Notes from meeting with Council

Notes from meeting with Council, Police & QPWS on 5th December 2019.
Attendees
Ben CARROLL – Queensland Police
John McSWEENEY – Dept of Environment and Science (QPWS)
Carl BILLINGHAM – Director, Infrastructure Services, Noosa Council
Craig DOOLAN – Environmental Services Manager
Michael LYONS - Environment and Sustainable Development Technical Officer
QFES did not attend.
Phil DAUPHIN – Oasis Body Corporate
Greville POYSER – Oasis Body Corporate
Keith CALVERT – Oasis Body Corporate

Bushfire related risk
The Natural Hazard mapping shown on Noosa Council’s website is an approximation prepared at State level and needs more detailed analysis to determine actual local bushfire risks. An example a local bushfire risk profile undertaken by Council was shown for the area to the east of Links Drive which showed the area to only be Medium Bushfire risk - see Attachment 1 Potential Bushfire Intensity - Girraween Nature Refuge.
The area generally is classed as Coastal Heathland which, unlike areas with eucalypts, burns out very quickly and with less intensity.
The Oasis is seen by the Emergency Services as a relatively low risk area – to the east we are protected by the 11th, and to the west by the 12th and 17th plus the lakes. Because of this our Potential Impact Buffer will be considerably less than the default 100m shown on the Council Natural Hazard mapping.
Links Drive is at the base of a hill so the fire speed will be slowed accordingly.
The biggest concern for the Oasis is a wind blowing from the South East and/or the spotting of embers.

Green waste
Council will not intervene – they consider it to be the responsibility of landowner - If there are vermin, then they will get involved.
Waste is currently mulched down twice a year – this could be undertaken more frequently but will involve additional costs.
Note: The Oasis is charged a fixed monthly Green Waste fee of $115.50 per month and is also charged approximately $35 per cubic metre for the resultant mulch if ordered by Body Corporate.

Links Drive
Noosa Springs Investment (NSI) have undertaken the maintenance of the areas bordering Links Drive. NSI have assumed this responsibility as previously when Council were requested by NSI to resume the maintenance of Noosa Springs Drive, Council completely removed the existing median strip and plantings, to reduce the maintenance.
Council claim they do not have the resources to maintain Links Drive to the current standard and would charge if they had to do the work, as will NSI if the standard of “housekeeping” is required to be increased.
The current level of “housekeeping” could be increased, and the refurbishment of the sprinkler system completed as this will help mitigate the bushfire risk, but will require additional money, if considered warranted. All stakeholders will need to discuss the apportionment of costs between them – Parkridge, The Fairways, Spa & Golf Resort, & The Oasis.
QPWS also advised that taking down trees can be counter-productive as they keep the understorey moist and help in bushfire prevention.

Emergency actions/evacuation
In an emergency (fire, flood, cyclone) the ES will assess the potential risks to lives and property and determine whether evacuation is necessary. If it is, the ES will door-knock and ensure all occupants are evacuated safely.
Evacuation for the Oasis may be by moving to safe ground on the 17th fairway or by relocation via a designated evacuation route. Evacuees with medical problems e.g. respiratory problems will be transported by ambulance.
In the event of an out of control bushfire, the evacuation routes will be kept open by Emergency Services, using water bombing if necessary. They will also open any locked gates. Any entry to the area will be restricted to Emergency Services only, until the area is declared safe by them.
We didn’t get to discuss a situation where there is a need to evacuate before the Emergency Services arrive.

Emergency planning
It was suggested (recommended) that the following plans should be developed and put into place:
Fire management plan for whole area i.e. all Noosa Springs precincts, Parkridge, Elysium, Golf Club and The Oasis.
This will require effective communication between the various Body Corporates and other stakeholders.
Individual precinct plans
This will require effective communication between the Body Corporate and the precinct residents/occupants.
House plans
Individual residences need a plan identifying what to do in the event of an emergency.
An Emergency pack should be prepared consisting of:
Medications
Key documents
Suitable clothing
Computers & mobile phones & chargers/power packs.
Prized possessions
This to be either ready in a convenient container or be kept in a convenient position in the house so that it can be retrieved quickly.
It was pointed out that these planning activities applied not only to fire events, but also to cyclonic and flooding events.
Other advice
The local police commander, together with QFES, offered to provide further guidance if requested.
Next year Queensland Parks & Wildlife are planning to back burn areas to the south, between Lake Weyba and David Low Way, subject to weather conditions.
Regarding the non-use of sirens for the Resort Drive fire, we were advised that the ES didn’t want to alarm the whole neighbourhood!
It was suggested that we research Rural Fire & Emergency/Rural Firefighting/Plans for help in understanding what needs to be discussed and documented.

Attachments
Potential Bushfire Intensity Girraween Nature Refuge
Overall fuel hazard assessment guide – Department of Sustainability & Environment
A new methodology for State-wide mapping of bushfire prone areas in Queensland – CSIRO.
Please note that Attachments 2 and 3 are documents of around 45 pages long but do provide some useful background into fire hazard risk determination.

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Notes from meeting with Council