Development Application part 2 Report/Plans - MCU11/0254

      The fence is to be constructed on top of the proposed retaining wall. Internal Courtyard
      fences are also to be made of non-combustible materials. Please refer to typical Bushfire
      Management schematic plan and section for locations.

5.3   Construct dwellings to meet the requirements of AS3959:2009

      Dwellings will be required to be constructed to AS3959:2009 Construction of Buildings in
      Bushfire Prone Areas. Unit blocks B, C and D (inclusive of all individual townhouses) will be
      required to be constructed to Bushfire Attack Level – Flame Zone. Unit block A will be
      required to be constructed to Bushfire Attack Level 12.5.

      The drawings prepared by Reitsma exhibit appropriate building materials and notation to
      allow future compliance with BAL FZ and BAL 12.5 respectively. Full compliance assessment
      with these construction requirements will need to be undertaken at Building Works Stage by
      a suitably qualified Building Certifier. Building elements situated less than 10m from the
      unmanaged vegetation are required to satisfy the testing criteria of Australian Standard
      AS1530.2 Methods for fire tests on building materials, components and structures.

      Metal bushfire shutters may need to be installed over windows facing the bushland in the
      absence of suitably rated bushfire resistant windows being able to be installed.

      A property rate card notation should be included on the allotment stating that building works
      on the allotment will be required to comply with AS3959:2009 Construction of Buildings in
      Bushfire Prone Areas or subsequent editions.

5.4   Undertake appropriate landscaping on the site to minimise the effects of wildfire.

      Fuels that can contribute to the spread and behaviour of fires in the Bushland Urban
      interface (I-zone) include: private gardens (trees, shrubs, lawns, mulches), external
      structures (houses, garages, sheds, lean-to’s, fences), general lifestyle detritus (rubbish,
      wood piles, compost heaps, things that will be used one day), and public spaces (green
      spaces, access ways, roadside verges) (Ellis and Sullivan 2004).

      Ellis and Sullivan 2004 estimate the radiant heat flux emanating from burning mulch to be
      between 5kW/m2 and 30kW/m2. In this regard burning mulch has the potential to break
      windows and make areas indefensible. Mulches can be blown by the wind accompanying
      bushfires and ‘rolled up’ resulting in intense flaming and burning particles that deposited
      against the facades of buildings.

      In this regard landscaping must be designed to not include materials and species that are
      highly combustible and avoid placing combustible materials adjacent building elements which
      may in turn cause combustion of the buildings.

      The following are to be observed in the design of site landscaping:

          No trees or shrubs greater than 5m tall are to be proposed such that the outer edge of
           the mature specimen is within 5m of any window of any building. Trees may be planted
           adjacent concrete tilt up party walls due to the fire rating level of these walls provided
           that they are also not adjacent glazing elements. Trees should not be planted in
           continuous rows;