2015-04-28 Infrastructure & Services Committee Agenda

INFRASTRUCTURE & SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                  28 APRIL 2015



 Improve Council’s fire management capacity through staff training and the purchase of fire
   equipment; and
 Develop communication processes with key stakeholders such as Bushland Care Groups,
   when implementing fire management works.

Council, at its Ordinary Meeting on 12 February 2015, also endorsed the commencement of
bushfire risk assessments for 122 Bushland Reserve. So far, six reserves have been identified as
a high priority for assessment based on their size, proximity to residential areas and having
continuous vegetation with neighbouring private or public land. Three reserves are recommended
for immediate works, subject to further risk and ecological assessment. These are:

 Harlow Bushland Reserve, Noosa Parklands (ecological burn)
 Eenie Creek Bushland Reserve, Lake Entrance Bvd (widen existing fire trails by 1m,
   establish new 5m fire trails on eastern boundary, and prescribed burn 1 block)
 Livistona Bushland Reserve, Doonan-Quarry block (ecological burn)

Delivery of Fire Management Plan

The Fire Management Plan includes a three year Action Plan to be managed by Council’s
Natural Areas team. The following methods of delivery are recommended:
 Reserve assessments: 116 bushland reserves will need to undergo further risk and
   ecological assessment. Depending on the size of the reserve, it can take one day for two staff
   to complete these assessments. The Action Plan proposes:
      o   Year 1: thirty reserves to be prioritised for assessment. Assessments are to be
          undertaken by fire consultants, alongside Natural Areas staff, to provide mentoring and
          training in fire fuel hazard assessment.
      o   Years 2 & 3: With the above experience, and with formal training, the remaining reserves
          can be assessed by Natural Areas staff. To achieve this, two Natural Areas staff would
          need to be taken offline for 6 weeks, prior to the spring fire season, and those positions
          backfilled. There is an opportunity to commence training in bushfire fuel hazard
          assessment in May 2015, funded from the Corporate training budget, and this training has
          been booked. Further training is planned for the remaining Natural Areas staff.
 Fire management training: It is recommended that Natural Areas staff undertake/update
   formal public safety and fire management training. This will enable staff to deliver planned
   burn programs and respond to bushfire on Council reserves.
 Delivery of planned burn program: The Fire Management Plan proposes three planned burns
   in Year 1. It is proposed that the planned burns be undertaken by Natural Areas staff with the
   help of fire management contractors, and Queensland Fire & Emergency Services, subject to
   their availability. Many bushland reserves are in the urban interface, i.e. they do not border
   National Park or other large landholders. For those reserves that share a common boundary
   with National Park, it is recommended that Council explores joint working relationships for
   burn program delivery. National Parks and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services have
   been contacted regarding joint fire management activities and are supportive, subject to their
   own work priorities. Queensland Fire and Emergency Services-Rural organises the Sunshine
   Coast Fire Management Group meetings for State, Local Government and private
   landholders and this meeting provides an opportunity to discuss joint fire management
   between stakeholders. Year 2 & 3 planned burn programs will be subject to further
   assessment and review of the Fire Management Plan.
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