Compiled Plans & Documents OPW18-0342 02

                                                                              Bushfire Emergency Provisions
                                               Retirement Living Village – 6 Grasstree Court, Sunrise Beach

Primary Action 2: Preparing for Evacuation or Sheltering
These provisions relate to a retirement living village. Whilst some residents may remain fully mobile
and independent, others may experience mental or physical characteristics which add to their
potential vulnerability in the event of a bushfire emergency, or place reliance upon others to assist
in emergency and evacuation.

Overall, the facility includes:

            •     Independent living villas:              106 beds

            •     Independent living apartments:          134 beds

            •     Total resident population:              240 persons (approximately)

            •     Total number of on-site staff:          5 persons (approximately)



An asset protection zone of 30m is provided to the west and 14m to the south. This area is trafficable
by vehicle, with emergency fall-back access provided to the broader village (by vehicle and by
foot). A hydrant system services the village, with markers located throughout, for ease of
identification. Fire hose reels are also situated across the facility.

Within 100m of the Noosa National Park, all residential buildings are built to AS3959 – Construction of
Buildings in Bushfire Prone Areas standards. Whilst this does not guarantee building survival in a
bushfire event, it does enhance their opportunity to withstand the event.

Item 1: Refuge and Transportation
The off-site refuge locations are to be set out in the overall emergency plan for the village, noting
they must be facilities which are not themselves vulnerable to bushfire hazard. Whilst Council
evacuation centres may be an option, for the comfort of occupants, the ideal option is to evacuate
to the residences of nearby family or friends. Occupants should be asked to consider this in advance
of any event, during regular emergency or health and safety meetings or briefings.

It is understood most residents of the village will have access to their own private vehicle, or at the
very least that of a neighbour, to enable self-evacuation to occur. It may be the case however that
a number of residents will require the assistance of others, or alternative transportation.

RESPONSIBILITY: The village management team, EPC and ECO must keep a register of each resident’s
evacuation destinations, and is responsible for contacting each resident to confirm their safety after
they have evacuated the facility. If any issues arise, contact 000 immediately.

RESPONSIBILITY: The ECO is responsible for organising alternative transport for residents requiring
assistance to evacuate the facility.

RECOMMENDATION: To aid in this process, the operators of the facility may wish to consider a
Memorandum of Understanding or other form of agreement with selected transport companies
including taxi and bus companies, to transport those residents requiring assistance to evacuate, if
required. These arrangements should be considered by the EPC as part of its planning activities, to
assist the ECO in advance of any bushfire event. These arrangements may be applicable beyond
bushfire events to other natural hazard emergencies such as flooding, cyclone, etc.

Item 2: Bushfire Warning System
An immediate bushfire threat may be determined by the issue of an emergency warning from
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (via ABC Radio, Council’s Disaster Dashboard, or the QFES
and RFSQ websites). Text message warnings may also be issued, either on the basis of proximity to
mobile phone towers in the emergency warning area, or via pre-arranged services (i.e. relevant
staff signing up to a Council e-alert platform for severe weather warnings).


Status: Provisions                                                                             December 2018
Project No.: 18-030                                                                                 Page 15