Bushfire Hazard Assessment & Management Plan v2 - 48-59 Kabi Road COOTHARABA

Bushfire Hazard Assessment & Management Plan v2                                              NCES REF: J001061
Lot 7 on RP216403, Lot 394 on M371117, and Lot 650 on M37380 – 48-59 Kabi Road, Cootharaba



5.4 Fire Breaks
The provision of fire breaks and fire trails within a site located in a bushfire prone area offers
an important bushfire defence measure to assist in reducing the risk and severity of bushfire
ingress onto and through a site. In this instance, the location of the proposed buildings at
significant distance from the confirmed hazardous vegetation, and dominance of low hazard
vegetation about the buildings (i.e., golf course area, sports fields, and permaculture fields),
negates the requirement for a formal firebreak to be adopted between the buildings and the
identified hazardous vegetation.
It is noted that given the existing use of the site (golf course) and gentle grades across the site
(1-5 degrees) it is expected that emergency access to the hazardous vegetation by standard
QLD RFS 4wd MRV vehicles is readily available across the site.

5.5 Vehicular Access
Development in bushfire prone areas should be serviced by safe access/exit points for both
occupants and emergency services personnel. Vehicular access should be designed to
accommodate both rural and urban fire appliances. Whilst rural appliances are typically
dispatched to extinguish bushfires, urban appliances will be dispatched to defend structures
threatened by bushfire and will often assist (where necessary and available) rural appliances
to attack bushfires.
The development is to be served by a combination of the existing site access in the
southwestern site extent alongside an access extension which traverses through the central
and eastern site extents. The site access is to comprise a sealed bitumen road with looping
turn arounds at each terminus (approx. 6m wide). The total length of the proposed road is
approximately 900m and will achieve a grade of <12.5%.
The majority of the access road is located within a low threat area comprised of manicured
lawn either side hence the risk of access/egress becoming constrained during a bushfire event
is deemed low.
However, the south-western portion of the existing access route from the site’s entry to the
carpark and maintenance sheds is located through a wooded area over a cleared understorey
and adjacent to VHC 8.1 vegetation. Therefore, to reduce the risk of access/egress becoming
constrained during a bushfire event it is recommended the proposed existing access route be
set within a 10m wide fully cleared corridor comprised of the driveway bordered by 3m fully
cleared conditions either side. The existing managed understorey conditions adjacent to the
existing driveway access should be maintained in perpetuity, and/or at least to 10m width
either side, to further reduce the risk of access/egress becoming constrained during a bushfire
event (refer Section 5.7). Note due to transit through forested areas, high visibility (i.e.,
reflective) vehicular access directional signage is to be installed every 30m on each side
(accommodating ingress and egress points of view) of the access route through the forested
areas is to be provided.
A secondary access/exit point to the site is not currently provided. Therefore, should the
primary access to Kabi Road be un-trafficable site occupants would not be able to evacuate
the site and QFES would not be able to respond to the site. Therefore, it is recommended a
fire access trail is constructed along the south-east boundary of the site to connect to
Cootharaba Downs Road reserve which offers a formed dirt/gravel road which connects
through to Louis Bazzo Drive to the south. The road currently provides access to neighbouring
Lot 146 MCH 1472. It is noted Lot 146 includes an approximate 6-10m wide fire break trail
around the perimeter of the lot which would flank the proposed south-east boundary fire
access trail. This scenario therefore effectively offers a 16-20m wide fire break trail corridor
through to Cootharaba Downs Road.
Note due to transit through forested areas, high visibility (i.e., reflective) emergency access
trail directional signage is to be installed every 30m on each side (accommodating ingress and
egress points of view) of the secondary emergency access route through to its connection to
Cootharaba Downs Road.
The indicative location and alignment of the trail recommendation is shown in Plate 21.



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