Bushfire Risk Assessment 2025 Final - Noosa Springs 2022026

Bushfire Risk Assessment v3                                                             NCES REF: J001433
Select Areas of Noosa Springs Residential Estate, Noosa Heads




reduce the potential for bushfire impact to buildings, structures and occupants, by achieving the
applicable <29 kW/m² RHF separation distances (to be referenced as APZ’s). Lots that continue
to be located in non-bushfire prone areas should maintain existing separation distances.
The allotment boundary privacy planting on the north side of Area 4 acts as a desirable radiant
heat and ember screen to a fire that may occur in the adjacent open forest vegetation and
therefore should be maintained.
The nominated APZ’s should be maintained for the life of the development according to the
following criteria:
      •    Be measured from the most external point of the building;
      •    Be maintained as a low threat zone with the surface layer dominated by mowed grass to
           a nominal 100mm height. A mulch layer is not to be installed in lieu of grass cover. Pebble
           cover is acceptable;
      •    Any landscaping within the APZ satisfies the low threat vegetation criteria prescribed in
           section 2.2.3.2 of AS 3959:2018 (refer below) or later iterations thereof, where applicable,
           and be planted as discrete isolated clumps of low flammability vegetation aligned parallel
           the building to aid in interception of ember and smoke attack and not perpendicular and
           in a manner which could transmit fire toward the building;
      •    No woody mulch is used within 2m of buildings;
      •    Future landscaping works/plantings maximise the use of locally indigenous, low
           flammability species and or low density plantings of suitable open forest /woodland
           species with low bark shedding characteristics. Landholders should consult their local
           native plant nursery for suitable species selection;
      •    Surface fuels and woody regrowth be controlled in the APZ to maintain a low fuel load
           environment. Roof tops, roof gutters and other areas of the dwellings and including
           ancillary infrastructure such as garden sheds be regularly inspected, and debris removed
           to reduce the risk of spot fires developing in the properties during a bushfire event.

      •    An annual branch trimming program is enacted to maintain APZ widths and prevent low
           hanging foliage encroachment into the APZ.

Section 2.2.3.2 Exclusions—Low threat vegetation and non-vegetated areas sub-clause (f) of AS
3959:2018 defines the general conditions required within the APZ to ensure it is not
representative of assessable vegetation ensuring the setback distance remains applicable to the
BAL standard of construction. Low threat vegetation is defined in sub clause (f) as:
(f) Low threat vegetation, including managed grassland, maintained lawns, golf courses,
maintained public reserves and parklands, botanical gardens, vineyards, orchards, cultivated
ornamental gardens, commercial nurseries, nature strips and wind breaks.

5.3       Water Supply
The availability of a reliable water supply for firefighting purposes is a vital tool in the defence of
bushfire impact. The Noosa Springs site is connected to a reticulated water supply which has a
minimum pressure and flow of 10 litres a second at 200kPa.
To improve the protection of residences it is recommended Noosa Springs utilises the availability
of pressured town water and:
      •    Installs a multi directional sprinkler system along the vegetation edge between Areas 2
           and 3 and the adjacent houses. The sprinkler system should be contained in a sub-
           surface trench along the ridge crest to avoid the risk of failure during a bushfire (i.e.
           melting). The aim of the sprinkler system is not to extinguish a fire, as it would be unlikely
           to be effective at such a task, but to increase the moisture content of the vegetation and
           surface fuels abutting the houses thereby reducing their availability to combust and




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