Reference Document - Bushfire Hazard Assessment Report

Page 2

                                               [2]

The Mango Tree Cottage is located in an area which has been used for cattle and horse
agistment and is generally clear of understorey shrubs but is grassed with some mature and
regrowth canopy trees surrounding the location. In addition, a relatively small area to the
north has also been planted for forestry purposes. The date of this planting is not clear from
the available aerial photography, however, it is likely based on the height of the trees within
this are circa 2000 - 2005

Both structures are accessible via an earthen track and will be serviced by tank water and
septic sewage system.

Site Description

General Description

The subject site is located at 328 Upper Pinbarren Creek Road, Pinbarren and described as Lot
3 on RP851976, covering an area of 25.63 Hectares (see Figure 2). The subject site is zoned as
Rural under the Noosa Plan (2016).

Several existing structures including the landowner’s principal dwelling, sheds and other
structures are located within the land. In addition, there are several dams within the property
and the entire site is vegetated.

The property is accessed via a track/driveway from Upper Pinbarren Creek Road. A number
of earthen vehicle tracks traverse the lower elevations of the site which also link to less formal
tracks which provide access to the upper portions of the land and Turnbull Road upon the
ridge in the northern portion of the land. We note that while there is a track generally located
along Turnbull Road, it is gated at the property boundary and unformed for its length abutting
the land.

All existing farm dams within the property are accessible from the internal track network which,
at the time of our site inspection, were trafficable by rural fire fighting appliances.

As such, at the time of our site inspection, the regrowth could be considered to be
predominantly a notophyll vine forest in terms of its bushfire hazard profile (see Figure 2).

Page 3

        [3]




Figure 1 – Site Plan


[OCR of page images]
[3]

 

 

 

J

Existing,

Dwelling Approved Granny Fiat
House (MCU 19/0053)
als 3
iS
eR
7
S°230067
Formed /
Grove! _ if
Access ~~} /
. Approved Caretaker’s.
ad | (MiCU19/0053)

  
  

3, :
O

Site Pick 8

 

 

 

 

 

 

SITE PLAN

Scale 1:3000 (A3)

PROPERTY DESCRIPTION
lot 3 RP 851976
site area 25.65 ha

Seale 1:3000 ~ Lengths are in Metres.
1 4 1 L n L

0 50 100 150 200 280 300

    

1
350

 

  
 

§
Pv
gS
ys Se
Ns,
“OR
i
ao

SITE PLAN DETAIL
Scale 1:500 (A3)

Fieg: J57 Pinbarren

 

Project:
Tourist Accommodation

and Work Space

328 Upper Pinbarren Ck. Rd.
Pinbarren

 

[Glient:

Dioswell Pty Ltd

 

[Drawing No:

2002.03 sheet 1

 

(Scale:
as shown

 

Drawn Date:

18/6/2020

4
400

 

 

Figure 1 — Site Plan

 

Page 4

                                           [4]




                        Figure 2 – 2008 Aerial Image (Noosa Plan)
Topography

The land occupies southerly aspect slopes of a local ridgeline which has an elevation of
approximately over200 metres with the highest point at 234 metres. The land slopes down
toward Pinbarren Creek Road and Pinbarren Creek which is located to the south of the
southern boundary of the property, (see Figure 3).

The eastern and western boundaries are also generally located on spurs which descend from
the Turnbull Road ridge toward Pinbarren Creek Road.

Page 5

                                              [5]

The land contains two main drainage gullies which drain the land from the Turnbull Road
ridgeline toward Pinbarren Creek. There are a number of instream farm dams within the
drainage gullies which provide water storage for the land.

The surrounding land is clear of woody vegetation and as such does not present a bushfire risk
to the property. A vegetated block is located to the north-west however, this is separated by
land which appears to be maintained.




                             Figure 3 – Contour Map (Noosa Plan)
Other Infrastructure

The in-stream storages/farm dams are augmented with three metal tanks located on a
western spur above the main dwelling house.

The whole perimeter of the land is fenced with standard stock fencing. In addition, the forestry
plantation is also fenced with 3 strand wire fencing and there is also a three-strand wire fence
above the proposed secondary dwelling which separates a farm dam and minor drainage
line from an old paddock which is currently undergoing natural regeneration of a mix of
Acacia species and rainforest species along with the ubiquitous lantana (Lantana camara).

Page 6

                                                  [6]




Figure 4 – Oblique Aerial Photo of Subject Site (Nearmap, 2019)

Vegetation

The land is not mapped as containing remnant vegetation however, much of the property is
mapped as containing mosaics of high-value regrowth vegetation and this includes the
cabinet timber forestry area.

The main portion of the land including the Cabinet timber forestry area is mapped as the
mosaic Regional ecosystem RE12.11.10/12.11.3/12.11.12/12.11.2 (65/20/10/5). A regrowth
polygon of the Regional ecosystem 12.8.13 is mapped over the north-eastern portion of the
land and the south-western portion has a mosaic of 12.3.11/12.3.1/12.3.2 (40/40/20). These
Regional ecosystems are described below (see Figure 6 below): -

   RE12.3.1 - Complex to simple notophyll vine forest. Waterhousea floribunda is predominant
    fringing stream channels. Other species can include Cryptocarya hypospodia, C.
    obovata, C. triplinervis, Argyrodendron trifoliolatum, Ficus coronata, F. fraseri, F.
    macrophylla forma macrophylla, Aphananthe philippinensis, Elaeocarpus grandis,
    Grevillea robusta, Castanospermum australe and Syzygium francisii. Ficus racemosa and
    Nauclea orientalis in north of bioregion. Eucalyptus spp. emergents (e.g. E. grandis) and
    Araucaria cunninghamii; less commonly Agathis robusta may also be present. Occurs on
    Quaternary alluvial plains and channels. (BVG1M: 4b),
   RE12.3.2 - Eucalyptus grandis +/- E. microcorys, Lophostemon confertus tall open forest with
    vine forest understorey ('wet sclerophyll'). Patches of Eucalyptus pilularis sometimes present
    especially in vicinity of sedimentary rocks (e.g. around Palmwoods). Fringing streams and
    in narrow gullies in high rainfall areas. (BVG1M: 8a),
   RE12.3.11 - Eucalyptus tereticornis +/- E. siderophloia and Corymbia intermedia open forest
    to woodland. Corymbia tessellaris, Lophostemon suaveolens and Melaleuca
    quinquenervia frequently occur and often form a low tree layer. Other species present in
    scattered patches or low densities include Angophora leiocarpa, E. exserta, E. grandis, C.
    trachyphloia, C. citriodora subsp. variegata, E. latisinensis, E. tindaliae, E. racemosa and
    Melaleuca sieberi. E. seeana may be present south of Landsborough and Livistona decora
    may occur in scattered patches or low densities in the Glenbar SF and Wongi SF areas.

Page 7

                                                [7]

    Occurs on Quaternary alluvial plains and drainage lines along coastal lowlands. Rainfall
    usually exceeds 1000mm/y. (BVG1M: 16c),
   RE12.8.13 - Microphyll and microphyll/notophyll vine forest +/- Araucaria cunninghamii.
    Characteristic species include Araucaria cunninghamii, A. bidwillii, Cupaniopsis parvifolia,
    Dendrocnide photinophylla, Rhodosphaera rhodanthema, Flindersia australis, F.
    schottiana, F. xanthoxyla, Drypetes deplanchei, Olea paniculata, Diospyros geminata,
    Gossia bidwillii, Excoecaria dallachyana, Pleiogynium timorense (north of bioregion) and
    Vitex lignum-vitae. Argyrodendron trifoliolatum sometimes present especially in subregion
    6. Occurs on Cainozoic igneous rocks, especially basalt. (BVG1M: 5a)
   RE 12.11.10 - Notophyll and notophyll/microphyll vine forest +/- Araucaria cunninghamii.
    Characteristic species include Argyrodendron trifoliolatum, Argyrodendron sp. (Kin W.D.
    Francis AQ81198), Backhousia subargentea, Dissiliaria baloghioides, Brachychiton discolor,
    Beilschmiedia obtusifolia, Diospyros pentamera, Grevillea robusta, Gmelina leichhardtii
    and Ficus macrophylla forma macrophylla. Occurs on Palaeozoic and older moderately
    to strongly deformed and metamorphosed sediments and interbedded volcanics.
    (BVG1M: 2a)
   RE 12.11.3 - Eucalyptus siderophloia and E. propinqua open forest +/- E. microcorys,
    Lophostemon confertus, Corymbia intermedia, E. biturbinata, E. acmenoides, E.
    tereticornis, E. moluccana, Angophora leiocarpa, Syncarpia verecunda with vine forest
    species and E. grandis or E. saligna in gullies. Eucalyptus pilularis and E. tindaliae sometimes
    present e.g. mid D'Aguilar Range, Conondale Range. Occurs predominantly on hills and
    ranges of Palaeozoic and older moderately to strongly deformed and metamorphosed
    sediments and interbedded volcanics. (BVG1M: 9a)
   RE 12.11.12 - Microphyll and microphyll/notophyll vine forest +/- Araucaria cunninghamii.
    Characteristic species include Archidendropsis thozetiana, Argyrodendron sp. (Kin Kin W.D.
    Francis AQ81198), Croton acronychioides, Cupaniopsis simulata, Dendrocnide
    photinophylla, Diospyros geminata, Drypetes deplanchei, Ficus virens, Cryptocarya
    bidwillii, Planchonella myrsinifolia, Pleiogynium timorense, Vitex lignum-vitae and Vitex
    acuminata. In places this RE is actively invading adjacent eucalypt forest in absence of
    fire (e.g. Goodnight Scrub). Occurs on Palaeozoic and older moderately to strongly
    deformed and metamorphosed sediments and interbedded volcanics. (BVG1M: 5a), and
   RE 12.11.2 - all open forest with vine forest understorey ('wet sclerophyll'). Canopy species
    include Eucalyptus saligna subsp. saligna or E. grandis, E. microcorys, Corymbia intermedia
    and Lophostemon confertus. Characteristic understorey species include Ackama
    paniculosa, Pittosporum undulatum, Synoum glandulosum subsp. glandulosum and
    Cryptocarya microneura. Occurs on Palaeozoic and older moderately to strongly
    deformed and metamorphosed sediments and interbedded volcanics. (BVG1M: 8a)

While no specific vegetation survey was undertaken during the site inspection, the species
observed along the gullies was consistent with the Regional ecosystem 12.11.10 – Notophyll
vine forest.

The cabinet timber plantation should be removed from this Category C mapping as it is clearly
a timber plantation with a number of cabinet timber species such as Gympie messmate
(Eucalypts cloeziana), Crows ash (Flindersia australis), Rose gum (E. grandis), Blue quandong
(Elaeocarpus grandis), Rough-leaved elm (Aphananthe philippinensis) along with some
rainforest recruitments in the understorey.

With regard to other areas outside of the cabinet plantation area, much of this area was
regrowth rainforest species with some old plantings of eucalyptus species and weedy shrubs
and grass species.

Page 8

                                               [8]




Figure 5 State Government’s Regulated Vegetation Management Mapping (Qld Government, 2019)


Historic Aerial photography review

A review of the historic aerial photography over the land was undertaken to understand the
present-day vegetation complex. The findings for this review are provided below: -

   1. The Gympie 1974 aerial photograph shows the land completely clear of woody
      vegetation with what appears to be, long grass, within the drainage line. This is
      consistent with the present-day lands to the east of the property.
   2. The Gympie 1984 photograph shows some regeneration in the upper slopes of the land
      with much of the mid and lower slopes still dominated by grassland.
   3. The Gympie 1993 photograph shows less recruitment in the upper slopes of the site and
      some areas returned to grassland. The bottom of the gullies appears to have
      thickened.
   4. The Gympie 2001 aerial photograph shows significant regrowth in the upper and mid
      slopes. The shed structure is visible, and the early stages of the forestry area is partially
      visible.
   5. The 2009 aerial imagery in the Noosa Intra-mapping shows a continuation of the
      regrowth and the advancement of the forestry plantation. Areas along the eastern
      side appear to be activity grazed and the current main dwelling house on the western
      boundary is evident.

In conclusion, the aerial photography indicates much of the land is undergoing natural
regeneration since the 1990s with the cabinet timber planting being initiate circa early to mid-
2000s.

Page 9

                                                [9]

Based on the pre-clearing regional ecosystems, and the lack of significant vegetation
impacting events such as frequent bushfire event, it is likely that this natural regeneration will
continue toward a notophyll to microphyll vine forest with some emerging eucalypt species.

Bushfire Hazard Mapping
The Noosa Plan 2006 Bushfire Hazard Risk Areas mapping, maps areas of High and Medium
bushfire hazard as well as a potential impact buffer (see Figure 6).




                                           Subject Site




Figure 6 - Noosa Map 2006 Bushfire Hazard Overlay Map

Page 10

                                         [10]

The latest Noosa Plan (2020) has adopted the current State Planning Policy, Natural
Hazards, Risk and Resilience bushfire hazard mapping. We note that our site
inspection indicates much of the vegetation mapped as medium or high bushfire
hazard as low due to incorrect mapping of the vegetation within the property.




Figure 7 - Noosa Map 2020 Bushfire Hazard Overlay Map

Page 11

                                              [11]

State Planning Policy (2016) Natural Hazards, Risk and Resilience
A review of the State Government’s State Planning Policy, Natural Hazards, Risk and Resilience
bushfire hazard mapping maps different areas of High and Medium bushfire hazard over
the land (see Figure 8).


                                                                     Subject Site




                       Figure 5 State Planning Policy (2016) Natural Hazards, Risk and Resilience Map


Findings and Observations

Whole of property
      The property is located on a southerly facing land, falling to the south from a ridge over
       which Turnbull Road is located. The land is also shaped by spurs which coincide with
       the eastern and western boundaries and as such all of the property slopes down
       toward the south-western corner of the property.
      The land is dominated by regrowth vegetation which is dominated by regrowth
       rainforest species particularly in the drainage lines and a number of environmental
       weed species including Lantana.

Page 12

                                             [12]

      The mapped high-value regrowth mapping is considered to be incorrect in terms of
       what’s occurring within the land and particularly the mapping of the cabinet timber
       plantation area. a likely scenario, with no significant impacts to the land, is that the
       area will transition to a microphyll to notophyll vine forest with Araucaria
       cunninghamiana as an emergent.
      The land is well serviced with water storages which includes instream farm dams and
       metal water tanks.
      Underground water pipes also provide access between the tanks and dams as well as
       other structures within the land.
      A number of earthen tracks are located throughout the property and these tracks
       provide direct access to all buildings as well as the northern, eastern and western
       property boundaries and Turnbull Road road reserve.
      A submerged water pump is also located in the bottom dam which can provide
       access for water for rural brigade appliances if and when required.
      All structures including the proposed second dwelling house and the proposed Mango
       Tree Cottage are surrounded by areas where the understorey and groundcover is
       cleared and will be maintained.
      Lands to the north, east and west are active cattle grazing paddock and as such would
       not carry a significant bushfire. We do note that they may carry a low grass fire which,
       depending on wind conditions, may move at a rapid pace over the adjacent lands.
       However, as the intensity of the fire moving through the grazed grassland would not be
       significant intensity to cause an understorey or canopy fire within the subject site.
      Additionally, as the boundaries contain serviced vehicle tracks, these may be sufficient
       to stop of a grass fire or reduce the rate of spread as it enters the land and commences
       to burn downslope into the property.
      A review of the Qld Fire and Emergency Service Redi-portal was also undertaken as
       this contains the latest mapping data which informs the current SPP bushfire hazard
       mapping. The data from the Redi-portal was then used to calculate the potential
       bushfire hazard class of the vegetation around the proposed structures. The outputs
       are contained in Table 1 below.

Table 1 – SPP Bushfire Asset Protection Zone Calculator

                SPP Bushfire Asset Protection Zone Width Calculator
 VARIABLE DESCRIPTION                              VARIABLE UNITS                  VALUE
                                    Input Values
 FIRE WEATHER SEVERITY                                      FDI                    46.00
 VEGETATION HAZARD CLASS                                    VHC                 2.1 Complex
                                                                                 to simple,
                                                                                    semi-
                                                                                 deciduous
                                                                                mesophyll to
                                                                               notophyll vine
                                                                        -          forest
 REMNANT STATUS                                               -         -         Remnant
 SLOPE TYPE (UPSLOPE OR DOWNSLOPE)                           ST         -       Downslope
 EFFECTIVE SLOPE UNDER THE HAZARDOUS VEGETATION            eSlope    degrees         6.00
 SLOPE BETWEEN SITE AND HAZARDOUS VEGETATION                  θ      degrees         7.00
 DISTANCE OF THE SITE FROM HAZARDOUS VEGETATION               d        m           32.00
                                       Output Values
 SURFACE FUEL LOAD                                            -        t/ha         3.50
 NEAR SURFACE FUEL LOAD                                       -        t/ha         0.00

Page 13

                                                               [13]

 BARK FUEL LOAD                                                                       -             t/ha              0.00
 ELEVATED FUEL LOAD                                                                   -             t/ha              0.00
 TOTAL OVERALL FUEL LOAD                                                              W             t/ha              3.50
 TOTAL SURFACE FUEL LOAD                                                              w             t/ha              3.50
 POTENTIAL FIRE LINE INTENSITY                                                        I            kW/m                0
 RADIANT HEAT FLUX                                                                    q           kW/m2               0.00
 BUSHFIRE ATTACK LEVEL (AS 3959-2018)                                               BAL             -              BAL-LOW
 DISCLAIMER: Fire-line intensity and radiant heat calculations where effective slope exceeds 20 degrees (downslope) or 15 degrees
 (upslope) may be unreliable. In these locations, specialist assessment is warranted.




Old Dairy building
         This structure is located in the southern portion of the property below the existing
          cabinet timber plantation
         The building is located just off the existing driveway to the main dwelling house located
          on a ridge above the Old Dairy building and the cabinet timber plantation.
         The building is separated from the cabinet timber plantation by maintained grassland
          some 32 metres on a slope of approximately

“Mango Tree” Cottage:
         The proposed “cottage” is located to the north of a horse paddock (see Photographic
          Plate 4). The horse paddock will be maintained as a horse paddock (see Photographic
          Plate 5).
         The site of the Cottage is on the left bank of a minor drainage gully on land which has
          had some planting of forestry trees (Gympie messmate) (see Photographic Plate 6).
         The drainage gully is dominated by rainforest regrowth with the occasional Eucalyptus
          cloeziana and E. microcorys
         Lantana camara dominates the understorey
         A Mangifera indica (Mango tree) is located just above the proposed cottage site.

Conclusion
Based on our assessment of the bushfire hazards and risk to the proposed development within
328 Upper Pinbarren Creek Road, Pinbarren we have concluded: -

    1. Based on the data in the QFERS Redi-portal and the outputs from the SPP Bushfire Asset
       Protection Zone Calculator indicates the vegetation is not a bushfire prone area and
       as such, neither the Old Dairy nor the Mango tree cottage is within 100 metres of an
       area of hazardous vegetation and as such, they do not need to respond to the Bushfire
       Risk overlay code.
    2. The mapping of high-value regrowth over the property is not sustained by the
       observations we made while on the land. However, we acknowledge the vegetation
       is currently in transition from a grassland to a complex of notophyll to microphyll vine
       forest with some areas containing eucalypt species.
    3. The site is on a southerly aspect slope surrounded by grazed pasture and grassland
    4. Any fire burning from the north will predominately be a grass fire and run up the ridge
       toward Turnbull Road road reserve before slowing down and depending on the soil
       moisture either self-extinguish or become a slow-moving ground fire burning downslope
       and regenerating rainforest and would, therefore, be unable to sustain any intensity
    5. Any fire burning from the east will also be a grass fire, burning upslope up to the eastern
       boundary, before encountering the internal firebreak/track and then burning at a
       much lower rate of spread downslope toward the gullies. As the area around the

Page 14

                                                 [14]

        Mango Tree Cottage will be maintained (see recommendations below), a slow-
        moving ground fire will have no opportunity to involve that structure.
   6.   Additionally, this fire is likely to self-extinguish once it meets the moist gully immediately
        below the Mango Tree Cottage.
   7.   Similarly, a grass fire burning toward the land from the west will also move rapidly up
        the spur before encountering the top of the spur before reducing in its rate of spread
        and therefore intensity. It will encounter the internal tracks, and this will be sufficient to
        stop any slow-moving ground fire.
   8.   With respect to a fire burning toward the land from the south, we note the land slopes
        up toward the south and is currently also grazed properties. This fire, therefore, would
        be a relatively slow-moving grass fire which would meet Pinbarren Creek and due to
        its rate of spread and intensity is highly likely to self-extinguish before it crosses the creek
        and Upper Pinbarren Creek Road.
   9.   With regard to ember attack, embers will potentially be generated by the grass fire,
        however, these embers will be such that their potential to ignite the regenerating
        rainforest and cabinet wood plantation is very low. Therefore, we believe a ember
        attack on the property should be seen as a low-risk event.

Bushfire Management Plan
While in a planning context the site and surrounding area presents a low bushfire hazard and
as such the proposed MCU application does not require a response to the Bushfire Overlay
Code.
However, as the property is within a rural landscape and vegetation fires, albeit grass fires, will
occur from time to time, the implementation of a property based Fire Management Plan is
essential to ensure a number of actions and strategies are established to protect life, property
and the land ecological values should a fire threaten the land.
We note the current landholder has a plan which they have been using which identifies the
location of dams and other water storage tanks as well as internal tracks. This will be useful as
a bushfire management and mitigation location plan. See Figure 7
Track and firebreaks
   i.   All internal vehicle tracks and firebreaks are to be assessed in August of each year to
        ensure they are trafficable by Rural fire appliances.
   ii. Any grass growth over any track or firebreak is to be removed as are any fallen
        branches or fine fuels. Fine fuels are vegetative material less than 6 mm in diameter.
   iii. All gates, where security is not an issue, are to be left un-locked during the months of
        September to May.
   iv. Access onto the unformed Turnbull Road is to be formalised by gate access in the
        north-western corner of the property.
Water availability
   i.   All water tanks are to be filled at the commencement of a fire season and sufficient
        storage i.e. 15,000 litres is to be quarantined for fire fighting at the commencement of
        August through the May of each year.
   ii. The water pump on the bottom dams is to be tested to ensure it is operational and
        able to deliver suitable volumes of water for replenishing rural fire fighting appliances.
   iii. Individual water storages throughout the property are to be monitored during the fire
        season to understand the water availability of other water within the property during
        the fire season.
   iv. If not already fitted, the output hose from the pump in the bottom dams is to have a
        50mm Camlock valve fitted to allow for ease of access to Rural fire appliances if and
        when required.
   v. Likewise, a water storage tank on the western boundary is also to be fitted with a 50mm
        Camlock valve for emergency service usage.

Page 15

                                                 [15]

Signage
    i.    All tracks and gates are to be numbered with High visibility signage so as to inform any
          rural fire fighting team a reference should they be required to access the land to assist
          in grass fire management operations. It is likely that non-local rural fire brigades would
          be involved in a broad fire suppression operation and as such, they would not be
          familiar with the property or the local area.
Building and structure protection
    i.    All buildings are to have a minimum 20-metre asset protection zone around each
          building.
    ii.   All fences, perimeter and internal, are to have a 5metre either side of the fence cleared
          of groundcover and shrubs to assist in the protection of those structures and to permit
          regular maintenance of those fences.




 ACCESS VIA UPPER
 PINBARREN CREEEK
 ROAD
                             1




                                                                                   3




                                                             2



 Grazed Pasture




                                                                                         BUSHFIRE MANAGEMENT
                                                 Grazed Pasture
                                                                                            Pump
                                                                                            Water Tank
                                                                                            Track/unformed road
                                                                                           50 ml valve fitted tanks
                                                                                           Asset Protection Zone




Figure 6 Bushfire Management & Mitigation Plan

Page 16

                                             [16]

If you need any additional advice with regard to this advice, please do not hesitate to contact
us at your convenience.
Kind regards,




Rob Friend
Director
Rob Friend & Associates

Page 17

                                            [17]


Photographic Plates




Photographic Plate 1: Forestry plantings showing upward slope and limited to no understorey.
Note the lack of understorey.




Photographic Plate 2: Proposed site of “Mango Tree Cottage”. The earthen track goes to the
top of the ridge and has a connection to Turnbull Road road reserve. To the right of the
photograph is a horse paddock.

Page 18

                                          [18]




Photographic Plate 3: The pasture neighbouring “Mango Tree Cottage” used for horses.




Photographic Plate 4: The drainage gully adjacent to the proposed Mango Tree Cottage is
dominated by rainforest regrowth.