Compiled Plans & Documents OPW18-0342 02

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

Primary Action 4: Decision to Shelter in Place
Given the nature of the facility and the potential vulnerability of some residents, sheltering in place
will always be an action of last resort. The bushfire-specific emergency provisions contained within
this document encompass a model which seeks to avoid an emergency situation by evacuating
the facility as early as possible, on a risk (likelihood x consequence) basis. This alleviates the potential
for potentially vulnerable occupants to find themselves in a dangerous situation, avoids unnecessary
burden on emergency services and reduces the extent of stress on all involved.

However, in some cases it may be too late to leave. Such a situation might be characterised by the
following:

     •    Smoke is so thick that driving becomes a hazard due to poor visibility;

     •    Egress from the village is unavailable (i.e. tree fall, vehicle accident, etc.);

     •    Areas immediately adjacent to the village are involved in flame;

     •    Radiant heat outside of the building is too high for persons to be exposed; or

     •    Emergency services advise facility operators that it is too late to leave.

Generally, a series of bushfire warnings will be issued before a situation such as above occurs. This
underscores the need for staff to maintain maximum situational awareness of increased fire danger
days, so as to avoid such a scenario.

If a situation occurs where it becomes too late for persons to leave, call 000. Occupants should be
encouraged to seek refuge at the central community centre building which, for the most part, is
more than 100m from nearby hazard. This centre is also immediately adjacent to Grasstree Court
and is accessible via the internal road network. This allows emergency services complete access
around the entirety of the facility, may facility staged evacuation from this point, and at a sufficiently
safe distance with respect to radiant heat exposure, for them to operate outside of the building if
need be.

Alternatively, on-foot evacuation from the community centre to Ben Lexcen Park on the opposite
side of Ben Lexcen Drive, adjacent to the shopping centre, could be undertaken if need arises. It
must be noted however that this option will expose residents to the effects of smoke and possibly
some measure of radiant heat and should only be considered if the community centre is no longer
a safe place to shelter.

A decision to shelter in place at the community centre will always be the last resort option and
should not be encouraged as a ‘Plan A’ solution.




Status: Provisions                                                                             December 2018
Project No.: 18-030                                                                                 Page 20