application, purpose, use or matter.
In preparing this report we have made certain assumptions. We have assumed that all information and documents provided to
us by the Client or as a result of a specific request or enquiry were complete, accurate and up-to-date. Where we have obtained
information from a government register or database, we have assumed that the information is accurate. Where an assumption
has been made, we have not made any independent investigations with respect to the matters the subject of that assumption.
We are not aware of any reason why any of the assumptions are incorrect.
This report is presented without the assumption of a duty of care to any other person (other than the Client) (“Third Party”). The
report may not contain sufficient information for the purposes of a Third Party or for other uses. Without the prior written consent
of Natural Solutions:
a) this report may not be relied on by a Third Party; and
b) Natural Solutions will not be liable to a Third Party for any loss, damage, liability or claim arising out of or incidental to a
Third Party publishing, using or relying on the facts, content, opinions or subject matter contained in this report.
If a Third Party uses or relies on the facts, content, opinions or subject matter contained in this report with or without the consent
of Natural Solutions, Natural Solutions disclaims all risk and the Third Party assumes all risk and releases and indemnifies and
agrees to keep indemnified Natural Solutions from any loss, damage, claim or liability arising directly or indirectly from the use of
or reliance on this report.
In this note, a reference to loss and damage includes past and prospective economic loss, loss of profits, damage to property,
injury to any person (including death) costs and expenses incurred in taking measures to prevent, mitigate or rectify any harm,
loss of opportunity, legal costs, compensation, interest and any other direct, indirect, consequential or financial or other loss.
Quality Assurance Statement
Revision Author Reviewer Approved for Issue
No. Name Date
1 Justin Watson Justin Watson Justin Watson 21 November
Jenni Garden 2007
NATURAL SOLUTIONS ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS PTY LTD
Brisbane Office: Cairns Office:
Suite 16, Level 2 Central Brunswick, Level 2, 26 Florence Street
Cnr Brunswick & Martin Streets CAIRNS QLD 4870
FORTITUDE VALLEY QLD 4006 PO Box 6935, Cairns Qld 4870
PO Box 1156, Fortitude Valley Qld 4006 Tel: (07) 4041 3522
Tel: (07) 3124 9400 Fax (07) 4051 4141
Fax: (07) 3124 9499
Sunshine Coast Office Townsville Office
Suite 13, the Atrium Level 4, Northtown Tower
91 Poinciana Street 280 Flinders Mall (access via Ogden Street)
TEWANTIN QLD 4565 TOWNSVILLE QLD 4810
PO Box 1171, Tewantin Qld 4565 PO Box 279, Townsville Qld 4810
Ph: (07) 5442 4494 Tel: (07) 4772 5033
Fax: (07) 5442 4474 Fax: (07) 4772 5044
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SCANLON PROPERTY GROUP
Fire Management Plan – Peregian Beach
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................... 1
1.1 Background ........................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Scope of Work / Objectives .................................................................................. 1
1.3 Site Description & Context ................................................................................... 1
1.4 Legislation ............................................................................................................. 2
2.0 VEGETATION COMMUNITIES ................................................................... 5
2.1 Caravan Park Area ................................................................................................ 5
2.2 Remnant Wet Heath Area ..................................................................................... 5
2.3 Vegetation Buffer .................................................................................................. 6
3.0 BUSHFIRE HAZARD ASSESSMENT......................................................... 6
3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 6
3.2 Additional Site Information .................................................................................. 7
3.2.1 Fire History and National Park Management........................................................... 7
3.2.2 Slope and Aspect .................................................................................................... 7
3.2.3 Site Infrastructure.................................................................................................... 7
3.3 Severity of Bushfire Hazard ................................................................................. 7
3.4 Vegetation.............................................................................................................. 8
3.5 Slope ...................................................................................................................... 8
3.6 Aspect .................................................................................................................... 8
3.7 Field Assessment.................................................................................................. 9
3.8 Bushfire Planning ................................................................................................. 9
4.0 SUMMARY & MITIGATION MEASURES ................................................. 10
5.0 BIBLIOGRAPHY........................................................................................ 10
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1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
As per Noosa Shire Council’s Information Request (8 August 2007, item 12) Natural Solutions
Environmental Consultants (Natural Solutions) has been requested to prepare a Fire
Management Plan (FMP) for the Scanlon Property Group’s proposed ‘Essence of Peregian’
development located at 215-219 David Low Way, Peregian.
Previous reporting and site assessments conducted in 2004 for the site by Natural Solution’s
personnel (then C&B Group) have been consulted during the reporting of the Ecological
Assessment. Two independent bushfire management consultants, Rod Friend (historically) and
Tony Sambrooks (November 2007), have also been consulted in the preparation of this plan.
1.2 SCOPE OF WORK / OBJECTIVES
The primary objectives of the FMP are to:
Assess the site’s topography and vegetation, as well as the proposed development and
identify any possible fire hazards and risks associated with the vegetation on and
adjacent to the site; and
Identify management actions and mitigation measures to help protect the proposed
development and subsequent human use of the site from fire hazards and risks.
1.3 SITE DESCRIPTION & CONTEXT
The site is approximately 2ha in size and is located on a relatively flat (< 1%) landscape located
behind (west of) the Peregian Beach Hotel on the western side of David Low Way. Roughly
two-thirds of the site is used as a caravan park and camping grounds, and so has been largely
cleared of understorey, mid-storey, and ground cover vegetation. Several mature canopy trees,
primarily Broad-leaved Paperbark (Melaleuca quinquenervia) have been retained on site. The
ground cover within the caravan park area is currently maintained as mown grass.
The remaining third of the site (western portion) consists of remnant and regrowth vegetation.
Much of the regrowth vegetation occurs between the cleared caravan park area and the
remnant heath area, and is comprised of a dense mixture of native and exotic plant species.
The remnant vegetation occurring west of the regrowth vegetation, along the western boundary,
is dominated by native plants and is an extension of the Noosa National Park.
The site is bounded to the north by a narrow strip of regrowth vegetation adjacent to council-
owned playing fields, sporting complexes and associated infrastructure, and semi-attached
housing. To the east of the site is the Peregian Beach Hotel and David Low Way. A narrow
block of commercial buildings occur at the south-east site boundary, with the remainder of the
southern and the entire western site boundaries being shared with remnant wet heath
communities of Noosa National Park.
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The subject site has strategic environmental importance given its proximity to Noosa National
Park, which is identified and protected as a place of natural significance on the Register of the
National Estate (RNE) by the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC)
Act, and an Open Space Conservation Zone within the Noosa Plan (2006).
1.4 LEGISLATION
The principal legislation which concerns the regulation of fire is the Qld Fire and Rescue
Service Act 1990 (QFRS Act). The Fire and Rescue Service Act 1990 mandates the proper
conduct in performing fire management activities. It defines who has responsibilities with
respect to fire and management of hazards or risks, as outlined in Section 67 of the legislation.
It provides powers to the commissioner of the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service and its
delegated officer, stated in Section 68, and it requires a person to obtain a permit to light a fire,
which is greater than 2 square meters. The relevant sections of the QFRS Act (1990) are
provided below:
Section 67 - Occupier to extinguish fire
1. Where a fire is burning on any land and the lighting of the fire is not authorised by or under
this or any other Act, the occupier of the land, immediately upon becoming aware of the fire
(regardless of who was responsible for ignition of the fire)
(a) Must take all reasonable steps to extinguish or control the fire; and
(b) Must, as soon as is practicable, report the existence and location of the fire to a fire
officer, an officer of a rural fire brigade, a chief fire warden or fire warden, a forest
officer (within the meaning of the forestry act 1959), a conservation officer (within the
meaning of the nature conservation act 1992), or a police officer.
Section 68 - Powers of occupier of entry etc
2. Subject to subsections (2) and (3), an occupier of land, who believes on reasonable grounds
that a grass fire (that is, a fire that predominantly consumes vegetation) burning within 1.6 km of
that land constitutes a fire risk to that land may, together with persons acting at the direction of
the occupier
(a) Enter the land on which the fire is burning and any other land in order to gain access
to the land on which the fire is burning;
(b) Take on to that land equipment for extinguishing or controlling the fire; and
(c) Take all reasonable measures to extinguish or control the fire.
3. An occupier of land must not do or direct the doing of any act referred to in subsection (1) if
prior notice (oral or written) of the intention to light the fire has been given to the occupier by the
person lighting it or by a prescribed person unless the occupier believes on reasonable grounds
that the fire has been unlawfully lit or is out of control.
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4. If it is practicable to contact a prescribed person, an occupier of land
(a) Must not do or direct the doing of any act referred to in subsection (1) unless the
prescribed person has been notified of the situation; and
(b) Must comply with any direction given by the prescribed person in respect of the doing
of any act.
5. In this section:
“prescribed person” means a fire officer, an officer of a rural fire brigade, a chief
fire warden or fire warden, a forest officer (within the meaning of the Forestry Act
1959), a conservation officer (within the meaning of the Nature Conservation Act
1992), or a police officer.
Section 69 – Requisition by commissioner to reduce fire risk
6. The commissioner may require any occupier of premises to take measures for the purpose
of reducing the risk of a fire occurring on the premises or reducing potential danger to
persons, property or the environment in the event of a fire occurring on the premises.
7. A requisition may be given
(a) In a particular case—by giving a notice to the occupier concerned; or
(b) By notification published in the gazette in which case each occupier of land to whom
the notification applies must comply with the requisition.
8. Without limiting the measures that may be required to be taken, an occupier may be
required to do any of the following
(a) Make and maintain firebreaks in accordance with any directions contained in the
notification or notice;
(b) Remove, dispose of or otherwise deal with any vegetation or other flammable material
in accordance with any directions contained in the notification or notice;
(c) Obtain equipment and keep it available for use for fire fighting purposes;
(d) Take measures to ensure an adequate supply of water or any other substance for fire
fighting purposes;
(e) Ensure that the means of escape from the premises in the event of fire can be safely
and effectively used at all material times; and
(f) Suspend such operations as may be specified for the period specified.
9. Where an occupier of premises fails to comply with a notification or notice an authorised
fire officer and any assistant may enter the premises and take any of the measures
directed by the notification or notice to be taken and any expenses incurred in taking those
measures may be recovered by the chief executive in a court of competent jurisdiction from
the occupier.
The State Government released in 2003 a State Planning Policy 1/03, titled ‘Mitigating the
Adverse Impacts of Flood, Bushfire and Landslide’. The purpose of this policy was to ensure
that the State interests with respect to flood, bushfire, and landslide were being taken into
account with respect to development application under the IPA.
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The State interest included development decisions which did not place infrastructure and people
into hazardous areas within the State.
The SPP1/03 contained a number of “Outcomes” which a development application outré to
meet as part of its approval process by a Local Government. Additionally, the SPP1/03 was to
be used in the absence of a planning scheme which did not contain codes or planning Scheme
Policies which did not deal with either flood, bushfire and / or landslide.
The SPP1/03 seeks to satisfy a number of “outcomes” and the outcome which are generally
applied to development applications in an area which has been identified as containing
Hazardous Vegetation and therefore require an assessment of the bushfire hazard status using
the SPP1/03 are Outcome 1 and Outcome 2.
Outcome 1 states:
Within natural hazard management areas, development to which this SPP applies is compatible
with the nature of the natural hazard, except where:
The development proposal is a development commitment; or
There is an overriding need for the development in the public interest and no other site is
suitable and reasonably available for the proposal.
Outcome 2 states
Development that is not compatible with the nature of the natural hazard but is otherwise
consistent with Outcome 1:
Minimises as far as practicable the adverse impacts from natural hazards; and
Does not result in an unacceptable risk1 to people or property
The SPP1/03 defines a natural hazard as:
“Natural hazard: a naturally occurring situation or condition with the potential for
loss or harm to the community, property or environment. The natural hazards
addressed in this SPP are flood, bushfire and landslide.”
Additionally the SPP1/03 also defines a Natural Hazard Management Area:
“Natural hazard management area: an area that has been defined2 for the
management of a natural hazard (flood, bushfire or landslide), but may not reflect
the full extent of the area that may be affected by the hazard (e.g. land above the
1% AEP flood line may flood during a larger flood event). Natural hazard
management areas for flood, bushfire or landslide are described in Annex 3.”
1
Unacceptable risk: a situation where people or property are exposed to a predictable hazard event that may result in
serious injury, loss of life, failure of community infrastructure, or property damage that would make a dwelling unfit for
habitation.
2
A natural hazard management area may be defined using a different term (e.g. bushfire prone area; flood affected
area).
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Annex 3 provides an additional explanation of a Natural Hazard Management Area:
A3.3 - A natural hazard management area (bushfire) is:
a) an area identified by a local government in its planning scheme consistent with the
conclusions of a bushfire hazard assessment prepared in accordance with Appendix 3
of the SPP Guideline or other methodology approved by the Queensland Fire and
Rescue Service (QFRS); or
b) where such a study has not been undertaken, an area identified by a local government
in its planning scheme, reflecting the Medium and High hazard area of the Bushfire Risk
Analysis maps produced by the QFRS, suitably modified following a visual assessment
of the accuracy of the maps by the local government; or
c) where an area has not been identified by a local government, the Medium and High
hazard areas on the Bushfire Risk Analysis maps produced by the QFRS.
The site and the proposed development works are influenced by three local council ecologically
relevant overlay maps, and their relevant codes, outlined in the Noosa Shire Council Planning
Scheme (The Noosa Plan). Of relevance to bushfire management is the Natural Hazards:
Bushfire and Acid Sulfate Soils Overlay Map OM4.4.
This map shows an area along the southern site boundary is mapped as a ‘High Bushfire
Hazard Area’.
2.0 VEGETATION COMMUNITIES
For ease of discussion, the site has been divided into three broad vegetation communities.
Details of the ecological values of the site have been discussed in the Ecological Assessment
(Natural Solutions 2007).
2.1 CARAVAN PARK AREA
The eastern two-thirds of the site has been historically cleared for urban / commercial purposes,
resulting in large areas of open, mown grass areas with scattered canopy trees. This area is
currently used and maintained as a caravan park. The canopy trees in this area are
predominantly Broad-leaved Paperbarks (Melaleuca quinquenervia). The proposed
development is entirely contained within this area.
2.2 REMNANT WET HEATH AREA
The western third of the site is an extension of the Noosa National Park which adjoins the
western site boundary. This area is largely undisturbed and is comprised of remnant wet heath
vegetation consistent with the EPA’s RE mapping. Few exotic species were apparent in this
area.
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SCANLON PROPERTY GROUP Fire Management Plan – Peregian Beach 2.3 VEGETATION BUFFER The caravan park area is separated from the remnant wet heath habitat by a strip of highly disturbed vegetation. This vegetation buffer is comprised of a dense mixture of native and exotic vegetation. The abundance of exotic weed species in this area is indicative of historical nutrient levels in storm water run-off. 3.0 BUSHFIRE HAZARD ASSESSMENT 3.1 INTRODUCTION Fire is natural part of many Australian ecosystems and as such is an essential element to ensure these ecosystems are maintained and the biodiversity they support are also maintained. However, when fire comes into conflict with infrastructure such as residential houses and other infrastructure, an assessment of the hazard is required to properly understand this conflict and to develop a set of measures to minimise the risk to that infrastructure from fire, which may burn through a given vegetated area. Fire is influenced primarily by three main factors, vegetation, slope and aspect. Other climatic factors such as wind speed and relative humidity also influence the intensity and rate of spread of a fire however vegetation, slope and aspect in particular, are those, which have a primary affect. In response to natural hazards and the mitigation of the affects of bushfire on infrastructure the State Government developed a State Planning Policy (SPP1/03) titled Mitigating the Adverse Impacts of Flood, Bushfire and Landslide in November 2003. This document was then adopted in various forms by Local Government in their IPA (1997) Planning Schemes. The SPP1/03 provides guidelines and a methodology for the assessment of homogeneous areas based on vegetation, slope, and aspect to determine the level of bushfire hazard within an area as well as solutions to mitigate the risk to infrastructure from a bushfire event. Vegetation provides the fuel, slope provides a determinate on the rate of spread of a bushfire, and aspect contributes to the degree of dryness or moisture, which may influence the intensity and rate of spread of a bushfire. The information provided below has been derived from the SPP1/03 guideline on bushfire hazard. Because of the site’s location adjacent to Noosa National Park that is managed for conservation purposes, considerations of the fire management intents of the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service must also be made. November 2007 ( 6 ) Y:\J07\J07-049_215-219 David Low Way,Peregian\InformationRequest\FireManagementPlan\071121_J07049_FireManagementPlan_Draft.doc
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3.2 ADDITIONAL SITE INFORMATION
3.2.1 Fire History and National Park Management
According the Noosa National Park Management Plan (QPWS 1999), a fire management
program based on the recommendations of (McFarland 1989) is to be implemented on all areas
of Caustis-Empodisma heathland and Baumea sedgeland along the coastal strip from Coolum
to Noosa Heads. The prescribed regime has the particular intent of maintaining a viable
breeding population of ground parrots. Recommendations from the ground parrot study covered
the following:
Minimum fire-free intervals of 8-10 years;
Winter burns of low-moderate intensity between May and June; and
Creation and maintenance of a mosaic of blocks containing regeneration (0-4 years),
mature (5-10 years) and senescent (>10 years) heathland communities.
3.2.2 Slope and Aspect
As the site is considered a flat terrain (slope 0-5 %), there is no aspect for the site.
3.2.3 Site Infrastructure
The site is currently used as a caravan park and camping grounds comprising the following
elements:
1 dwelling (caretaker’s house);
10 cabins;
75 powered and non-powered sites;
Areas for camping;
Laundry / amenities block;
Camp oven and barbecue area; and
Workshop.
3.3 SEVERITY OF BUSHFIRE HAZARD
The guidelines associated with SPP1/03 contain a bushfire hazard assessment methodology
which uses three characteristics, these being vegetation, slope and aspect.
In the SPP1/03 vegetation is used as the primary determinate and is scored out of 10. If an
area has a vegetation score of 2 or less then the guidelines state that no further assessment of
the bushfire hazard is required as vegetation scored as two or less is not deemed to be
hazardous vegetation.
If the vegetation characteristic is scored greater than 2, slope and aspect are also scored to
provide a rating out of 5 for each characteristic. The three scores are then totalled to provide a
bushfire hazard score.
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SCANLON PROPERTY GROUP ss
Fire Management Plan — Peregian Beach ;
natural solutions
environmental consultants
3.2 ADDITIONAL SITE INFORMATION
3.2.1 Fire History and National Park Management
According the Noosa National Park Management Plan (QPWS 1999), a fire management
program based on the recommendations of (McFarland 1989) is to be implemented on all areas
of Caustis-Empodisma heathland and Baumea sedgeland along the coastal strip from Coolum
to Noosa Heads. The prescribed regime has the particular intent of maintaining a viable
breeding population of ground parrots. Recommendations from the ground parrot study covered
the following:
. Minimum fire-free intervals of 8-10 years;
. Winter burns of low-moderate intensity between May and June; and
. Creation and maintenance of a mosaic of blocks containing regeneration (0-4 years),
mature (5-10 years) and senescent (>10 years) heathland communities.
3.2.2 Slope and Aspect
As the site is considered a flat terrain (slope 0-5 %), there is no aspect for the site.
3.2.3 Site Infrastructure
The site is currently used as a caravan park and camping grounds comprising the following
elements:
. 1 dwelling (caretaker’s house);
. 10 cabins;
. 75 powered and non-powered sites;
. Areas for camping;
. Laundry / amenities block;
. Camp oven and barbecue area; and
. Workshop.
3.3. SEVERITY OF BUSHFIRE HAZARD
The guidelines associated with SPP1/03 contain a bushfire hazard assessment methodology
which uses three characteristics, these being vegetation, slope and aspect.
In the SPP1/03 vegetation is used as the primary determinate and is scored out of 10. If an
area has a vegetation score of 2 or less then the guidelines state that no further assessment of
the bushfire hazard is required as vegetation scored as two or less is not deemed to be
hazardous vegetation.
If the vegetation characteristic is scored greater than 2, slope and aspect are also scored to
provide a rating out of 5 for each characteristic. The three scores are then totalled to provide a
bushfire hazard score.
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3.4 VEGETATION
The SPP1/03 nominates 9 different categories of vegetation with varying hazard ratings under
which site vegetation can be classified. Each of these categories and its respective hazard
rating are listed in Table 1. Considering the proposed development and vegetation to be
retained, the site contains areas of wallum heath (hazard rating 6). The low wet fernland
adjacent to the proposed development is considered to be a lesser risk.
TABLE 1 SPP1/03 VEGETATION CATEGORIES AND HAZARD RATINGS
VEGETATION COMMUNITIES FIRE BEHAVIOUR HAZARD SCORE
Wet sclerophyll forest, tall eucalypts Infrequent fires under severe conditions, flame 10
(>30m), with grass and mixed shrub lengths may exceed 40m, floating embers
understorey. attack structures for 1 hour, radiant heat and
direct flame are destructive for 30 minutes.
Paperbark heath and swamps, eucalypt Fire intensity depends on fuel accumulation, but 8
forest with dry-shrub ladder fuels. can be severe, with flame lengths to 20m, spot
fires frequent across firebreaks, radiant heat
and direct flame for 15 minutes.
Grassy eucalypt and acacia forest, Fire intensity may be severe with flame lengths 6
exotic pine plantations, cypress pine to 20m, but less attack from embers.
forests, wallum heath.
Native grasslands (ungrazed), open Fast moving fires, available to fire annually to 4 5
woodlands, cane fields. years. Usually no ember attack, radiant heat for
>10m, duration <2 minutes.
Intact acacia forests, with light grass to Fires infrequent usually burn only under severe 4
leaf litter, disturbed rainforest. conditions, relatively slow fires, usually little
ember attack.
Orchards, farmlands, kikuyu pastures. Fires very infrequent, slow moving may be 2
difficult to extinguish, frequent firebreaks.
Grazed grasslands, slashed grass. Grazing reduces intensity and rate of spread of 2
fire, duration <2 minutes.
Desert lands (sparse fuels), mowed Gaps in fuel usually slow fire spread. 1
grass.
Intact rainforest, mangrove forest, intact Virtually fireproof. 0
riverine rainforest.
3.5 SLOPE
The slopes within each area have been determined using ‘Mapview’ aerial photography and
topographic layer. Slopes on the site were generally less than 1% and thus the topography is
best described as a plain presenting a low degree of bushfire hazard.
3.6 ASPECT
The site generally has slopes less than 5% and thus aspect does not become a significant
factor that determines bushfire hazard with an SPP rating of 0.
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3.7 FIELD ASSESSMENT
Using the SPP 1/03 methodology, it is considered there is 2 areas of unique slope, vegetation
and aspect identified that can be assessed for bushfire hazard. Values were determined
through field and desktop assessment of vegetation communities, slope and aspect. The
subject site has been split into two areas for the purpose of assessing the bushfire hazard
severity. Table 2 provides the determination of the severity of bushfire hazard within each of
the vegetated hazard areas. The low wet fernland/heathland is considered to further reduce the
potential risk.
TABLE 2 SEVERITY OF BUSHFIRE HAZARD
AREA ELEMENT BHR TOTAL BHS
1 Vegetation – Wallum Heath 6 6 Medium
Slope – Plain 0% - 5% 0
Aspect - Flat 0
2 Vegetation – Mowed grass with isolated trees 1 1 Low
Slope – Plain 0% - 5% 0
Aspect - Flat 0
3.8 BUSHFIRE PLANNING
As has been previously described, the site supports one area of medium bushfire hazard
severity in the western portion. This vegetation adjoins a large continuous tract identified as
Noosa National Park (Emu Swamp Section).
The site supports slopes of less than 5%, thus no areas of High bushfire hazard were
recognised on the site. The area of wet heath provides the greatest bushfire hazard on the site,
however due to slopes of less than 5% and resultant lack of aspect and saturation of much of
the area with water, this vegetation is recognised as being of Medium-Low bushfire hazard.
Considerations of measures will be required to mitigate the bushfire risk to the development
proposed for the site.
To mitigate the site bushfire hazard, it is recommended that a 20m setback be maintained
between flammable structures within the development and retained drier closed heath
community. The set-back should incorporate a 6m fire access constructed of stable material
and which has access points at either end or sufficient turning capacity for a fire fighting vehicle
at the terminating end. The fire trail must be accessible from the development’s internal road
network and is to be maintained at all times so it is clearly accessible by emergency services for
bushfire management and fire fighting purposes.
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4.0 SUMMARY & MITIGATION MEASURES
It is considered that the site has an overall low bushfire hazard risk. The vegetation within the
site adjacent to the proposed development area comprises a fairly wet low heath / fernland.
The vegetation in this area is considered a relatively low fire risk compared to that of the
National Park which is a drier and taller heathland community. A few Melaleuca are scattered in
the western portion of this low wet heath. At the narrowest point (in the south), the distance
between the Melaleucas / closed heath and the development boundary (i.e. the degraded
vegetation buffer), is in the order of 20m. For the majority, this distance is greater than 20m.
We have recently discussed the bushfire risk and proposed management with local bushfire
consultant (Tony Sambrooks), and following a recent site inspection by Mr Sambrooks, propose
the following measures to minimise bushfire threat to the development.
1. Maintain the wet low closed heathland (buffer) adjacent to the development (a distance of
at least 20m between the development boundary and the drier heath / paperbarks) – to
allow a 20m setback to higher hazard vegetation;
2. Include a 6m unvegetated setback west of the buildings. This to be constructed with a
surface to allow emergency fire vehicle access;
3. Weed management and infill planting of fire tolerant/retardant species in the wet heath
buffer;
4. Fire hydrants to be placed between buildings along the western edge of the development
(nominally 3-4);
5. All buildings adjacent to the buffer to have roof sprinkler system installed;
6. All building materials to be of highest Australian Standards for fire proof materials and
construction (particularly those near the buffer vegetation);
7. Leaf guards to be installed in all gutters; and
8. Planting of fire "barrier" species along edge (interface) of buffer and between buildings
(e.g. Macaranga, Macaranga tanarius).
5.0 BIBLIOGRAPHY
Department Local Government and Planning (2003), State Planning Policy Guidelines:
Mitigating the Adverse Impacts of Flood, Bushfire and Landslide
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (1999) Management Plan Noosa National Park. The
State of Queensland, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.
Natural Solutions Environmental Consultants Pty Ltd, Ecological Assessment – 215-219 David
Low Way Peregian (June 2007).
November 2007 ( 10 )
Y:\J07\J07-049_215-219 David Low Way,Peregian\InformationRequest\FireManagementPlan\071121_J07049_FireManagementPlan_Draft.doc
Used in these records
Attachment 3 - Bushfire Management PlanRelated documentApplication case desk ↗
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