BAL report 56 Reserve St Pomona - Bushfire Attack Level - Minimum Distance Assessment

         Wollemi Eco-Logical
          Environmental Project Management | Bushfire Assessment | Vegetation Management



In accordance with AS 3959 (2018), the required setbacks to achieve specific Bushfire Attack Level
ratings for the proposed development on the subject site has been determined. Based on this
assessment, a setback of ≥9m to the east through south to west is required in order to achieve a BAL
29 rating for the proposed dwelling. The above setback requirements for each elevation has been
provided to inform design of the proposed development. Final BAL Rating is dependent on the
setbacks to potentially hazardous vegetation able to be achieved, and can be finalised once detailed
design and known vegetation setbacks are determined. Recommendations for vegetation
management within the APZ are detailed in the following section.

N.B. It is important to note that this report is not to be considered approval to undertake vegetation
clearing to achieve the above identified BAL ratings. Vegetation clearing will require approval from
Council and/or State prior to being undertaken, unless existing approvals or exemptions are
applicable.

Recommendations for Vegetation Management
The landscaping and ongoing management of vegetation in areas susceptible to Bushfire Hazard is an
important tool to mitigate bushfire risk. Previously detailed setbacks to hazardous vegetation should
prevent buildings from being subjected to direct contact from flames, and reduced levels of radiant
heat in the event of a bushfire.

Landscaping and vegetation retention within the identified setbacks to hazardous vegetation should
consider the following guidelines:
    ▪  Immediately adjacent proposed buildings should either be fully cleared and regularly
       maintained (i.e. lawn) with managed ground based fuel loads and ladder fuels.
    ▪   Where retaining trees, ensure they are isolated individuals, small isolated clumps or islands
        and provide a tree canopy cover of less than 15% within the setbacks to hazardous vegetation,
        with clear separation of retained trees and vegetation outside the APZ by >10m canopy
        separation. Tree canopies within this setback should be located greater than 2 metres from
        any part of the roofline of a building. Any trees should have lower limbs removed up to a
        height of 2 metres above the ground.
    ▪   Any landscaping performed on site shall maintain the setbacks to hazardous vegetation
        effectively free of available fuel. Landscaping plants may be used in this area so long as they
        are selected for their low combustibility, by virtue of high moisture content, low volatile oil
        content, high leaf mineral levels, large fleshy leaves, and absence of shedding bark. They
        should be placed so as to not provide either vertical or horizontal connectedness of plant
        material, and avoid overhanging rooflines or contact with flammable parts of buildings. Any
        planted trees should be of species which grow to over 2m, to maintain separation between
        lower canopy and the ground.
    ▪   Turf is to be maintained regularly to reduce the potential for long grass to fuel an advancing
        fire toward buildings.




    20 April 2022                           56 Reserve St Pomona –BAL Minimum Distance Assessment   Page 7
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