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Bushfire Report
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em COVEY ASSOCIATES PTY LTD Consulting Engineers BUSHFIRE ASSESSMENT REPORT THE KNOWLES GROUP PART OF LOT 3 SP246584 28 EENIE CREEK ROAD, NOOSAVILLE PROJECT No: 161953 REPORT No: 120443RPT ISSUE 2 JULY 2016 Maroochydore | Gladstone | Rockhampton | Tamworth www.covey.com.au
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Full text of sections 2 to 70 (of 107)
Section 2
BUSHFIRE ASSESSMENT REPORT
Client: The Knowles Group Location: Eenie Creek Road
DOCUMENT ISSUE APPROVAL
Project No: 161953
Title: Bushfire Assessment Report
Client: Knowles Group
Date: July 2016
Issue No: 2
Distribution: The Knowles Group – One (1) copy
Project Urban Pty Ltd – One (1) copy
Covey Associates Pty Ltd– One (1) copy
© Copyright Covey Associates Pty Ltd (2016).
This document is the property of Covey Associates Pty Ltd. This document and the information
contained in it are solely for the use of the authorised recipient and this document may not be
used, copies of reproduced in whole or part for any purpose other than that for which it was
supplied by Covey Associates Pty Ltd. Covey Associates Pty Ltd makes no representation,
undertakes no duty and accepts no responsibility to any third party who may use or rely upon this
document or the information contained in it.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Parts of this document contain material originally prepared by:
This material is the intellectual property and copyright of Covey Associates Pty Ltd.
Author: Anthony Power Reviewed: Chris Camp
GDDDBPA UWS, GradDipUrb&RegPlan, BEng(Hons), RPEQ
GradCertNatRes, Dip. Hort. Dip. Arb.
AILA. MEIANZ
Section 3
BUSHFIRE ASSESSMENT REPORT
Client: The Knowles Group Location: Eenie Creek Road
CONTENTS
1.0 INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Background Information 1
1.2 Pre-lodgement Meeting 1
1.3 Description of the Subject Site 1
1.4 Zoning 2
2.0 SCOPE OF WORKS 4
3.0 DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSAL 5
4.0 EXISTING VEGETATION 5
4.1 Vegetation Communities 5
4.2 Vegetation Extent and Fire Runs 6
5.0 BUSHFIRE HAZARD ASSESSMENT 8
5.1 Fire Weather Area / Climate and Bushfire Season 8
5.2 History of Fire Frequency 8
5.3 Vegetation Formation Types under AS3959:2009 10
5.4 Effective Slopes 11
5.5 Construction Standards for Site Buildings 11
5.6 Neighbourhood Safer Places 12
5.7 Fire Management Strategy – Noosa National Park 12
5.8 Noosa Shire Council Bushfire Planning Scheme Policy Assessment Methodology 13
6.0 BUSHFIRE ASSESSMENT 13
6.1 NSC Natural Hazard Areas Overlay Code 13
6.2 Qualitative Assessment 15
7.0 MITIGATION MEASURES 16
7.1 Recommendations 16
7.2 Conclusion 17
8.0 REFERENCES 18
Section 4
BUSHFIRE ASSESSMENT REPORT
Client: The Knowles Group Location: Eenie Creek Road
LIST OF APPENDICES
APPENDIX A Site Plan by Oksio Designs
APPENDIX B DNRM Vegetation Management Report
APPENDIX C QFES Prepare Act Survive Brochure
APPENDIX D NSW Evacuation Plan Guidelines
APPENDIX E CRC Fire Note – residential boundary fences in bushfires: How do
APPENDIX F Standards for Asset Protection Zones
Section 5
BUSHFIRE ASSESSMENT REPORT Client: The Knowles Group Location: Eenie Creek Road, Noosaville 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background Information The Knowles Group has commissioned Covey Associates Pty Ltd to provide a Bushfire Assessment Report to demonstrate compliance of a proposed Aged Care Facility with the Noosa Shire Council (NSC) Natural Hazards Overlay Code at 28 Eenie Creek Road, Noosaville. The land is legally described as Part of Lot 3 on SP246584. The facility will be built for Arcare who are 5 star services providers of aged care, dementia care, respite care, palliative care and in-home care. The assessment is triggered as the site is a designated bushfire prone area on the Noosa Shire Council Planning Scheme Bushfire Natural Hazard Areas Overlay Map. This report is to accompany a development application which will be submitted to Noosa Shire Council (NSC). Information for the preparation of this assessment was obtained from Project Urban, Oksio Designs, the Noosa Shire Planning Scheme, the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service, the Department of Natural Resources and Mines (DNRM), the ABC website and a site inspection. 1.2 Pre-lodgement Meeting Council identified bushfire as being an important issue in respect to the development of the site for an Aged Care Facility at the pre-lodgement meeting held at Council on the 4th February 2016 with the applicant. This report addresses the requirements of Councils pre-lodgement meeting request and the Natural Hazard Area overlay code. 1.3 Description of the Subject Site The subject site has an area of approximately 2.61ha and is relatively flat (see Figure 1). The site has no existing improvements. The site is covered in regrowth Open Forest communities which will be predominantly cleared to accommodate the proposed Aged Care Facility. The site appears to have had some forestry / horticultural past with parallel earth growing mounds being present throughout the site. An electrical easement runs along the sites eastern boundary. The electrical easement provides some cleared separation to the vegetation communities to the east. Eenie Creek Road forms the sites southern boundary. The site is located between two large roundabouts. The Noosa Civic Shopping Complex is located to the south west of the site. Vegetation will remain post development to the north, east and west of the site. Additional vegetation is located to the south across the southern side of Eenie Creek Road. Covey Associates Pty Ltd 1 Project No: 161953 Consulting Engineers 120443Rpt Issue 2
Section 6
BUSHFIRE ASSESSMENT REPORT
Client: The Knowles Group Location: Eenie Creek Road, Noosaville
Figure 1: Aerial Photo of subject site. Source: Nearmap: http://maps.au.nearmap.com/
1.4 Zoning
The subject site is located partially within the Shire Business Centre Zone and the Open Space
Conservation Zone under the Noosa Plan. Land to the north and west is urban land uses including
semi-attached housing and industry. Land to the east and south is located within the Open Space
Conservation Zone and is unlikely to be developed (refer Figure 3). A Master Plan approval was
previously issued by NSC Shire Business Centre Area. This included Open Space Buffer Area
(OS3) comprising of Native Vegetation buffers long the sites southern boundary. The site also
contains an Open Space Conservation Zone on the sites northern and eastern boundaries (refer to
plans by Oksio Designs Appendix A)
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Section 7
BUSHFIRE ASSESSMENT REPORT
Client: The Knowles Group Location: Eenie Creek Road, Noosaville
Figure 2: Zoning of Site. source: (http://www.noosa.qld.gov.au/view-the-noosa-plan)
The site is identified as being within the ‘medium bushfire hazard area’ under Council’s Noosaville
Natural Hazard Bushfire Overlay Map (refer Figure 3). The hazard is identified as being land in all
directions immediately adjacent to the subject site.
Covey Associates Pty Ltd 3 Project No: 161953
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BUSHFIRE ASSESSMENT REPORT
Client: The Knowles Group Location: Eenie Creek Road, Noosaville
Figure 3: NSC Natural Hazard Bushfire & Acid Sulfate Soils Overlay Map. Source:
(http://www.noosa.qld.gov.au/view-the-noosa-plan)
2.0 SCOPE OF WORKS
This report is limited to the following scope:
Describe the development to aid NSC assessment officers in their review of the Knowles
Group proposal.
Provide a Bushfire Assessment Report in accordance with NSC Pre-lodgement meeting
minutes and Planning Scheme Policy.
Provide recommendations to achieve final compliance with the NSC Natural Hazards
(Bushfire) Overlay Code.
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Section 9
BUSHFIRE ASSESSMENT REPORT
Client: The Knowles Group Location: Eenie Creek Road, Noosaville
No detailed building, engineering or landscape plans have been produced to date and therefore
there has been no associated review of such details as part of this assessment. Detailed
assessment of compliance with Building Works to AS3959:2009 will be undertaken by a Building
Certifier at Building Works stage when final design and location of dwellings are determined.
This report contains recommendations for Bushfire Attack Levels (BALs) based on anticipated
setbacks from hazardous vegetation illustrated on the current proposal plan by Oksio Designs. The
bushfire hazard assessment should be reviewed every 5 years by a suitably qualified person or as
such time that things change on the ground that would materially affect the assessment.
3.0 DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSAL
The Knowles Group is proposing to build an Aged Care Facility on the site. The site will be built for
ARCare who will operate the facility. ArCare are experienced Aged Care Service providers.
The facility will accommodate approximately 90 residents and a hundred staff over a three month
roster. Considering there will be three shifts a day, the maximum number of people onsite including
visitors would during the day be on the order of 150. The proposal is for a two storey facility and is
described on the plans prepared by Oksio Design. The facility has a gross floor area (gfa) of
6,185sqm and a site cover of 13%.
Setbacks are proposed to retained vegetation as follows:
Proposed Setbacks to Vegetation
North: 24.5m
East: 20.5m
South: 46-50m (to vegetation on southern side of Walter Hay Drive)
West: 21m (to rehabilitation offset area)
4.0 EXISTING VEGETATION
4.1 Vegetation Communities
Vegetation Communities surrounding the site are described in the Vegetation Management Report
obtained from the Queensland DEHP. The DEHP report identifies numerous vegetation
communities in the vicinity of the site. The 5 most abundant Regional Ecosystems near the subject
site include:
RE12.9-10.1 Tall open forest often with Eucalyptus resinifera, E. grandis, E. robusta,
Corymbia intermedia on sedimentary rocks. Coastal (Of concern VMA)
RE12.3.13 Closed heathland on seasonally waterlogged alluvial plains usually near
coast (Of concern VMA)
RE12.3.5 Melaleuca quinquenervia open forest on coastal alluvium
(Least concern VMA)
RE12.3.4 Melaleuca quinquenervia, Eucalyptus robusta woodland on coastal alluvium
(of Concern VMA)
RE12.5.3 Eucalyptus racemosa subsp. racemosa woodland on remnant Tertiary
surfaces (Endangered VMA)
The Vegetation Management Report from DNRM does not identify any regional Ecosystems as
being mapped on the subject site. The subject site appears to be advanced regrowth vegetation on
a former forestry / horticultural land use. The vegetation comprises various stands of Casuarina
spp and Alphitona excelsa with emergent Corymbia, Lophostemon and Eucalyptus species.
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BUSHFIRE ASSESSMENT REPORT
Client: The Knowles Group Location: Eenie Creek Road, Noosaville
Re12.9-10.1 Tall Open Forest is located closest to the subject site being immediately on the sites
northern and eastern boundaries. A large fire travelling towards the site could potentially travel
through a variety of vegetation types and therefore fire behaviour would differ within these
vegetation types.
A copy of the DNRM report is contained in Appendix D. Site vegetation will be predominantly
cleared to accommodate the proposed use.
Figure 4: Regional Ecosystem Mapping
4.2 Vegetation Extent and Fire Runs
The subject site is located adjacent to a broader expansive area of native vegetation, including the
Noosa National Park. Large fire runs (over 1km in length) surround the site to the east, south east
and south (refer Figure 5). In this respect it is possible, though unlikely, that large scale landscape
scale fires may impact the Noosaville area and the subject site along wide fire fronts. The threat is
somewhat diminished by the industrial area and Noosa Civic Shopping Centre to the north, west
and south west. A well maintained grass sward beneath the adjacent electricity easement would
have similar benefit in terms of isolating the site from the surrounding tracts of vegetation.
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BUSHFIRE ASSESSMENT REPORT Client: The Knowles Group Location: Eenie Creek Road, Noosaville A large scale fire could therefore impact the OS3 Zone on the southern side of the development and the Buffer Zone (conservation) identified on the plans by Oksio Designs on the eastern and northern sides of the development. Although these areas adjacent the proposal are narrow and would not generate a high intensity fire in their own right, they could become part of the attack in the scenario of large fire impacting them. Therefore it would be inappropriate to treat them as landscaping or insignificant areas of bushland on the basis of them being narrow / small from a bushfire perspective unless they were heavily modified. A large fire approaching the site would easily cross all roads and the electrical easement surrounding the site unless again heavily modified. Eenie Creek and the fringing Mangrove Communities (not identified on the RE mapping) would impede the progress of a large fire advancing to the site from the south of Eenie Creek. The Sunshine Motorway also acts a barrier moving from the east. Liaison with QFES Superintendent Bernard Trembath (personal correspondence February 2012) on another site within the same Master Planned Area summarised the risk to the immediate general area as follows: Commercial and Light industry precincts have been established to the North and West of the proposed development. The fire weather conditions in SE Queensland are normally predicated on the movement of frontal systems that generate dry winds from the NW-SW quadrant. As such the existing development has significantly removed the vegetation and reduced the risk of wildfire from that area. Walter Hay Drive forms a barrier to fires that may originate in the Noosa National Park and be influenced by the prevailing South Easterly winds. Existing and proposed development to the south of Eenie Creek will also mitigate risk from that area. It is important to the note that Walter Hay Drive does not form a barrier to fires moving from the Noosa National Park to the subject site in the manner described above as it is not located between the site and the National Park. The site referred to above is located on the western side of Walter Hay Drive. Covey Associates Pty Ltd 7 Project No: 161953 Consulting Engineers 120443Rpt Issue 2
Section 12
BUSHFIRE ASSESSMENT REPORT
Client: The Knowles Group Location: Eenie Creek Road, Noosaville
Subject Site
Figure 5: Subject Site and Fire Runs. Aerial photo source: Nearmap
Figure 6: Aerial photo of site showing the landscape position of the site downhill of surrounding vegetation
5.0 BUSHFIRE HAZARD ASSESSMENT
5.1 Fire Weather Area / Climate and Bushfire Season
Granger et. al. (2000) summarise the fire season parameters for Southeast Queensland.
The bushfire season for South-East Queensland typically extends from mid to late winter through
to early summer. The greatest danger occurs in the periods towards the end of winter into spring,
especially if a good summer wet season which produced abundant growth of grass and other fuel
is followed by a winter of low rainfall and lengthy periods of dry westerly winds. The risk generally
eases following the first rains of the spring thunderstorm season and is largely absent during the
summer ‘wet’ season.
A Fire Danger Index (FDI) of 40 is used for the purposes of calculating Bushfire Attack Levels for
Queensland under the Australian Standard AS3959:2009. This reflects a lower fire weather
severity than southern states which depending on region typically adopt a FDI of 80 or 100.
5.2 History of Fire Frequency
The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) regularly conduct controlled burns within the
Noosa National Park as part of the annual hazard reduction / conservation management program
for parks and forests. The burns are undertaken to help protect life and property in the event of a
wildfire. Please refer to the Noosa National Park Management Plan.
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BUSHFIRE ASSESSMENT REPORT
Client: The Knowles Group Location: Eenie Creek Road, Noosaville
A visit to the subject site and patch of bushland immediately to the north revealed that a fire moved
through the site some years ago. Based on the fire scars the fire seemed to be low intensity and
moving from south to north. The following fires have been documented in the area over recent
times:
Granger et. al. (2000) reported that large fires occurred in the Noosa Area in 1986/1987.
ABC news report that there was a large fire in the Great Sandy National Park near Noosa north
Shore which destroyed more than 8 square kilometres of national park in December
2012.http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-12-17/noosa-national-park-bushfire-still-
burning/4431408
The ABC also reported in November 2012 that a out of control fire threatened homes along
Grays Road, Doonan to the south of the subject site. 2 caravans were destroyed in the same
fire. http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2012/11/15/3633782.htm?site=sunshine
A controlled burn in the Noosa National Park flared up in August 2012 which caused the
Coolum State High School to be evacuated. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-03/blaze-
controlled-on-sunshine-coast/4175544?site=sunshine
A large fire also burned in the Great Sandy National Park at Cooroibah north of Noosa in
December 2009. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-12-24/crews-fighting-big-qld-suncoast-
bushfire/1189912?site=sunshine
The North Australian Fire Information (NAFI) website was also consulted to review fire scar history
in the Noosa Area from the years 2006 through to 2015 (refer Figure 9). A search revealed that
there has been several fires in the vicinity of the site. There were four fire scars in 2012 and 2013
that registered on the website. These may also have also been controlled burns rather than
wildfires. One of the fire scars illustrated on figure 9 to the north east of the site appears to be
somewhat erroneous being over an urban area.
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BUSHFIRE ASSESSMENT REPORT
Client: The Knowles Group Location: Eenie Creek Road, Noosaville
Figure 9: NAFI fire scar mapping (http://www.firenorth.org.au/nafi3/)
Fire Scars 2006 to 2016
Subject site
Fire Scar Areas
Doonan Fire Nov
2012
Given the above recorded fire history in the area, it’s feasible to assume that fires will again occur
in the vicinity of the site in the future.
5.3 Vegetation Formation Types under AS3959:2009
The subject site is surrounded by ‘Open Forest’ communities. Open Forest vegetation along the
creek lines are more mesic and therefore include a greater abundance of less flammable
mangrove and or rainforest species. Vegetation within these communities are likely to be less
susceptible to wildfires, especially under milder fire weather conditions.
Table 1 outlines the applicable vegetation formation class under AS3959:2009, accorded to each
vegetation community described under the Vegetation Management Report obtained from DNRM
(Appendix D). The overall fuel load described in the Australian Standard is significantly higher than
that observed on-site. Fuel load overserved is likely to be in the vicinity of 13-18t/ha rather than
35t/ha. The lower actual fuel load would result in less intense bushfire behaviour than that
modelled in the AS3959:2009 radiant heat flux model results reflected in the BAL look-up tables.
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BUSHFIRE ASSESSMENT REPORT
Client: The Knowles Group Location: Eenie Creek Road, Noosaville
Table 1: Vegetation Formations
Regional Ecosystem Vegetation Classification Vegetation Type Overall Fuel Load under
AS3959:2009 AS3959:2009 AS3959:2009 t/ha (table
B2)
12.9-10.1 Group A - Forest Tall Open Forest 35
12.3.13 Group D - Forest Closed Scrub 25
12.3.5 Group A - Forest Open Forest 35
12.3.4 Group A - Forest Open Forest 35
12.5.3 Group A - Forest Open Forest 35
5.4 Effective Slopes
The subject site and surrounding vegetation is predominantly flat. The land to the north has a slight
fall to the north. Fires moving from the north would therefore be travelling slightly uphill to the site.
In this area a downslope of >0 to 5 degrees has been adopted for the purposes of AS3959:2009.
The effective slope under the Open Forest Vegetation surrounding the site has been adopted as
Upslope / Flat for the purposes of AS3959:2009 to the west, south and east.
5.5 Construction Standards for Site Buildings
The subject site is a Designated Bushfire Prone area for the purposes of the National Construction
Code (NCC). In Queensland Class 9c buildings (Aged Care) have no performance requirements
related to Bushfire Areas. It is however strongly recommended that the facility be built to meet the
requirements of AS3959:2009 Construction of Buildings in Bushfire Prone Areas.
The Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) assigned to facility using AS3959:2009 will be undertaken in the
future by private certifier(s) assessing the building works application(s). The certifier will undertake
a BAL assessment based on the remaining adjoining vegetation types and proximity.
Assuming the clearing and building position proposed and the provision of the following minimum
setbacks from Group A - Forest Vegetation under AS3959:2009:
20m to the west (all upslopes and flat land 0 degrees)
20m to the east (all upslopes and flat land 0 degrees)
20m to south (all upslopes and flat land 0 degrees)
24m to the north (downslope >0 to 5 degrees)
The facility will be able to be constructed (at the time of writing) as per the requirements of Bushfire
Attack Level 19 (BAL19).
Again, it emphasised that the final BALs will depend on the final design and siting of the facility and
will be determined by a private certifier. The BAL may change should the requirements of
AS3959:2009 change.
The heat flow exposure levels and description of the corresponding bushfire attack for each BAL is
repeated below from AS3959:2009 – refer table 2.
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BUSHFIRE ASSESSMENT REPORT
Client: The Knowles Group Location: Eenie Creek Road, Noosaville
Table 2: AS3959:2009 Bushfire Attack Levels explanation (Standards Australia AS3959:2009)
5.6 Neighbourhood Safer Places
The following Neighbourhood Safer Places have been identified for the NSC Local Government
Area. These locations were obtained from the Queensland Rural Fire Service website
https://ruralfire.qld.gov.au/Fire_Safety_and_You/Neighbourhood_Safer_Places/LGAs/Brisbane_Cit
y_Council.asp, (refer Table 1).
None of these areas are particularly close to the site and a ‘safer’ location may be sought by future
residents of the site by simply travelling north towards the denser urban areas, however, roads
through retained vegetation should be avoided.
Table 1: Neighbourhood Safer Places (www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au)
Title Type Location Period of Use
Noosa District State High Open Space Tulip Street, Cooroy Qld 4563 1 July 2015 – 30 June 2016
School - Oval
Pomona State School - Oval Open Space 74 Station Street, Pomona Qld 1 July 2015 – 30 June 2016
4568
Sunshine Beach State School - Open Space David Low Wat, Sunshine 1 July 2015 – 30 June 2016
Oval Beach Qld 4567
5.7 Fire Management Strategy – Noosa National Park
Fire management with the Noosa National Park located near the site is implemented by the
QPWS. QPWS undertake controlled burns within the National Park to help protect against wildfires
and maintain biodiversity. Such burns assist in protecting adjoining assets and also diminishing the
risk across the entire local area.
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BUSHFIRE ASSESSMENT REPORT
Client: The Knowles Group Location: Eenie Creek Road, Noosaville
5.8 Noosa Shire Council Bushfire Planning Scheme Policy Assessment
Methodology
An assessment has been undertaken of the bushfire hazard using the method described in NSC’s
Planning Scheme Policy 1 – Information Council May Request.
The NSC planning scheme policy 1 refers to the methodology outlined in Appendix 3 of the State
Planning Policy 1/03 Guideline: Mitigating the Adverse Impacts of Flood, Bushfire and Landslide.
The assessment methodology uses a combination of vegetation, slope and aspect values to
determine an overall hazard severity score of low (1 to 5.5), medium (6 to 12.5) or high (>13)
severity of bushfire hazard.
Tables 2 outlines the nature of the hazard using this methodology for vegetation surrounding the
site. The assessment indicates that vegetation surrounding the site is part of a medium severity
bushfire prone area. A 50m bushfire safety buffer for medium severity hazard areas is applied from
the edge of these areas. All land within the 50m safety buffer is then also included in the medium
hazard severity area.
Applying the 50m hazard buffer from the edge of the medium hazard bushland surrounding the site
would result in the majority of the subject site being located inside the medium bushfire hazard
severity area. This includes the proposed Aged Care Facility footprint.
Table 2: SPP1/03 Bushfire Assessment Methodology of Vegetation to the north, east and south
Element Site Hazard Score
Vegetation Communities Paperbark heath and swamps, eucalypt 8
forest with dry shrub ladder fuels
Hazard Score for Slope Plain (0% to 5%) 1
Aspect East to south and all land under 5% slope 0
Total 9 (medium)
6.0 BUSHFIRE ASSESSMENT
6.1 NSC Natural Hazard Areas Overlay Code
Table 3 outlines the proposals compliance with NSC’s Natural Hazard Areas Overlay Code.
Table 3: NSC Assessment Criteria
Specific outcomes Probable Solutions Proposal
13.33 Effects of use and works
New Uses S4.1
O4 The use is sited on land that is not in a The site is located within the Medium
The proposed use does not compromise Medium or High Bushfire Hazard Area38; Bushfire Hazard Area. Proposed
the safety of people or property from OR mitigation measures will reduce the
bushfire. S4.2 risk to people and property to
The use is sited on land that is acceptable levels. The impact of a
determined as low bushfire risk by a site large a fire on the property is
.
specific bushfire hazard assessment.39 considered to be a very rare event.
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BUSHFIRE ASSESSMENT REPORT
Client: The Knowles Group Location: Eenie Creek Road, Noosaville
Protection of Infrastructure and S5.1 Community Uses and N/A
Community Uses Infrastructure Uses are not located in a The proposal does not involve
O5 Community Uses and Infrastructure High or Medium Bushfire Hazard Area community uses or infrastructure.
Uses, including that identified below, are identified on Overlay Maps OM1.4 to
able to function effectively during and OM9.4;
immediately after bushfire events— OR
a) Emergency service facilities; S5.2 Building work will not involve more
b) Hospitals; than an additional 20m2 of gross floor
c) Education Type 4 uses, including area to an existing building;
stores for valuable records or items of OR
historic or cultural significance; and S5.3 Where located in a High or
d) Service and utility uses, including Medium Bushfire Hazard Area identified
electricity substations, major electrical on Overlay Maps OM1.4 to OM9.4,
depots and water treatment plants. uses are designed to function effectively
during and immediately after
bushfire events40
.
Hazardous materials S6.1 Hazardous materials are not The proposed use does not involve
O6 Public safety and the environment are manufactured and stored on the site. the manufacture or storage of
not adversely affected by the detrimental hazardous materials in a non-
impacts of bushfire on hazardous domestic scale.
materials manufactured or stored in bulk
Specific outcomes Probable Solutions Proposal
13.34 Siting, design and construction
O7 Uses and works including building S7.1 Uses and works including building The proposed facility is located within
works are sited, designed and works are sited— a suitable location within the triangle
constructed to— a) on lots greater than 2500m2; shaped allotment to maximise
a) minimise the number of people and i) in locations of lowest hazard within setbacks to surrounding vegetation.
property subject to bushfire risk; and the lot (Figure 13.5 provides guidance); The positioning of the building on the
b) maximise the protection of people and and site also takes advantage of the
clearing under the electrical
property during the passage of a fire ii) to achieve setbacks from hazardous easement to the east.
front. vegetation of 1.5 times the predominant
mature canopy tree height or 10m
whichever is the greater; and
iii) 10m from any retained vegetation
strips or small areas of vegetation;
and
iv) so that the elements of the
development least susceptible to
fire are sited closest to the bushfire
hazard;
b) on lots 2500m2
or less - to maximise setbacks from
hazardous vegetation37
13.35 Water supply for fire fighting
O8 S8.1
An adequate and accessible water supply For premises not in a water The site is located within a water
is provided for fire fighting purposes. service area— each lot has an service area. Fire hydrants will be
accessible dam, swimming pool provided.
or water tank accessible by the fire
brigade that contains at least 5000 litres
of water .
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BUSHFIRE ASSESSMENT REPORT
Client: The Knowles Group Location: Eenie Creek Road, Noosaville
13.36 Water supply for fire fighting
Firebreaks and fire access tracks S9.1
O9 Firebreaks or fire access tracks Firebreaks are provided by— Eenie Creek Road provides a break
provide— a) a cleared road reserve not less than to the south. The proposed car park
a) adequate access for fire fighting and 20m wide located around the perimeter and easement provides a fire break
other emergency vehicles; and of the development; to the east. The OS3 buffer to the
b) adequate width to minimise the risk of OR south will be thinned and replanted
fire crossover b) fire access tracks between the with fire retardant species to reduce
development and surrounding the risk from this area. A 20m buffer
is provided to vegetation to the west
vegetated lands that—
and a 24m buffer to vegetation to the
i. are a minimum cleared width of 6m; north. Vehicle access for fire
ii. have a maximum grade of 1 in 8 appliances is provided to the north,
(12.5%) ; south (Eenie Creek Road), east and
iii. have a formed pavement; west. The proposal therefore meets
iv. have access at each end and in the minimum requirements under the
other locations where necessary; Noosa Plan for a 20m firebreak.
v. have passing areas and turning
areas;
vi. have clearly identified access points
for emergency vehicles; and
vii.are located on public land or within
access easements that are granted in
favour of the Sunshine Coast Regional
Council and the Queensland Fire and
Rescue Service.
6.2 Qualitative Assessment
The subject site is located on the periphery of a large tract of flammable vegetation to the east and
south. This vegetation is predominantly located in the Noosa National Park and is protected for
conservation purposes. QPWS also implement fire hazard reduction works within the National
Park.
It is possible, though unlikely, that a large scale fire may impact the site and area under the
influence of low humidity and south westerly or south easterly (higher humidity) winds following a
period of prolonged drought. Fortunately, in South East Queensland the fire weather required to
give incidence to such a fire event very rarely occurs. A fire of this scale would impact many streets
and properties in the area including the Noosa Civil Shopping precinct and not singularly impact
the subject site. The impact of such a fire would assume that fire authorities would be unable to
contain the fire before it reached the subject site.
Fire scar mapping and site evidence revealed that fire frequency in the area is low to medium. It is
considered that the fire threat on the site is medium with any fires starting in close proximity (within
a few hundred metres) easily brought under control by fire authorities. A large landscape scale fire
approaching from the east or south is an unlikely / very rare event. The proposed clearing on the
site significantly reduces the potential threat of such a fire.
The proposed setbacks to nearby vegetation are of sufficient distance when combined with the
adoption of building construction standards to mitigate against embers and incident radiant heat
flux from a fire front. The adoption of additional suitable mitigation measures such as water supply
and appropriate construction standards for the facility, especially to mitigate against ember attack,
will reduce risk to acceptable standards.
Aged Care Facilities are potentially vulnerable uses in bushfire prone areas with the presence of
infirm persons that may be subject to severe anxiety in the face of an oncoming bushfire and or the
presence of smoke, embers etc. Evacuation is a key issue as well as providing defendable space
for fire authorities. Evacuation would be along Eenie Creek Road via one of the 2 provided access
points. The most likely evacuation would be towards the north / northwest such as Walter Hay
Drive avoiding roads that would not be cut off by fire.
Covey Associates Pty Ltd 15 Project No: 161953
Consulting Engineers 120443Rpt Issue 2
Section 20
BUSHFIRE ASSESSMENT REPORT Client: The Knowles Group Location: Eenie Creek Road, Noosaville Access around the facility is provided for 2wd urban appliances in the form of a fire vehicle access road. Careful landscaping, the inclusion of radiant heat shielding in the form of non-combustible fencing and fire hydrants will enhance the quality of the defendable space and make the space safer for fire fighters. The management of fuels within the landscaping surrounding the facility is of upmost importance. In addition regular maintenance of grass within the adjoining electrical easement will help isolate surrounding vegetation from the adjoining Noosa National Park reducing the ability for fires to enter the site and vegetation to the north in the form of a flaming fire front. Ember attack would still be likely and would be mitigated by building construction standards, radiant heat shielding and appropriate landscaping. Full recommendations for mitigation are included in section 7.0 of this report and the Appendices. 7.0 MITIGATION MEASURES 7.1 Recommendations It is recommended that the following mitigation measures be implemented within the development works: 1. All site vegetation is to be cleared on the site except for those areas deemed for protection in buffer areas or conservation offset zones; 2. Fire breaks are to be provided around the proposed building as indicated on the plans by Oksio and outlined in this report. Fire breaks are to be measured from the exposed wall of the facility toward the hazardous vegetation and include (minimum): 24m to the north 20m to the east 20m to the south 20m to the west 3. Future buildings are constructed to AS3959:2009 BAL19 or as determined by subsequent specific site design and assessment by private certifiers at Building Application Stage; 4. Roll over kerbs are constructed where kerb and channel is required; 5. A perimeter road able to accommodate 2wd urban fire appliances is constructed as indicated on the design plan by Oksio Designs; 6. All property includes a letter box / signage that clearly displays the street address of the property; 7. A copy of the QFES Prepare Act Survive brochure (or latest equivalent) be provided to future management of the facility from the developer (Appendix C); 8. Vegetation within the buffer areas to the south and east that is to be retained is to be thinned and replaced with non-flammable species. Smooth barked trees such as Alphitonia’s are to be retained in preference to stringy and paper-barked trees. Fencing within this area is to be provided and built of non-flammable materials such as colourbond. Landscape plans for these areas to be designed based on the principles contained in suitable guidelines such as NSW Planning for Bushfire Protection 2006 (Appendix F); Covey Associates Pty Ltd 16 Project No: 161953 Consulting Engineers 120443Rpt Issue 2
Section 21
BUSHFIRE ASSESSMENT REPORT
Client: The Knowles Group Location: Eenie Creek Road, Noosaville
9. A fire hydrant system should be designed, provided and maintained to the minimum required
performance standard as per AS2419.1 2005. Hydrants are to be provided to all sides of the
building;
10. The Energex Electrical Easement to the east of the site is to be regularly slashed or mown to
reduce the fuel load in this area which contains numerous shrubs and grasses. A properly
prepared fuel management plan signed with Energex would be the basis of this obligation. This
should include management of the grass / fuels within the easement to the north east of the
site to reduce the risk of a fire front moving from the east into the bushland to the north of the
site. This would ideally include management of the fuels to a grass sward and at a minimum
slashed 4-5 times a year and prior to the start of the bushfire season. Refer Appendix F for
guidelines;
11. Landscaping within the proposed bio-retention basin avoids the predominant use of flammable
species;
12. Landscaping within the internal courtyards and the landscape area to the south of the building
is to be carefully landscaped to not exacerbate fire risk. Landscaping should avoid the use of
flammable species, refrain from positioning plants and or flammable materials against the
building and windows. Landscaping should be designed in accordance with suitable guidelines
such as NSW Planning for Bushfire Protection 2006 (Appendix F). an irrigation system is
recommended for all landscaping surrounding the building to maintain moisture levels of plants
during periods of drought so that they are in a less flammable condition during a potential fire
threat. The irrigation system should be turned on should there be a bushfire threat to the
property. Wet vegetation and ground will assist in the extinguishing of embers that may land on
the gardens;
13. Any highly flammable materials and liquids such as fuel and fertilisers are to be stored away
from the main building in their own storage facility preferably shielded from radiant heat from a
bushfire and protected from embers. The location of such a building is to be a minimum of 6m
from the main building;
14. Fencing around the facility should be of a non-flammable type. (refer brochure Appendix E).
The fencing is to be provided to maximise radiant heat shielding to the perimeter of the building
and provide the necessary managed / defendable space to this type of facility. This will also
reduce the level radiant heat outside of the building that may potentially impact on staff and
residents during the implementation of an evacuation;
15. All firebreaks, buildings and mitigation measures are to be maintained to achieve optimum
mitigation performance;
16. Gas supply is to comply with Australian Standards;
17. A bushfire evacuation plan is to be developed for the facility to evacuate residents and staff in
the face of an imminent bushfire threat. The emergency / evacuation plan is be prepared
consistent with the NSW RFS guidelines for the Preparation of Emergency / Evacuation Plan
(Appendix D).
7.2 Conclusion
This Bushfire Hazard Assessment report has been prepared for the development in accordance
with Councils Planning Scheme Policy. The hazard level, determined using the NSC Planning
Scheme Policy, is medium. A qualitative assessment of bushfire risk revealed that the key issues
for bushfire mitigation are the provision of defendable space, access for fire authorities and
evacuation of residents and staff.
Covey Associates Pty Ltd 17 Project No: 161953
Consulting Engineers 120443Rpt Issue 2
Section 22
BUSHFIRE ASSESSMENT REPORT Client: The Knowles Group Location: Eenie Creek Road, Noosaville The proposal can be conditioned to comply with the requirements of the Noosa Natural Hazard Areas Overlay Code and suitable bushfire mitigation measures implemented. The proposed mitigation measures are superior to the requirements of Noosa Councils bushfire provisions / Natural Hazards Overlay Code. The implementation of the recommended measures would result in a very well bushfire prepared facility and would reduce the level of risk of either the loss of the facility or the loss of life in a credible worst case bushfire scenario (FFDI 40 as per AS3959:2009) to low. 8.0 REFERENCES Australian Geological Survey Organisation. (2000). Editor: Granger. K. Natural hazards and the risks they pose to South-East Queensland. Rural Fire Service (2006). Planning for Bushfire Protection – a guide for councils, planners, fire authorities and developers. NSW Rural Fire Service. Standards Australia (2009). Australian Standard AS3959-2009 incorporating amendment Nos 1, 2 and 3: Construction of Buildings in Bushfire Prone Areas. SAI Global Sydney NSW. Covey Associates Pty Ltd 18 Project No: 161953 Consulting Engineers 120443Rpt Issue 2
Section 23
APPENDIX A SITE PLAN BY OKSIO DESIGNS
Section 24
Fence to Single story Allow for wide Allow outdoor Hipped roof design Open Space Conservation Zone to Delivery Bay at the
Note:
secure building to the awnings to reduce access from to the building to Balconies Location of Location of Fanced Bin be replanted with appropriate Fire brigade Delivery back of the building
Bio- Sensitive back. Allow large heat penetration resident's rooms. achieve spread existing Resident's area located plants to minimise BAL affects. truck access truck adjacent to the
retention Care balconies on the during a summer Secure area with architectural across the overland veggie away from Replanted zone to have minimum in case of turning Kitchen and
- All boundaries dimensions and bearings
area outdoor. first floor. and cover from rain. fencing. articulation. building. flow path. patch . residents. 24.0m setback from building walls. emergency. bay. Laundry. to be confirmed on site prior construction.
- RL's to be confirmed prior construction.
98∫ 50' 40" 98∫ 50' 40"
Title Boundary 98∫ 50' 40" - Plant equipment to be located on the
16 bicycle parking
266.226 266.226 266.226 ground and on the roof in places so that it
BAL 19 zo bays.
ne is not visible from the street. Provide
Total on site 16
landscaping screening to ground plant if
21000
BAL 19 zo required.
ne Kitchen and
Open Space Conservation Laundry to be
34000
112000 Zone to be relocated located at the
24000
back of the building.
sted to allow for
fire 2522.42m2
one
Swale to be adju
brigade access
FFL RL 4 Scooters parking
9z
Overland flow path
11.675 Overland flow path bays.
L1
Overland flow path FFL RL
.76
ss road Fence Retaining
11
Fire brigade acce wall under
FILL
10.00 Total on site 4
CUT
fence app
BA
rox 0.5m
.73
ox 1.2m high Fence Gate high
under fence appr Outdoor Veggie Fence
10
Retaining wall
Fence
FFL RL
FILL
.96
Recreational Patch
11
Turning
New Open Space Bay
11.40 area
Fire brigade
access roa Secondary entry to
38000
d Retaining
Gate wall approx
FFL RL 0.5m high
the facility. Staff
e
Conservation
.10
rac
CK
ce
igh
12
11.675
only.
Ter
Fen
RU
m .13
h
Zone
Deliveries/
1.210
ET
Collection Turning
rox
Bins Area Bay
Pergola
FFL RL
FIR
a pp
2529.72m2 11.675 Additional parking LEGEND:
nc e
Secure FFL RL
Bio Bicycles
BAL 19 zone
er fe
Retention
SensitiveB 11.525 provided at the
.46
und
Care GF FFL
Bicycles
back of facility.
12
area Maintenance
- OS3 Buffer zone
all
Outdoor RL 11.75
gw
Access
area FFL RL
inin
11.675
Reta
FFL RL GF FFL Open Space
Scooters
Gate Courtyard
FFL RL 11.40 RL 11.75 - OS3 Buffer zone
Retaining wall maximum 0.8m high
117∫ Conservation Zone
Title
ce
06' 3 10.10
(thinned to reduce BAL)
one
Pergola
ra
0" Overflow B to allow buffer from
Bou FILL
Ter
88.0 Reta
inin
07 gw
nda
9z
HV easement. Zone
all u
24000
nde
r fen
- Open Space Conservation Zone
ry
ce a
L1
ppro Courtyard
Fen
ce
x 1.2
mh
igh to be replanted with
BA
Gazebo
117∫ appropriate plants
.26
FFL RL
10
06' 3 FFL RL to minimise BAL - Open Space Conservation Zone
00
0" 11.675
Provide 88.0
07 Gate
9.73
affects. Replanted (thinned to reduce BAL)
100
adequate Pergola
zone to have
117∫
screening to 06' 3
0" minimum 24.0m - Proposed relocation
88.0
Title Boundary
bio-retention
.41
Access gate 07 setback from of Open Space Conservation Zone
12
area for fire building walls.
121 - HV Easement
.48
brigade. To be
A
11
∫ 58
used only in Secured Sensitive 24. ' 10" Courtyard
725 High Voltage
BAL 19 zone
case of fire Care unit FFL RL
11.675 electrical easement.
emergency (Dementia) located Pergola ce
at the back of the 13 Te
rra
7∫
00 UT
building. Allow for Three main 18 Proposed building
32 GF FFL
Retaining wall maximum 0.8m high
'2 mass
C
.2 0"
sun protection courtyards spread 30 RL 11.75
0
pergolas walking across the building arranged towards
access road.
10
paths. to allow for sunlight
.78
ce
11
ra
penetration and Te
r
secure outdoor Sense of address
access.
FFL RL provided by the
Ti
11.525
Porte Cochere.
A
tl
e
Porte Cochere to
Bo
All rooms to be fitted serve as
Bo
lla
with large windows/
un
rd
Ambulance Bay in
sliding glass door to case of emergency.
da
8∫ 54' 40"
L a nd size
279.354
allow for light and Allow enough room
ry
2 6 10 4 m 2 ventilation into the for flow of traffic.
units.
14 36.6
9∫
Two disabled car
48 0
'4
Proposed spaces.
6
0"
ne
Area show n location of Pump zo
19 ArCare sign located
.55
in b l u e Room. AL
11
B at the front.
Proposed location
174∫
of Transformer.
26.74
Landscaping
42' 5
buffer (OS3 Proposed parking
5
0"
zone) to provide south of the facility
privacy to to allow short
residents. distance access.
Allow for two
disabled car
spaces.
0
Coffee shop area
00
K e y Pla n Scale: N T S for residents and Footpath access
10
visitors in main from roundabout on
Foyer. Allow Walter Hay Drive.
outdoor access
into courtyard. Access from
roundabout on
Walter Hay Drive.
b~á|É
BEFORE COMMENCING ANY WORK, CLIENT PROJECT SCALE
CONTRACTORS MUST VERIFY ALL NO. REVISIONS DATE BY
1:750 1:750
@ A3 @ A3
DIMENSIONS AND LEVELS ON Section 25
THE
The Knowles Group Aged Care Facility Noosaville
SITE AND SUBMIT ALL SHOP
DRAWINGS AND COST VARIATIONS TO
Wxá|zÇá
THE ARCHITECT FOR THEIR WRITTEN
APPROVAL.
ADDRESS DRAWING TITLE DRAWN DATE
PRINTED:
Tuesday, 14 June 2016
105/5 Bear St. Mordialloc, 3195,
VIC m:0 452 622 711 e:[email protected] Nosaville, Queensland Design Response Plan TD 14/06/2016
Section 26
98∫ 50' 40" 98∫ 50' 40" Title Boundary 98∫ 50' 40"
266.226 266.226 266.226
OPEN SPACE
OPEN SPACE CONSERVATION
1850
CONSERVATION ZONE
21000
ZONE
0
Title Boun
OPEN SPACE CONSERVATION
34000
ZONE THINNED AND
Title
112000 REPLANTED TO REDUCE BAL
24000
2522.42m2
B
ound
dary
ary
"
30' 10
EASEMENT PROPOSED OFFSET
36.774
175∫
LOCATION OPEN SPACE
CONSERVATION ZONE
2579.72m2 38000
182∫ 38' 40"
117∫
06' 3
91.239
0"
39.2
63 Deliveries/
Collection Turning
Area Bay
BIO- B
Bicycles
RETENTION
AREA
Bicycles
117∫
06' 3
0"
88.0
07 REC/MU
ZONE
Scooters
117∫
06' 3
0"
88.0
07 Proposed two storey
B
Aged Care facility OPEN SPACE
Title OS3 CONSERVATION
Bou BUFFER ZONE
nda 24000
ry
117∫
06' 3
0"
88.0
07
00
100
117∫ OS
06' 3
3
AN BUFF
0"
88.0
07
DR ER
E
RE PLA THIN
14
OPEN SPACE CONSERVATION
REPLANTED TO REDUCE BAL
5∫
DU N N
CE TED ED
Title Boundary
15
A
7.
'3
33
BA TO
0"
7
L
ZONE THINNED AND
121
24.7
∫5 8' 1
0"
EASEMENT
25
13
0
7∫
00
18
32 '2
10
.2 0"
30
A
LEGEND:
Ti
etl
Bo
- OS3 Buffer zone
un
da
ry
8∫ 54' 40"
279.354
OPEN SPACE
CONSERVATION - OS3 Buffer zone
ZONE
(thinned to reduce BAL)
Approx. Areas:
14
9∫
48
36
Approx. Areas:
'4
.6
0"
60
- Open Space
Site Area: Conservation Zone
.55
11
26104.10m2 Site Area:
OS3 - Open Space
26104m2 BUFFER
Conservation Zone
REC/MU zone: (thinned to reduce BAL)
Ground Floor: 3311m2
174∫
10235.88m2
26.745
- Proposed relocation
42' 50
OS3 Buffer: First Floor: 2940m2
"
of Open Space
3139.42m2 Conservation Zone
Open Space Site Coverage 13%
Conservation Zone: - HV Easement
7544.56m2 Parking:
Easements: Regular: 57
- Proposed Building
0
Disabled: 2
00
6135.55m2
10
Total: 59
Build able area Motorcycle: 4
- Parking/Driveway
(REC/MU - Easements): Total: 4
10151.85m2 Bicycles: 16
Total: 16
S i t e P l a n S c a l e : 1: 8 0 0 @ A 3
b~á|É
BEFORE COMMENCING ANY WORK, CLIENT PROJECT SCALE
CONTRACTORS MUST VERIFY ALL NO. REVISIONS DATE BY
1:800,1:800 @ A3
1:559.19 @A
DIMENSIONS AND LEVELS ON THE
The Knowles Group Aged Care Facility Noosaville
SITE AND SUBMIT ALL SHOP
DRAWINGS AND COST VARIATIONS TO
Wxá|zÇá
THE ARCHITECT FOR THEIR WRITTEN
APPROVAL.
ADDRESS DRAWING TITLE DRAWN DATE
PRINTED:
Tuesday, 14 June 2016
105/5 Bear St. Mordialloc, 3195,
VIC m:0 452 622 711 e:[email protected] Nosaville, Queensland Site Plan TD 14/06/2016
Section 27
APPENDIX B DNRM VEGETATION MANAGEMENT REPORT
Section 28
For Lot: 3 Plan: SP246584 Current as at 09/05/2016 [OCR of page images] Department of Natural Resources and Mines Vegetation management report For Lot: 3 Plan: SP246584 Current as at 09/05/2016 Government
Section 29
This publication has been compiled by Operations Support, Department of Natural Resources and Mines. © State of Queensland, (2016) The Queensland Government supports and encourages the dissemination and exchange of its information. The copyright in this publication is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia (CC BY) licence. Under this licence you are free, without having to seek our permission, to use this publication in accordance with the licence terms. You must keep intact the copyright notice and attribute the State of Queensland as the source of the publication. Note: Some content in this publication may have different licence terms as indicated. For more information on this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/deed.en The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The Queensland Government shall not be liable for technical or other errors or omissions contained herein. The reader/user accepts all risks and responsibility for losses, damages, costs and other consequences resulting directly or indirectly from using this information. Vegetation management report, Department of Natural Resources and Mines, 2016 Page 2
Section 30
Overview
The management and clearing of native vegetation in Queensland is regulated by the Vegetation Management Act 1999, the
Vegetation Management Regulation 2009, the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 and the Sustainable Planning Regulation 2009
in conjunction with associated policies and codes. These legislation, policies and codes are referred to as the Vegetation
Management Framework.
Many routine vegetation management activities can be carried out under exemptions or self-assessable codes under the
Vegetation Management Act 1999. Other activities may require you to apply for a development approval under the
Sustainable Planning Act 2009. The requirements for a permit depend on the type of vegetation, the land tenure (e.g.
freehold or leasehold land), the location, and the extent and purpose of the proposed clearing. In urban areas, vegetation
may be regulated by local government provisions even if it is not regulated vegetation under the VMA.
The information in this report will assist you to determine the options for managing vegetation on your property. Based on the
lot on plan you have supplied, this report provides the following detailed information:
1. Property region - the local government area, bioregion(s), subregion(s), catchment(s) and any applicable area
management plans associated with your property.
2. Vegetation management framework - an explanation of the options that may be available to manage vegetation on
your property.
3. Property details for the specified Lot on Plan - specific information about your property including land tenure,
vegetation categories, regional ecosystems, watercourses, wetlands, essential habitat, land suitability and protected
plants.
4. Maps - a series of colour maps to assist in identifying regulated vegetation on your property including:
- regulated vegetation management map
- vegetation management map
- proposed regulated vegetation management map
- proposed vegetation management map
- land suitability map
- protected plants map.
Please note, the Government has proposed changes to the Category C and Category R areas which are shown
on the proposed regulated vegetation management map. For more information on these changes, please refer
to the Department's website.
Vegetation management report, Department of Natural Resources and Mines, 2016 Page 3
Section 31
Table of Contents
1. Property regions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2. Vegetation management framework . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.1 Exemptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.2 Self-assessable codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2.3 Area management plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2.4 Development approvals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
3. Property details for Lot: 3 Plan: SP246584 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3.1 Tenure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
3.2 Vegetation categories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3.3 Regional ecosystems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
3.4 Watercourses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
3.5 Wetlands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
3.6 Essential habitat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
3.7 Land suitability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3.8 Protected plants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3.9 Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
4. Contacts for further information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
5. Maps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
5.1 Regulated vegetation management map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
5.2 Vegetation management supporting map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
5.3 Proposed regulated vegetation management map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
5.4 Proposed vegetation management supporting map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
5.5 Land suitability map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
5.6 Protected plants map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Vegetation management report, Department of Natural Resources and Mines, 2016 Page 4
[OCR of page images]
Table of Contents
1.Propertyregions .. 2... ee 5
2. Vegetation management framework... 2... 5
2.1 Exemptions... 2... ee 5
2.2 Self-assessable codes .. 2... 6
2.3 Areamanagement plans .. 1... ee 6
2.4 Development approvals... 1. ee 6
3. Property details for Lot: 3 Plan: SP246584 . 2... 2. 7
3.1 Tenure 2... ee 7
3.2 Vegetation categories... ee 7
3.3 Regional ecosystems .. 2... 9
3.4 Watercourses . 2. 1 ee 9
3.5 Wetlands .. 2... ee 9
3.6 Essential habitat... 10
3.7 Land suitability... 11
3.8 Protected plants... 1. 11
3.9 Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF)... 2... 2... ee 12
4. Contacts for further information .... 2.2.0... 000000000000 0000000002 ee ee 12
5.Maps 2... 13
5.1 Regulated vegetation managementmap ..... 2... 2... 2 ee 14
5.2 Vegetation management supportingmap ... 2... 2. ee 15
5.3 Proposed regulated vegetation management map ........... 0.0000 eee eee eee 16
5.4 Proposed vegetation management supportingmap............ 22000022. e ee eee 17
5.5 Land suitability map .. 2... ee 18
5.6 Protected plantsmap .. 1... 1 19
Vegetation management report, Department of Natural Resources and Mines, 2016 Page 4
Section 32
1. Property regions
Table 1 provides a summary of the regions that property Lot: 3 Plan: SP246584 is located within.
Table 1: Property regions
Local Government(s)
Noosa Shire
Bioregion(s) Subregion(s)
Southeast Sunshine Coast - Gold Coast Lowlands
Queensland
Catchment(s)
Noosa
Area Management Plan(s): Nil
2. Vegetation management framework
Vegetation clearing is regulated under the Vegetation Management Act 1999 (VMA) and the Sustainable Planning Act 2009
(SPA). A development approval is required to clear where the clearing is not exempt under the SPA, or where it cannot be
carried out under a self-assessable clearing code or an area management plan under the VMA.
The VMA does not apply to all land tenures or vegetation types. State forests, national parks, forest reserves and some
tenure types as defined under the Forestry Act 1959 and Nature Conservation Act 1992 are not regulated by the VMA.
Managing vegetation not regulated under the VMA may require permits under these laws.
The following native vegetation is not regulated under the VMA but may require permit(s) under other laws:
a) grass or non-woody herbage;
b) a plant within a grassland regional ecosystem; and
c) a mangrove.
The regulated vegetation management map, the vegetation management map, the land suitability map and the protected
plants map provided in section 4 and the information provided in section 2 and 3 of this report will assist you in identifying
clearing suitability and enable you to determine whether your proposed clearing is:
• exempt;
• requires notification and compliance with a self-assessable code or area management plan; or
• requires a development approval.
2.1 Exemptions
The vegetation management framework allows clearing for certain purposes without approval, known as an exemption.
Areas that are mapped as Category X (white in colour) on the regulated vegetation management map (section 5.1) on most
State land tenures are exempt and therefore do not require a development approval or notification.
There are other exemptions that apply to a range of routine property management activities. A list of these is available at
https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/land/vegetation/exemptions/.
Although vegetation management laws may allow clearing under an exemption, there may be other state, local or
Commonwealth laws that apply. Exemptions may not apply if the vegetation is subject to permit conditions, a covenant, an
Vegetation management report, Department of Natural Resources and Mines, 2016 Page 5
Section 33
offset or restrictions as a result of unlawful clearing. 2.2 Self-assessable codes Some clearing activities can be undertaken using a self-assessable vegetation clearing code and notification process. The codes can be downloaded at https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/land/vegetation/codes/ If you intend to clear vegetation under a self-assessable vegetation clearing code, you must notify the department before commencing. The information in this report will assist you to complete the online notification form. You can complete the online form at https://apps.dnrm.qld.gov.au/vegetation/ 2.3 Area management plans Area Management Plans (AMP) provide an alternative approval system for vegetation clearing. They list the purposes and clearing conditions that have been approved for the areas covered by the plan. It is not necessary to use an AMP, even when an AMP applies to your property. If an area management plan applies to your property, it will be listed in Table 1 of this report. To clear under an existing AMP, you must notify the DNRM before clearing starts and follow the conditions listed in the AMP. You can download the area management clearing notification form and obtain a copy of the relevant AMP at https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/land/vegetation/area-plans/ 2.4 Development approvals If your proposed clearing is not exempt, or is not permitted under a self-assessable vegetation clearing code, or an AMP, you may be able to apply for a development approval. Information on how to apply for a development approval is available at https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/land/vegetation/applying/ Vegetation management report, Department of Natural Resources and Mines, 2016 Page 6
Section 34
3. Property details for Lot: 3 Plan: SP246584
3.1 Tenure
All of the lot, plan and tenure information associated with property Lot: 3 Plan: SP246584, including links to relevant Smart
Maps, are listed in Table 2. The tenure of the property (whether it is freehold, leasehold, or other) may be viewed by clicking
on the Smart Map link(s) provided.
Table 2: Lot, plan and tenure information for the property
Tenure Lot Plan Link to property on SmartMap
Freehold 3 SP246584 http://globe.information.qld.gov.au/cgi-bin/SmartMapgen.py?q=3\SP246584
Easement Q SP182880 http://globe.information.qld.gov.au/cgi-bin/SmartMapgen.py?q=Q\SP182880
Easement D RP177294 http://globe.information.qld.gov.au/cgi-bin/SmartMapgen.py?q=D\RP177294
Easement W RP844425 http://globe.information.qld.gov.au/cgi-bin/SmartMapgen.py?q=W\RP844425
Easement E SP167978 http://globe.information.qld.gov.au/cgi-bin/SmartMapgen.py?q=E\SP167978
Easement V SP182880 http://globe.information.qld.gov.au/cgi-bin/SmartMapgen.py?q=V\SP182880
Covenant I SP182845 http://globe.information.qld.gov.au/cgi-bin/SmartMapgen.py?q=I\SP182845
Easement M SP192396 http://globe.information.qld.gov.au/cgi-bin/SmartMapgen.py?q=M\SP192396
Easement R SP182880 http://globe.information.qld.gov.au/cgi-bin/SmartMapgen.py?q=R\SP182880
Covenant J SP182845 http://globe.information.qld.gov.au/cgi-bin/SmartMapgen.py?q=J\SP182845
Easement P SP182880 http://globe.information.qld.gov.au/cgi-bin/SmartMapgen.py?q=P\SP182880
Easement N SP192396 http://globe.information.qld.gov.au/cgi-bin/SmartMapgen.py?q=N\SP192396
Easement S SP182880 http://globe.information.qld.gov.au/cgi-bin/SmartMapgen.py?q=S\SP182880
Covenant K SP182845 http://globe.information.qld.gov.au/cgi-bin/SmartMapgen.py?q=K\SP182845
Covenant L SP182845 http://globe.information.qld.gov.au/cgi-bin/SmartMapgen.py?q=L\SP182845
Easement U SP182880 http://globe.information.qld.gov.au/cgi-bin/SmartMapgen.py?q=U\SP182880
The tenure of the land determines whether certain exemptions are applicable.
Some self-assessable codes apply only to freehold and leasehold land granted for grazing and agricultural purposes.
3.2 Vegetation categories
Please note, the Government has proposed changes to the Category C and Category R areas which are shown on
the proposed regulated vegetation management map. For more information on these changes, please refer to the
Department's website.
Vegetation categories are shown on the regulated vegetation management map in section 5.1 of this report. Descriptions for
these categories are shown in Table 3.
Table 3
Category Colour on Map Description Requirements
A red Compliance areas, environmental Clearing requires a development
offset areas and voluntary approval, exemption, or
declaration areas self-assessable clearing code or
area management plan notification.
B dark blue Remnant vegetation areas Clearing requires a development
approval, exemption, or
self-assessable clearing code or
area management plan notification.
Vegetation management report, Department of Natural Resources and Mines, 2016 Page 7
Section 35
Category Colour on Map Description Requirements
C light blue High-value regrowth areas Clearing requires exemption, or
self-assessable clearing code or
area management plan notification.
R yellow Regrowth within 50m of a Clearing requires exemption, or
watercourse in the priority reef self-assessable clearing code or
catchment areas area management plan notification.
X white Areas not regulated under the No permit or notification required on
Vegetation Management Act 1999 all but certain state land tenures.
The vegetation categories on this property are listed in Table 4.
Table 4: Vegetation categories for subject property
Vegetation category
Category X
Vegetation management report, Department of Natural Resources and Mines, 2016 Page 8
Section 36
3.3 Regional ecosystems
The endangered, of concern and least concern regional ecosystems on your property are shown on the vegetation
management supporting map in section 5.2 and are listed in Table 5.
A description of regional ecosystems can be accessed online at
https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/plants-animals/plants/ecosystems/descriptions/
Table 5: Regional ecosystems present on subject property
(no results)
rem_leastc is vegetation category A or B with a VMA status of least concern
rem_oc is vegetation category A or B with a VMA status of concern
rem_end is vegetation category A or B with a VMA status of endangered
hvr_leastc is vegetation category C or R with a VMA status of least concern
hvr_oc is vegetation category C or R with a VMA status of concern
hvr_end is vegetation category C or R with a VMA status of endangered
The VMA status of the regional ecosystem (whether it is endangered, of concern or least concern) also determines if any of
the following are applicable:
• exemptions
• performance outcomes in State Development Assessment Provisions (SDAP)
• self-assessable codes.
Some clearing purposes are limited to a particular group of regional ecosystems (e.g. encroachment) and some
self-assessable codes allow clearing only in certain regional ecosystems.
3.4 Watercourses
Vegetation management watercourses for this property are shown on the vegetation management supporting map in section
5.2.
3.5 Wetlands
There are no vegetation management wetlands present on this property.
Vegetation management report, Department of Natural Resources and Mines, 2016 Page 9
Section 37
3.6 Essential habitat
Any essential habitat on this property will be shown on the vegetation management supporting map in section 5.2.
Essential habitat identifies areas in which species of wildlife that are endangered, vulnerable, rare or near threatened under
the Nature Conservation Act 1992 have been known to occur. These important habitat areas are protected under the VMA.
If essential habitat is identified on this property, the information about the protected wildlife species is provided in Table 6
below (if no table is displayed below, there has not been any essential habitat identified on this property). The species label is
shown on the vegetation management supporting map in section 5.2. The essential habitat factors are stated in the columns
marked with an asterisk.
Table 6: Endangered, vulnerable, rare or near threatened wildlife species identified within the property (if no table is
shown below, there is no essential habitat identified on the property)
Label Scientific Name Common Name NCA Status *Vegetation Community *Altitude
29186 Phascolarctos cinereus (southeast Koala V Open eucalypt forest and woodland that has: a) multiple strata Sea level to
Queensland bioregion) layers containing Eucalyptus, Corymbia, Angophora, 1000m.
Lophostemon or Melaleuca trees that—at 1.3 metres above the
ground—have a diameter both greater and less than 30
centimetres; and b) at least 1 of the following species: Eucalyptus
tereticornis, E. fibrosa, E. propinqua; E. umbra, E. grandis, E.
microcorys, E. tindaliae, E. resinifera, E. populnea, E. robusta, E.
nigra, E. racemosa, E. crebra, E. exserta, E. seeana,
Lophostemon confertus, L. suaveolens, Melaleuca
quinquenervia.
609 Litoria freycineti Wallum Rocketfrog V Vegetation community is a mandatory essential habitat factor for Sea level to 200m.
this species. Freshwater acidic swamps/lagoons (permanent or
temporary still water) dominated by sedges (e.g. Baumea and
Eleocharis spp.) in heathland (e.g. Banksia/Xanthorrhoea),
wallum (Banksia aemula shrubland/woodland) or Melaleuca open
forest (e.g. M. quinquenervia), and adjacent Eucalyptus
racemosa forest, also found around acidic coastal lakes; on sand
and sandstone; can be found well away from water during
non-breeding season.
1135 Pezoporus wallicus wallicus Ground Parrot V Lowland dry and wet heathland (0.25-1.5m high, diverse shrubs, Sea level to 200m.
sedges & rushes), sedgeplain and sedgeland (excl. permanent
waterbodies); rarely in adjacent Banksia (wallum), Hakea or
Melaleuca shrubland/woodland with heath understorey.
686 Crinia tinnula Wallum Froglet V Vegetation community is a mandatory essential habitat factor for Sea level to 200m.
this species. Permanent to ephemeral acidic (pH 4.3 - 5.2), soft
freshwater in Melaleuca (e.g. M. quinquenervia) swamps,
sedgeland, wet and dry heathland (e.g. Banksia robur,
Xanthorrhoea) and wallum (Banksia aemula shrubland/woodland)
areas coastal lowlands on sand or sandstone, occasionally in
adjacent open forest/woodland (e.g. Eucalyptus racemosa,
Corymbia citriodora) with heathy understorey; known to persist in
small remnants (<10ha); may be found well away from water.
593 Litoria olongburensis Wallum Sedgefrog V Vegetation community is a mandatory essential habitat factor for Sea level to 200m.
this species. Well vegetated permanent to ephemeral freshwater
swamp, sedgeland, lake or creek, e.g. dense reed beds
(including Baumea, Restio spp.) occasionally with Melaleuca
quinquenervia or Callistemon pachyphyllus, acidic wallum
swamps and wallum creeks on coastal sand masses; most
abundant in wallum (Banksia aemula) swamps that seasonally
flood where they are found year-round; recorded in adjacent wet
heath, dry heath, Gahnia heath and Melaleuca swamp
forest/open forest.
Vegetation management report, Department of Natural Resources and Mines, 2016 Page 10
Section 38
Additional essential habitat information
Label *Regional Ecosystem (mandatory)
29186 12.3.3, 12.3.4, 12.3.6, 12.3.7, 12.3.10, 12.3.11, 12.5.2, 12.5.3, 12.8.14, 12.9-10.4, 12.9-10.7, 12.9-10.17, 12.11.5, 12.11.18, 12.12.12
609 12.2.2, 12.2.5, 12.2.7, 12.2.12, 12.2.13, 12.2.15, 12.3.4, 12.3.5, 12.3.6, 12.3.12, 12.3.13, 12.5.4, 12.5.9, 12.9-10.10, 12.9-10.22. These regional
ecosystems are not a mandatory essential habitat factor for this species.
1135 12.2.12, 12.2.13, 12.2.15, 12.3.13, 12.5.9, 12.9-10.22
686 12.2.5, 12.2.7, 12.2.9, 12.2.10, 12.2.12, 12.2.15, 12.3.4, 12.3.5, 12.3.6, 12.3.12, 12.3.14, 12.5.10. These regional ecosystems are not a mandatory
essential habitat factor for this species.
593 12.2.5, 12.2.7, 12.2.12, 12.2.15. These regional ecosystems are not a mandatory essential habitat factor for this species.
3.7 Land suitability
Land suitability mapping and information is required if you are applying to clear vegetation for high value or irrigated high
value agriculture. Land suitability assessment addresses the capacity of land to sustain specific land uses such as cropping,
irrigated agriculture and forestry.
A land suitability map for this property is provided in section 5.3. The map provides detailed land suitability, agricultural land
classification, or soil and land resource mapping data where it is available.
The land suitability project that applies to this property is shown in Table 7 and Table 8.
Table 7: Land suitability project details for this property
Project name Project code Start date Scale
No data No data None NA
Table 8: Available land suitability project reports for this property
Project name Availability of report
No data NA
3.8 Protected plants
In Queensland, all plants that are native to Australia are protected plants under the Nature Conservation Act 1992. The Act
endeavours to ensure that protected plants (whole plants or protected plant parts) are not illegally removed from the wild or
illegally traded.
Prior to clearing, you must check the flora survey trigger map to determine if the clearing is within a high risk area. The trigger
map for this property is provided in section 5.4.
If your property is in a high risk area, a flora survey must be undertaken and a clearing permit may be required for clearing
endangered, vulnerable and near threatened plants (EVNT plants) and their supporting habitat.
If a flora survey identifies that EVNT plants are not present or can be avoided by 100m, the clearing activity may be exempt
from a permit. An exempt clearing notification form is required. This form can be downloaded at
http://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/licences-permits/plants-animals/protected-plants/
In an area other than a high risk area, a clearing permit is only required where a person is, or becomes aware that EVNT
plants are present.
Clearing of least concern plants is exempt from requiring a clearing permit within a low risk area.
Vegetation management report, Department of Natural Resources and Mines, 2016 Page 11
Section 39
To be eligible for certain clearing exemptions you need to keep a copy of the map for the area subject to clearing. Protected plants flora survey trigger maps are valid for a period of 12 months from the date of request. After 12 months you will need to obtain a new protected plants flora survey trigger map to determine clearing requirements for your area of interest. This can be accessed online at http://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/licences-permits/plants-animals/protected-plants/map-request.php For further information or assistance on the protected plants flora survey trigger map for this property, please contact the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection at [email protected] 3.9 Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) The ERF is an Australian Government scheme which offers incentives for businesses and communities across the economy to reduce emissions. Under the ERF, farmers can earn money from activities such as planting (and keeping) trees, managing regrowth vegetation and adopting more sustainable agricultural practices. The purpose of a project is to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. Each project will provide new economic opportunities for farmers, forest growers and land managers. Further information on ERF is available at https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/land/state/use/carbon-rights/ 4. Contacts for further information For further information on vegetation management: Phone 135VEG (135 834) Email [email protected] Visit www.dnrm.qld.gov.au/our-department/contact-us/vegetation-contacts to submit an online enquiry. Vegetation management report, Department of Natural Resources and Mines, 2016 Page 12
Section 40
5. Maps
The maps included in this report may also be requested individually at:
https://www.dnrm.qld.gov.au/qld/environment/land/vegetation/vegetation-map-request-form
and
http://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/licences-permits/plants-animals/protected-plants/map-request.php
Regulated vegetation management map
The regulated vegetation management map shows vegetation categories to determine clearing requirements. These maps
are updated monthly to show new property maps of assessable vegetation
Vegetation management supporting map
The vegetation management supporting map provides information on regional ecosystems, wetlands, watercourses and
essential habitat.
Land suitability map
The land suitability map assists with identifying the land suitability category under the high value and irrigated high value
agriculture vegetation clearing purpose.
Protected plants map
The protected plants map shows areas where particular provisions of the Nature Conservation Act 1992 apply to the clearing
of protected plants.
Vegetation management report, Department of Natural Resources and Mines, 2016 Page 13
Section 41
5.1 Regulated vegetation management map Vegetation management report, Department of Natural Resources and Mines, 2016 Page 14
Section 42
5.2 Vegetation management supporting map Vegetation management report, Department of Natural Resources and Mines, 2016 Page 15
Section 43
5.3 Proposed regulated vegetation management map Vegetation management report, Department of Natural Resources and Mines, 2016 Page 16
Section 44
5.4 Proposed vegetation management supporting map Vegetation management report, Department of Natural Resources and Mines, 2016 Page 17
Section 45
5.5 Land suitability map Vegetation management report, Department of Natural Resources and Mines, 2016 Page 18
Section 46
5.6 Protected plants map Vegetation management report, Department of Natural Resources and Mines, 2016 Page 19
Section 47
APPENDIX C QFES PREPARE ACT SURVIVE BROCHURE
Section 48
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services
Neighbourhood Safer Bushfire Warnings Fire Danger Rating
Places (NSP) If you receive a warning about a bushfire or other emergency,
take notice – it could save your life.
The Fire Danger Rating (FDR) is an early indicator of potential
danger, and should act as your first trigger for action. The higher
An NSP is a local open space or building where people the rating, the greater the need for you to act.
Information Guide
There are three types of alert messages to help you make the
may gather, as a last resort, to seek shelter from a The FDR is an assessment of the potential fire behaviour, the
right safety choices:
bushfire. Use of an NSP may be your contingency plan difficulty of suppressing a fire, and the potential impact on the
when: Bushfire Advice Message – a fire has started – general community should a bushfire occur on a given day.
information to keep you up to date.
• your Bushfire Survival Plan has failed; A Fire Danger Index (FDI) of ‘low–moderate’ means that the fire
• the extent of the fire means you have planned to stay, Bushfire Watch and Act Message – represents a will burn slowly and that it will be easily controlled, whereas a FDI
heightened level of threat. Conditions are changing, a fire is in excess of ‘catastrophic 100+’ means that the fire will burn so
Are you bushfire prepared?
but your home cannot withstand the impact of the fire
and, therefore, is not a safe place to shelter; approaching; lives may come under threat. Take appropriate fast and hot, it will be uncontrollable. Are your family and home at risk?
• the fire has escalated to an extreme or catastrophic action.
level and relocation is your safest option. Bushfire Emergency Warning – is the highest level message Do you live within a few Do you have trees and
advising of impending danger. It may be preceded with the kilometres of bushland? shrubs within 20 m of
your house?
VERY
The main purpose of an NSP is to provide some level of Standard Emergency Warning
RE
Does your local area
protection to human life from the effects of a bushfire.
E
Signal (SEWS). have a bushfire history? Is your ‘Bushfire
SEV
HIGH
E
HI
Your NSP will not guarantee safety in all circumstances. Survival Plan’ more
EM
GH
The following limitations of an NSP need An Emergency Warning means there is a threat LO TR Is your home built on a than one year old?
W– EX slope?
to be considered if you plan to use one as a last resort: to lives, and protective action is required MO
DE
• Firefighters may not be present, as they may be
immediately. RA
TE CATASTROPHIC
If you answered ‘yes’ to one or more of these questions,
fighting the main fire front elsewhere. you may be at risk in the event of a bushfire.
• NSPs do not cater for animals or pets. You don’t have to live in the bush to be threatened
• NSPs do not provide meals or amenities. by bushfire, just close enough to be affected
by burning material, embers and smoke. For
• NSPs may not provide shelter from the elements,
Queensland residents, that can be just about
particularly flying embers.
anywhere.
• If you are a person with special needs, you should
give consideration to what assistance you may require Everyone has a part to play in bushfire mitigation,
at an NSP. and it is vitally important that we all take steps to
ensure we PREPARE . ACT . SURVIVE . this bushfire
Although QFES cannot guarantee an immediate presence season.
during a bushfire, every effort will be made to provide facebook.com/QldFireandRescueService
support as soon as resources are available.
Not all areas will have a designated NSP, and a
register can be found on the Rural Fire Service twitter.com/QldFES or @QldFES
Queensland’s website www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au.
Remember to regularly visit the website for changes and
Ver 01/2015
updates. youtube.com/FireRescueQld To find out more information visit
www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au
Section 49
ACT
Photo courtesy of Morning Bulletin Rockhampton
There are different actions you need to undertake
SURVIVE
depending on the circumstances and your Bushfire If you choose to stay:
Survival Plan. • shelter in your house on the opposite
side of approaching fire
If you decide to stay
• maintain a means of escape
• continually monitor conditions.
If your plan is to stay, you need at least the following
firefighting equipment and protective clothing: After the fire front has passed:
• Sufficient lengths of hose to reach all buildings that
Fire in the area • wear protective equipment
PREPARE
could be threatened • go outside once it is safe
• Buckets and alternative water supplies • Listen to local broadcasts or check websites for updates. • check for small spot fires and burning embers:
• Shovels, rakes, wet towels, sacks or other heavy • Put on protective clothing. - inside roof space
material that can be used to put out small fires • Drink lots of water. - under floor boards
To prepare your Bushfire Survival Plan visit • Torch • Move car/s to a safe location. - under house space
www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au and follow the links. • Close windows and doors and shut blinds.
• First-aid kit - on veranda and decks
• Full-length clothing (wool, cotton) • Take down curtains and move furniture away - on window ledges and door sills
Some of the issues you need to consider:
• Gloves from windows. - in roof lines and gutters
• Does everyone in your family understand the • Bring pets inside and restrain them (leash, cage,
• Water bottles or containers to - garden beds and mulch
dangers of bushfire and how your plan will be or secure room) and provide water.
carry drinking water with you. - woodheaps
put into action? • Block downpipes (at the top) and fill gutters with - outdoor furniture
• Have you arranged appropriate car and water if possible.
• monitor media outlets – radio, TV and internet.
household insurance?
• Do you know what you will take with you if
High fire danger days • Wet down the sides of buildings and close shrubbery in
the likely path of the bushfire. The safest place is to be away from the fire. Being
you need to leave early? On hot, dry days when bushfires are likely, listen to local
• Wet down fine fuels close to buildings. involved in a fire may be one of the most traumatic
• Have you considered how to deal with pets radio stations for bushfire information, drink plenty of
• Turn on garden sprinklers for 30 minutes before the experiences in your life. Survival and safety depends on
and livestock? water and, if you live on acreage or a farm, move stock to
bushfire arrives. the decisions you make. Are you bushfire prepared?
fully grazed areas. It is also a good idea to check water
No matter what the details of your Bushfire pumps and generators (if you have them) to make sure On days where the Fire Danger Rating is predicted to be
Survival Plan are, there are other important
preparations you need to make. These include
they are working, and prepare your protective clothing in
case you need it quickly.
When the fire front arrives extreme or catastrophic, leaving is the best option for
you and your family’s survival. Thinking ‘I will leave early’
preparing your property, preparing to leave, and • Disconnect hose and fittings and bring inside.
is not enough. You must PREPARE ACT SURVIVE
• Go inside for shelter.
preparing yourself. These are essential steps To find out more information visit
and you can find out more about them at www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au • Drink lots of water. It is important, no matter what your decision, that
www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au • Patrol and check for embers inside, particularly in the roof you are thoroughly prepared. To find out how visit
space. www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au
• Check family and pets.
Section 50
APPENDIX D EVACUATION PLAN GUIDELINES
Section 51
A Guide to Developing a
Bushfire
Evacuation
Plan
Developed by Planning & Environment Services – NSW Rural Fire Service
Section 52
A Guide to Develop a Bushfire Evacuation Plan
Table of Contents
Table Of Contents .................................................................................................................. 2
Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 3
Purpose & Objectives Of A Bushfire Evacuation Plan.......................................................... 4
Relationship With Plans Under As3745 And As4083 ........................................................... 4
Preparing A Bushfire Evacuation Plan................................................................................... 6
Step 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................ 7
Step 2: Background Information On Premises....................................................................... 7
Step 3: Roles And Responsibilities ........................................................................................ 8
Smaller Premises ................................................................................................................ 9
Position Holders Name & Details ........................................................................................ 10
Why Evacuate & When Do You Evacuate?..................................................................... 10
Step 4: Consultation With Emergency Services .................................................................. 11
Step 5: Safe Refuge .............................................................................................................. 13
Where Will They Go? ...................................................................................................... 13
Step 6: Transportation .......................................................................................................... 15
Step 7: Identifying ‘Designated Assembly Points’ .............................................................. 16
Step 8: How To Account For Persons .................................................................................. 17
Step 9: Contacting Family Members.................................................................................... 18
Step 10: Do You Need Security After Evacuating............................................................... 19
Step 11: Site Layout ............................................................................................................. 20
Step 12: Statement Of Action............................................................................................... 21
Returning To Premises ..................................................................................................... 22
Approval Process.................................................................................................................. 23
For More Information........................................................................................................... 23
Appendix 5: Example Questions To Assist When Planning A Bushfire Evacuation Plan .. 28
Venue 1 ................................................................................................................................ 35
Venue 2 ................................................................................................................................ 35
Venue 3 ................................................................................................................................ 35
Disclaimer: Any representation, statement opinion, or advice expressed or implied in this publication
is made in good faith on the basis that the State of New South Wales, the NSW Rural Fire Service, its
agents and employees are not liable (whether by reason of negligence, lack of care or otherwise) to
any person for any damage or loss whatsoever which has occurred or may occur on relation to that
person taking or not taking (as the case may be) action in respect of any representation, statement or
advice referred to above.
Bushfire Evacuation Planning – NSW Rural Fire Service: July 2004 Page 2 of 39
Section 53
A Guide to Develop a Bushfire Evacuation Plan
Introduction
Bush fires are an important part of the Australian environment. However, historic
development patterns have placed an increased risk to the community of impact of
bushfires. Bush fires have the potential to affect everyone that lives in or around
areas of bushland. With a significant amount of existing and proposed development
in these areas, the NSW Rural Fire Service is seeking to enhance the management
of the protection of life and property through appropriate development control,
planning hazard management and suppression of suppression of bush fires.
In August 2002, the NSW Government legislated the requirement for all integrated
development proposals to be submitted to the NSW Rural Fire Service for a Bush
Fire Safety Authority and that the proposals meet the planning requirements of
‘Planning for Bushfire Protection 2001’. Elements such as access, water supply,
setbacks from hazard etc are some of these requirements that are to be addressed.
In addition to the planning requirements of the physical nature there is also the
opportunity to increase the level of protection of residents, whether permanent or
temporary. One of the ways to achieve this is through an appropriate strategy that
clearly identifies what steps will be undertaken in the event of a bush fire, including
the safe evacuation of premises if required.
There is a now a need to address the issues of evacuation in the event of a bushfire
thus a development of a Bushfire Evacuation Plan (BEP) is now a requirement for
new developments that have a higher concentration of people than a normal
residential dwelling. Proposals that require a Bushfire Evacuation Plan are known as
Special Fire Protection Purposes (SFP) as identified in clause 46 of the Rural Fires
Regulation 2002. These purposes are;
Schools;
Child Care centres
Hospital (including a hospital for the mentally ill or mentally disordered)
Hotel, motel or other tourist accommodation
A building wholly or principally used as home or other establishment for the
mentally incapacitated persons
Housing for older people or people with disabilities within the meaning of
SEPP – Seniors Living 2004
A group home with the meaning of SEPP 9 – Group Homes
A retirement village
Any other purpose prescribed by the NSW Rural Fire Regulations
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Purpose & Objectives of a Bushfire Evacuation Plan
A Bushfire Evacuation Plan aims to increase the preparedness of managers,
employees and occupants to ensure a rapid and safe evacuation from a premise.
The plan is to provide a set of procedures to manage people leaving the premise and
have them relocate to another, safer, location.
Developing procedures requires the understanding of the premises and the analysing
of the issues that they may encounter in the event of a bushfire evacuation, and how
best to co-ordinate the situation.
This guide outlines a variety of issues that should be considered and addressed and
provides procedures that will form the Bushfire Evacuation Plan.
There is a need to ensure that employees have an understanding of their roles and
responsibilities and that they know when to take action. Communicating and keeping
employees and occupants informed of evacuation arrangements is very important.
Many premises have or will have an ‘Emergency Evacuation Plan’ as a requirement
under AS3745 or AS4083. The Bushfire Evacuation Plan is a sub-plan of this
Emergency Evacuation Plan and is to address the issues concerning evacuations in
a bush fire emergency.
The outcome of this process is to have a procedure that outlines what action people
are required to undertake to initiate an evacuation, the relocation of people and the
return of those people to the premises.
Relationship with plans under AS3745 and AS4083
An ‘Emergency Evacuation Plan’ is usually developed to provide employees and
occupants with procedures to enable the premises to be evacuated in the event of a
fire, bomb threat or other local incident such as an earthquake.
There are two (2) Australian Standards that exist which outline the requirements of a
‘Emergency Evacuation Plan’ and provide a standard approach. The two standards
are;
1) AS3745-2002 ‘Emergency control organisation and procedures for buildings,
structures and workplaces’
2) AS4083-1997, ‘Planning for emergencies – Health care facilities’
AS3745-2002 ‘Emergency control organisation and procedures for buildings,
structures and workplaces’ apply to offices, warehouses, factories, public buildings,
shopping complexes, apartment buildings or a place that may be occupied by people.
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AS3745-2002 does not apply to single dwellings (including a detached house, one or
more attached dwellings, each being, separated by a fire-resisting wall, such as a
row house, terrace house, townhouse or villa unit)
AS4083-1997, ‘Planning for emergencies – Health care facilities’ requires health care
premises to have an emergency plan. This standard also places a requirement upon
a premise to analyse hazards that may affect the premise and prepare a
supplementary plan.
Hazards that may require a supplementary plan include;
(a) Cyclones
(b) Earthquakes
(c) Severe Weather
(d) Bushfire
(e) Flood
(f) Hazardous substance incidents
(g) Transport accidents
(h) Industrial accidents
These Australian Standards address issues of roles and responsibilities of ‘Chief
Wardens’, area Wardens, Procedures, Training and review of plans etc. To ensure a
standard and consistent approach it is envisaged that any Bushfire Evacuation Plan
would be a sub-plan of any emergency evacuation plan under AS3745 or AS4083.
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PREPARING A BUSHFIRE EVACUATION PLAN
This guide has been developed to assist those preparing a Bushfire Evacuation Plan.
As you start to prepare a Bushfire Evacuation Plan, you should take the time to
determine what are the issues that are relevant to your specific premises. Whether
the premise is large or small, a health care facility or tourists resort, there are a
number of questions that you should think about.
The guide is a Step by Step approach and requires a number of issues to be
addressed. As you complete each step, notes can be recorded within the guide
similar to a workbook so that the information can be readily obtained and referred to.
To fulfil the requirements of the guide, 12 Steps need to be completed before the
finalisation of any Bushfire Evacuation Plan. These 12 Step are;
Step 1: Introduction
Step 2: Background Information on Premises
Step 3: Roles & Responsibilities
Step 4: Consultation with emergency Services
Step 5: Safe Refuge
Step 6: Transportation
Step 7: Identifying ‘Designated Assembly Points’
Step 8: Work out a way to account for all persons
Step 9: Who do you need to contact?
Step 10: Do you need security after Evacuation?
Step 11: Site plans
Step 12: Determine Statement of Action in event of a bushfire
An example of a Bushfire Evacuation Plan is provided within Appendix 6 and should
be used when preparing a draft plan before any formalising.
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STEP 1: INTRODUCTION
Provide an introduction that clearly states the PURPOSE and SCOPE of the plan.
The introduction should also include the following details;
name of the premises,
address of the premise
contact person & details,
type of facility
whether this is a sub-plan of any other emergency plan.
Name of Premises:
Street No & Name: Suburb:
Post Code: Council Name:
Contact person:
Date of Plan: Date of Review:
Type of facility:
Type of Building (Class):
STEP 2: BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON PREMISES
For preplanning of any evacuation, there is a need to know certain information.
Provide the following information in the Bushfire Evacuation Plan;
Number of employees:
Number of residents:
Number of residents with ‘special needs’:
Number of buildings:
This is a sub-plan under: AS3745 or AS4083
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The following is list of facilities that require a plan;
Schools;
Child Care centres;
Hospital (including a hospital for the mentally ill or mentally disordered);
Hotel, motel or other tourist accommodation;
A building wholly or principally used as home or other establishment for
mentally incapacitated persons;
Housing for older people or people with disabilities within the meaning of
SEPP – Seniors Living 2004;
A group home with the meaning of SEPP 9 – Group Homes;
A retirement village.
STEP 3: ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
This step requires the details of the persons who will be responsible for the co-
ordination and management of an evacuation during an emergency.
These persons are usually identified as “Chief Warden” or “Warden” and each
position has specific duties attached to it. For more information on these positions,
refer to the Australian Standards AS3745 and AS4083.
If there is an existing Emergency Evacuation Plan (under AS3745 or AS4083), then
those roles and responsibilities should be included and expanded upon. A Bushfire
Evacuation Plan will require some additional responsibilities and actions as this plan
requires the arranging and co-ordination of transport and the physical relocation of
people from one place to another, and the subsequent housing of those people until
such time as it is safe to return.
Some of these extra duties may include;
• Ensuring that Designated Assembly Points are suitable in the event of a
bushfire;
• Co-ordination and arrangement of transport;
• Ensure all buildings are properly ‘locked up’ to limit the impact of a bushfire;
• Initiate any bushfire protection measures such as sprinkler systems; and
• Liase with emergency services throughout the evacuation.
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Smaller premises
For those smaller developments where there is no plan formulated as per AS3745 or
AS4083, the Bushfire Evacuation Plan should be developed in accordance with
AS3745 guidelines. Some of those guidelines include, but are not limited to;
The formation of an emergency planning committee;
Duties and responsibilities of positions;
Procedures;
Education & training of employees; and
Annual exercises.
Examples of the positions that have been identified within AS3745, and should be
included in the Bushfire Evacuation Plan, under this section are;
Chief Warden
The Chief Warden is the person who is responsible for the premise for the
purposes of evacuations. Their responsibilities include;
• Management and overseeing of any evacuation;
• Arranging training of employees in evacuation procedure;
• Reviewing the effectiveness of evacuation exercises and arrange for
procedure improvements; and
• To account for all persons during the evacuation.
Wardens / Employees
Roles and responsibilities include;
• Maintaining a calm atmosphere among the occupants;
• Following established procedures;
• Following the direction of the Chief Warden;
• Proceeding with evacuation when instructed to do so using the
information provided to enable the effective evacuation of the
occupants.
• Assisting with evacuating occupants
• May be required to act as Chief Warden
The following table is to be used to record the name and contact details of those
persons who have responsibilities during an evacuation.
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Position Holders Name & Details
(Include only those that are required based upon the size of the facility)
Building / Area of Contact Phone Mobile Phone
Responsibility Number Number
CHIEF WARDEN
Deputy Warden
Area 1 Warden
Area 2 Warden
Area 3 Warden
Why evacuate & when do you evacuate?
The question “why do we need to evacuate” has a number of different answers, all of
which need to be considered with relevance to either an individual or location. Some
of the reasons as to why you would evacuate may be;
• The effect of smoke on persons with asthma
• Bush fire is approaching the development
• Residents / persons unable to defend the property for themselves & feel
unsafe in staying
• Directed by Police
When do you evacuate? What will be the ‘trigger’ that would be used to start any
evacuation procedure? This information needs to be explained within the plan so that
persons know, understand and are able to monitor the conditions. There are a
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number of different factors that may be used as a ‘trigger’ with the following being a
few suggestions;
• You wait until you are told to leave by police or fire authority before you
evacuate? (Not advisable but sometimes unavoidable)
• You evacuate when there is a possibility that a bushfire may impact the
development within 1 hour, 6 hours, or 12 hours?
• There is so much smoke about that it is causing medical problems for
residents and that they should be taken somewhere less affected by smoke?
Whatever the reason, pre planning is required so that the proper procedures are
implemented. There may be more than one reason for evacuating and therefore
there may be more than one procedure for evacuation.
Make some notes on what the conditions of evacuation may be for your premises.
STEP 4: CONSULTATION WITH EMERGENCY SERVICES
There should be consultation with the local agencies that are involved with bush fire
emergencies and evacuations. This consultation will help to provide advice and aid
with developing a process of the evacuation to allow the co-ordination to be more
effectively implemented. These agencies will help to decide what conditions you may
expect and possibly, where you could take employees and occupants for safe refuge.
You should consult with the following agencies;
NSW Rural Fire Service
NSW Fire Brigades
Police
Ambulance Service
Local Emergency Management Officer (Local Government)
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As part of the consultation, you should keep the contact details of those people within
the different agencies up to date. This will improve communications and will keep you
informed of any situations that may affect your pre planning.
This table may be used to keep the contact information and may be added to or
reduced depending on the size of the premise and the type of facility.
Name of Organisation Name of Contact Phone Number
NSW Rural Fire Service
NSW Fire Brigade
NSW Police Service
Department of Community
Services
[Name] Council
State Emergency Service
Local Hospital
NSW Ambulance Service
All fires to be reported to 000
Notes:
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STEP 5: SAFE REFUGE
Where Will they Go?
Where to go is an important element in relocating people during a time of emergency.
To decide on where to go there are a number of considerations that should be made.
Some of these should include;
• How many persons are within the premise and is the venue able to
accommodate that number?
• Is the venue in an area that is away from any threat of bushfire?
• Do you have people with special needs* that require a similar facility to
support them?
• Have you spoken with the emergency services and discussed where they
suggest is a safe location and a possible route to that location?
• Have you considered venues such as community centres, schools etc as
possible places to go? Remember that venues should have general
amenities.
• Is the route to the venue such that it does not require transporting through
bush fire affected areas or areas that may be affected by an incoming bush
fire?
• Have you considered pre-arrangements for transfer to any medical or other
health care premises?
* “Special Needs” are physical, intellectual, visual, or auditory disability
or impairment, either temporary or permanent. It also includes aged
persons and juveniles who are dependent on others for their care and
well-being.
The Bushfire Evacuation Plan is to provide details on the venue(s) being considered
as a safe refuge. Details should include street name and suburb, map reference,
venue name, and the possible route to be taken.
Depending on the location of the premise, there may be a need to have 2 or 3
venues depending on the amount of bush areas around the premises, location of a
fire and the safest route from the premises.
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A Guide to Develop a Bushfire Evacuation Plan The following tables are to be used to collection of information on venues that may be considered as a safe refuge. Primary Venue Name of venue (primary): Address of venue: Nearest cross-street: Does it have amenities: YES NO Are people with special needs accommodated for: YES NO Secondary Venue Name of venue (secondary): Address of venue: Nearest cross-street: Does it have amenities: YES NO Are people with special needs accommodated for: YES NO Notes: Bushfire Evacuation Planning – NSW Rural Fire Service: July 2004 Page 14 of 39 [OCR of page images] A Guide to Develop a Bushfire Evacuation Plan The following tables are to be used to collection of information on venues that may be considered as a safe refuge. Primary Venue Name of venue (primary): Address of venue: Nearest cross-street: Does it have amenities: YES fF NO [ Are people with special needs accommodated for: YES [ NO fF Secondary Venue Name of venue (secondary): Address of venue: Nearest cross-street: Does it have amenities: YES 7 NO fF Are people with special needs accommodated for: YES [ NO fF Notes: Bushfire Evacuation Planning - NSW Rural Fire Service: July 2004 Page 14 of 39
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STEP 6: TRANSPORTATION
Part of the pre planning of an evacuation includes how you are going to relocate
people. For any transportation of a large number of people, some considerations
should be;
• Are you going to use private vehicles?
• Do you require Ambulances?
• Is a Community bus available?
• What other means of transport are available?
• Do you need any other type of special transport?
You should look at the availability, prepare arrangements with providers of transport,
and ensure they are available to assist.
Develop a list of transport providers, contact names and phone numbers and how
many vehicles are required.
Transportation:
How many vehicles / seats are required?
Do you have own transport to for all
persons: YES NO
If no, what means will you use to
transport persons:
Are all persons with special needs
considered & accommodated: YES NO
Do vehicles include ambulances’: YES NO
How much notice is required to arrange transport?
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STEP 6: TRANSPORTATION
Part of the pre planning of an evacuation includes how you are going to relocate
people. For any transportation of a large number of people, some considerations
should be;
e Are you going to use private vehicles?
e Do you require Ambulances?
e Isa Community bus available?
e What other means of transport are available?
e Do you need any other type of special transport?
You should look at the availability, prepare arrangements with providers of transport,
and ensure they are available to assist.
Develop a list of transport providers, contact names and phone numbers and how
many vehicles are required.
Transportation:
How many vehicles / seats are required?
Do you have own transport to for all
persons: YES [ NO [
If no, what means will you use to
transport persons:
Are all persons with special needs
considered & accommodated: YES [ NO [
Do vehicles include ambulances’: YES [ NO [
How much notice is required to arrange transport?
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STEP 7: IDENTIFYING ‘DESIGNATED ASSEMBLY POINTS’
Designated Assembly Points are locations within the premise where person(s) meet
before they are given further instructions. These locations should be in a position
where persons may proceed on foot and away from the threat of fire.
Once at Designated Assembly Point, the ‘Warden’ or another person with
responsibility identified with the Bushfire Evacuation Plan, will be able to co-ordinate
further movements of people.
When a Designated Assembly Point has been determined, the site should be sign
posted or have some other marking to clearly identify the location to evacuees.
Remember when people are required to leave their homes, places of work etc,
during emergencies, there is considerable stress and anxiety. Under these
conditions, people don’t remember certain things, and any assistance to help guide
people to the correct location will benefit everyone.
A site layout showing assembly points is required to be an attachment of the Bushfire
Evacuation Plan. It is also a requirement that site layouts should be an A4 size. They
are to be laminated and placed in every building.
The following two (2) tables provide an example of how to list Designated Assembly
Points for the premises and a blank table for your own notes.
An example of ‘Designated Assembly Points’;
Building Assembly
A Grassed area by Building C
B Grassed area by Building C
C Grassed area by Building C
D In front of Recreation Room
E In front of Recreation Room
F At main entrance in front of Office Building
G At main entrance in front of Office Building
Recreation Rm In front of Recreation Room
Office At main entrance in front of Office Building
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Table of Designated Assembly Points for the premises.
Building Designated Assembly Point
STEP 8: HOW TO ACCOUNT FOR PERSONS
Develop and include a method within the procedures of the plan, to ensure that all
occupants within the premise have been accounted for;
1) prior to any departure from a premise,
2) at the safe refuge location, and
3) on the return to the premise after the bushfire event.
As part of the accounting procedures, the list is to include all persons that occupy a
building within the premises. The list should include;
name;
the building the person occupies; and
Consideration of any special needs of persons during the evacuation;
Visitors or contractors who come on site
It is important that the list is kept up-to-date and to be readily accessible during a
time of emergency.
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Refer to the following appendices for examples of checklists that could be used to
record persons and contact details;
Appendix 1- Example 1 - Building Residential Checklist
Appendix 2: Example 2 - Building Residential Checklist
Notes:
STEP 9: CONTACTING FAMILY MEMBERS
Contacting family of the occupants should be included in any plan. This plan should
identify what family members are to be contacted and the reasons why these people
need to be contacted.
In places such as schools and child care facilities, parents become very concerned
about the well being and safety of their children during times of bush fires. The plan
should consider how to inform the parent and what their actions should be, how the
children will be evacuated and the location they will be evacuated to.
Many parents will instinctively want to come and get their children, whether or not this
is appropriate. If the area is going to be impacted on by a bush fire, it may not be
possible due to road closures that would not allow persons through.
In other situations, children may be concerned about their parent’s whereabouts. The
same consideration, as mentioned previously should be made.
Contact details of family members should be readily accessible, so contacting these
people may be done quickly.
The inclusion of a contact person/s may be included on the resident listing form. This
will allow any contact to be undertaken after the evacuation at the safe refuge
location.
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If the property is well prepared and some staff are to stay to help protect the property,
then they may be used to liase with parent, family, etc.
Refer to the following appendix for example of possible contact listing:
Appendix 4: Example of Occupant and Family Contact Details
STEP 10: DO YOU NEED SECURITY AFTER EVACUATING
When a site is evacuated, personal belongings are left behind and they may be
vulnerable to looters. The police take all precautions to prevent and apprehend those
that attempt to prosper from other people’s misfortunes.
To reduce the possibility of theft, it is recommended that the evacuation plan
consider security of premises. Where a development may require some type of
security the following are some suggested procedures:
1) consult with the police and fire agencies of the availability of resources that
may be utilised for security;
2) consult with a security company and prepare any arrangements to ensure
that in the event of an evacuation a security officer is made available at
short notice;
3) the use of an employee to be utilised as someone who would remain to
monitor the premises, only if safe to do so.
Note: The use of security personnel would generally be required where damage has
been sustained and the residents are unable to return.
Is security required: YES NO
Notes:
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STEP 11: SITE LAYOUT
A site layout is a diagram of the site that shows locations of different areas and
equipment. A copy of the site layout should be placed in each building so they are
readily accessible by occupants.
Site layouts need to show a number of different features of the premises. The
number of these features will depend upon the size and complexity of the premises.
The following are a list of those features that should be included in the Bushfire
Evacuation Plan;
escape route, Static water supplies
exit locations of buildings Pumps & hoses
Designated Assembly Points Sprinkler systems
fire extinguishers Hazardous materials
fire hydrants First Aid equipment
The plan should be an A3 size, laminated or framed, and posted in conspicuous
locations throughout the building/s. An example is in Appendix 7.
This is a separate plan to that for ‘Designated Assembly Points’, as detailed on page
16, which is placed within each building at a conspicuous location.
HAVE THE PLANS IN CLEAR VIEW SO PEOPLE CAN SEE
WHERE TO GO & FIRE FIGHTERS WILL KNOW WHERE
EVERYTHING IS
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