Appendix D - Bushfire Assessment · RAL26/0026

available for burning. Frequent bushfires can result in the development of bushfire-tolerant grassy
woodlands or grasslands, and consequently less destructive bushfire behaviour.

Fuel loads need to be determined when preparing a bushfire hazard assessment. BRC refers to the process
for identifying, classifying and mapping vegetation hazard classes as a Vegetation Hazard Class
Assessment. In accordance with the methodology outlined in Section 6 of BRC, the following Vegetation
Hazard Classes (VHC) were identified within the assessment area:
     VHC 9.1 – Moist to dry Eucalypt open forests on coastal lowlands and ranges – which is attributed
        a combined surface/near-surface fuel of 21t/ha and a total potential fuel load of 24.2t/ha
     VHC 22.1 - Melaleuca open forests on seasonally inundated lowland coastal swamps – which is
        attributed a combined surface/near-surface fuel of 23.4t/ha and a total potential fuel load of
        28.4t/ha
     VHC 39.2 – Low to moderate tree cover in built up areas – which is attributed a combined
        surface/near-surface fuel of 5t/ha and a total potential fuel load of 8t/ha
     VHC 43.6 – Water bodies or very low vegetation cover – which is attributed a combined
        surface/near-surface fuel of 0t/ha and a total potential fuel load of 0t/ha

2.1.3 Maximum Landscape Slope
The slope of the land is a major determinant of fire behaviour. Fire burns faster as it travels up a slope,
via the preheating of unburnt fuels ahead of the fire, increasing the rate of spread and fireline intensity.
Conversely, fires move more slowly as they travel downslope. Fireline intensity (kW/m) is a function of
the rate of spread. As a general rule, the rate of fire spread (and fireline intensity) doubles up a 10-degree
slope and quadruples up a 20-degree slope (BRC).

The site is located on a maximum slope of 3 degrees. The hazardous vegetation influencing the proposed
development is located on flat land, across slope or upslope of the development area. Where the slope
under hazardous vegetation is located across slope, it is considered ‘upslope’ irrespective of the slope of
land between the site and the edge of the hazardous vegetation.

2.1.4   Fire Danger Index
The Fire Danger Index (FDI) provides an annual accumulated index of fire weather severity (i.e., the
potential danger of a bushfire) based on a combination of vegetation dryness, air temperature, wind
speed and humidity. The Queensland Government produce a publicly available data package which
includes selected inputs and information used by the CSIRO in conjunction with the QFES to prepare the
State-wide Bushfire Hazard Area (Bushfire Prone Area) mapping (July 2014). The data includes Fire
Weather Severity (Fire Danger Index - FDI). A review of the dataset for the assessment area indicates that
the site is located within a band of FDI 48.




AUGUST 2026                   BUSHFIRE HAZARD ASSESSMENT & MANAGEMENT PLAN                            Page: 12
                                      380 MCKINNON DRIVE, COOROIBAH