Appendix B - Bushfire Management Plan

7.1       Building Construction and Design

Whilst Method 2 indicates lesser setybacks to be viable than Method 1, particularly to the SW, S and SE,
precaution should be taken given the nature of the vegetation and isolation of the site. In this instance it is
recommended that Method 1 be applied to building construction and associated setbacks.

A minimum setback of 13m is required for BAL 29 to be viable, but is recommended that this setback is
increased to closer to 20m to the west, north and east.

Any other Class 10a structure built within 6m of the dwelling shall be constructed in accordance with this
Standard.




7.2       Asset Protection Zones and Landscaping




Figure 10. Components of an Asset Protection Zone (APZ)

Asset protection zones provide the most strategically valuable defense against radiant heat and flame, and to
a lesser extent embers. The function of the Inner Protection Area (IPA) is to distance the Asset from Flame
and Radiant Heat. The Outer Protection Area (OPA) separates ground fuels from canopy fuels, causing
canopy fires to collapse and become ground fires.

The minimum 13m setback (agreed with Council and State) shall be constructed and maintained as IPA.

The IPA should be maintained as free as possible of available fuel, through short mowing of grass and
removal of fine flammable debris. Plants retained in or introduced into the IPA should be selected based on
low combustibility, by virtue of high moisture content, low volatile oil content, high leaf mineral levels, large
fleshy leaves, absence of shedding bark. Plant arrangement is just as important as low combustibility. Plants
should be placed so as to not provide either vertical or horizontal connectedness of plant material. Appendix
1 provides examples of less hazardous plant species. Combustible vegetation shall not be allowed to come
into contact with combustible parts of buildings. Trees shall not be allowed to directly overhang roof lines.

The OPA should be maintained with low and minimal ground fuels, free of understorey or mid storey, and
with separation of around 2 - 5m between tree canopies.
In this instance the setback distance (agreed with Council and State) shall be constructed and maintained as
IPA.




Report compiled by Bushfire Risk Reducers for The Planning Place, July 2021                  Page 18