2021-12-07 Planning & Environment Committee Meeting Agenda - Updated

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                 7 DECEMBER 2021


     While the current Fire Management Strategy for Noosa National Park categorises this area
     as a fire protection zone, QPWS&P cannot confirm that the department will continue to
     maintain this fire break at a standard to provide adequate fire protection to neighbouring
     properties into the future. This development must not rely on QPWS&P to maintain buffer
     zones or fireline infrastructure on QPWS&P managed estate, nor rely on QPWS&P hazard
     reduction burning and wildfire response as part of their bushfire hazard reduction methods.
     The developer must ensure appropriate fire mitigation measures, including the establishment
     of fire protection buffers and/or building setbacks consistent with urban interface
     requirements are placed on the subject land and maintained by the developer into the future.
The AHZ was reviewed by an external bushfire consultant whose advice includes:
     The Applicant is depending on a 3rd party to ensure their development is appropriately
     protected from the potential bushfire threat contained on the 3rd party’s property.
     The 3rd party, QPWS&P has indicated that it cannot provide any assurance that they will
     maintain the current firebreak in a manner to which the applicant can depend upon with
     regard to their development.
     The QPWS&P letter also states, “The developer must ensure appropriate fire mitigation
     measures, including the establishment of fire protection buffers and/or building setbacks
     consistent with urban interface requirements are placed on the subject land and maintained
     by the developer into the future.”
     I would also note that the adjacent hazardous vegetation, acknowledged by the Applicant,
     covers a substantial area and based on the likely bushfire weather coming from the northwest
     to west, a fire run through the QPWS&P estate will present a significant threat to any future
     residents and structures within this property.
     I would further note that the QPWS&P lands are managed for biodiversity outcomes and
     while they abut residential areas, the purpose of the State Government’s Conservation
     Estate lands is biodiversity protection and management not bushfire hazard mitigation.
     Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that that adjacent Conservation Estate will have
     significant fuels within the groundcover, mid storey and canopy which should it become
     involved in a bushfire may result in adjacent residential areas becoming exposed to
     significant Radiant heat flux.
     Further, as bushfire protection is the responsibility of the landowner and should a landowner
     seeks to sub-divide their existing land then they are still required to provide adequate bushfire
     protection for the future lots in that sub-division.
     As the Applicant is not able to go onto the Conservation Estate to manage fuel loads and
     firebreaks, the Applicant is required to therefore, provide the bushfire protection within their
     lands.
     I would further note that in an Appeal over land located at 135 Lake Weyba Dr, Noosaville,
     the Bushfire Exerts acknowledge that the bushfire risk to future development was significant
     and, in their view, an acceptable level of risk was satisfied with a separation that achieved a
     Radiant heat flux of 12.5 kW/m2. This was accepted by the Court and the Court Decision
     contained that as a condition of approval.
     It is noted Plate 8 provides the output from the Flamesol method 2 calculation of the minimal
     distances to achieve the key radiant heat flux levels. While the outputs indicate a separation
     of 14.2 metres will achieve a Radiant heat flux of 29kW/m2 and separation of 29.7 metres is
     required to achieve a Radiant heat flux exposure of 12.5kW/m2.
     It is therefore my opinion that:
           a.    All bushfire protection must be provided within the land subject to the
                 development application, 111 Lake Weyba Drive, Noosaville, described as Lot 4
                 on RP36729.


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