Bushfire Management Plan Review Report_June 2018 · RAL18/0023

Report on Review of Bushfire Situation at Noosa                                             Q.I.C.
Civic




There is a need to improve the vehicular through access behind the Big W store. This
would allow rural appliances along this important interface from the western side to the car
park on the east.


This will not be capable of accommodating urban fire appliances but will allow rural fire
brigade 4x4 access in case of a fire event.


3.3 Firebreaks and Separation Areas
The highest risk of an unplanned fire is from the south and east. The Walter Hay Drive
and Powerline clearing provide excellent separation from the National Park to the east.


The dead end Hofmann Drive is connected to Walter Hay Drive by an existing access
track. (see Photograph No. 5) This provides access in the case of an emergency but
there are high levels of fuel up to this track edge. There needs to be at least 10 metres of
managed understorey to allow safe operations along this access.


There is also a need to maintain a low fuel zone along the southern edge of the existing
development. This has been achieved by maintenance actions in 2017.


3.4 Water
The response to any unplanned fire in this area is likely to be both rural and urban
appliances. The area immediately south of the existing development currently has urban
fire hydrants that are not accessible to any appliances. Urban appliances are fire trucks
which do not carry water but are capable of pumping water from fire hydrants. Rural fire
trucks are usually 4x4 which carry small quantities of water and operate close to any fire
event. Where urban appliances attend with access to water they are capable of strong
defence with water application. The rural appliances are focussed on a combination of
suppression and the use of fire in the form of back burning as their management tools.




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