PR18082_BIK_Settlers Cove Stage 4_RevA_07082018 · OPW18/0155

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4. Bushfire Management Plan
Under the FMP Ssection 1.3), the Body Corporate is responsible for on-going bushfire management of
the site which includes the building area and the covenant area.

The FMP and ERP identify bushfire management concepts and strategies that are to be used as a guide
for fire management at the site by the Body Corporate. The BRA was commissioned by Council after
the FMP and ERP and is to be considered as an addendum to the FMP. The advice in the BRA prevails
over advice and the FMP where there is a difference. The FMP recommends fuel control areas within
the development envelope and within the environmental covenant area.

This chapter identifies performance objectives for the bushfire management strategies and describes
how the performance objectives will be achieved.

4.1   Monitoring Fuel Load

Forest fuel load monitoring will be undertaken annually before the end of June. A bushfire management
specialist will be engaged to undertake the forest fuel load monitoring.

The bushfire management specialist will perform forest fuel load monitoring in the covenant fuel control
area and the covenant area in accordance with the method described in the Overall fuel hazard
assessment guide (DSE, 2010) and will consider the fuel reduction performance objectives in
Section 4.2 when identifying annual fuel reduction works. The presence and location of weed species
in the covenant area will also be recorded.

Within two weeks of completing the forest fuel load monitoring, the bushfire management specialist will
provide a brief report which presents the results of the forest fuel load monitoring and identifies weeds
and fuel reduction works.

4.2   Forest Fuel Reduction

The forest fuel reduction strategy in Section 4.1 of the FMP identifies three stages for fuel reduction
which are based on the maturity of ecological restoration work in the covenant area. The stage 2 fuel
reduction strategy currently applies. During this stage, fuel reduction in the covenant area must be
undertaken manually so that the fire forest fuel load does not exceed 10 t/ha. Controlled burning to
reduce forest fuel is not recommended.

This section provides fuel reduction performance objectives for the building fuel control area, covenant
fuel control area and covenant area which are shown on Figure 2. The performance objectives provide
a practical basis for achieving the 10 t/ha threshold in the FMP and will be used by the Body Corporate
to monitor fuel reduction works performed by the on-site manager, bushfire management specialist and
vegetation management contractor.

All vegetation waste resulting from forest fuel reduction works is to be disposed of at an off-site facility.

The level of work required to achieve forest fuel reduction performance objectives will vary from year to
year and will be subject to weather patterns and site-specific events. For example, the scope of forest
fuel reduction works is likely to increase after a year with above average rainfall or if a canopy tree falls.


PR18082_BIK_Settlers Cove Stage 4                                                              Page 10