Bushfire Hazard Assessment

Bushfire Hazard Assessment
14 Serenity Close, Noosa Heads




5.2 NOOSA PLAN 2020


Noosa Plan 2020 identifies areas subject to bushfire hazard on the Bushfire Hazard
Overlay. An extract from the Bushfire Hazard Overlay map for the site is indicated in
Figure 6 (Map 3).

Certain assessable development in areas subject to the Bushfire Hazard Overlay requires
assessment against the Bushfire Hazard Overlay Code. The purpose of the Bushfire Hazard
Overlay is to, inter alia, to ensure that development avoids or mitigates the potential
adverse impacts of bushfire on people, property, economic activity and the environment.
The purpose is achieved by ensuring that development does not expose people and
property to an unacceptable risk of bushfire attack and, where applicable, provide
treatments which reduce bushfire risk and provide for a safe environment for emergency
services. Amongst other things, Bushfire Hazard Overlay Code requires the preparation of
a site-specific bushfire hazard assessment and management plan, prepared in accordance
with Planning Scheme Policy 8 – Natural Hazards (PSP). The PSP requires that the level of
bushfire hazard shown on the Bushfire Hazard Overlay Map be confirmed via assessment
of predicted bushfire behaviour including calculation of predicted fire intensity and rate of
spread using McArthur’s equation and radiant heat flux using a recognised model such as
the View Factor Model. The PSP indicates calculations should be based on a forest fire
danger index (FFDI) of 50 and maximum predicted fuel loads to determine appropriate
setbacks.

The current State guidance material for bushfire hazard which is set out in Bushfire
Resilient Communities (Queensland Fire and Emergency Services 2019) utilises a
quantitative method as per Leonard et al. (2014) which predicts actual fire behaviour
including calculation of predicted fire intensity and rate of spread using a modified version
of McArthur’s equation. The latter is generally consistent with the PSP and to the extent
that there are any inconsistences, Bushfire Resilient Communities (Queensland Fire and
Emergency Services 2019) approach 1 is preferred because it provides an actual estimate
of fire behaviour, rather than a qualitative estimate of potential hazard; providing a basis
for improved decision-making regarding the likelihood and severity of bushfire attack (i.e.
risk assessment).

The following section of the report provides an overview of the methodology used to
assess bushfire hazard, including quantitative measurement of fire intensity and, where
necessary, radiant heat flux.




1 Leonard et al. 2014




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