2015-04-28 Infrastructure & Services Committee Agenda

INFRASTRUCTURE & SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA   28 APRIL 2015




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2.0   Fire Management Planning
2.1   Fire management risk assessments

The State Planning Policy (SPP) Bushfire Hazard Area maps identify bushfire prone areas at a
state wide level. The CSIRO developed the methodology for the fire hazard mapping based on
vegetation type fuel load, slope and fire weather severity. The mapping identifies areas of medium,
high and very fire hazard, which means fire can be difficult to control in these areas under severe
fire conditions (see Map 1).
Other factors need to be considered when assessing bushland reserve fire risk and Council’s
management responses including:
e   Surrounding population density
e   Local fire fuel load assessment
e   Adequacy of fire trails
e   Ease of access
e   Existence of water points
e   Vulnerability of reserve infrastructure and neighbouring assets
e   Risks to park visitors
e   Proximity to other large areas of vegetation such as National Park or private land
e   Known fire history
e   Recommended ecological burn regime.
e   Impacts of fire management measures on Matters of National State or Local Environmental
    Significance (e.g. threatened species)
Depending on the size of the reserve, it takes approximately one day for 2 staff to complete a
thorough risk assessment (i.e. 122 reserves in total). Therefore it is proposed to complete staged
assessments on a priority basis over three years by Natural Areas staff, initially assisted by fire
consultants in Year 1.

It should be noted that a review of the Noosa Shire vegetated road reserve network with respect to
fire management will be undertaken after the bushland reserve assessments are completed.
2.2   Priority reserves

It is not possible to initiate fire management actions for all 122 reserves at once. As a starting
point, reserves over 10ha in size have been identified as a priority for management actions, 30
reserves in total (see Map 2). Of these 30 reserves, 6 have further been identified as the highest
priority due to proximity to housing and also having continuous vegetation connections with
neighbouring land, such as National Park or private land. The 6 highest priority reserves for fire
management actions are:
e   Harlow Bushland Reserve, Noosa Parklands (near Heritage Park Bushland Reserve)
e   Eenie Creek Bushland Reserve
e   Fourways-Noosa Banks Riparian Reserve
e   Lake Doonella Bushland Reserve
e   Wooroi Creek Bushland Reserve
e   Livistona Bushland Reserve

Some of these reserves already have fire management plans (FMPs), albeit now out-dated. The
review of existing FMPs has commenced and outcomes considered in future fire planning.

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