Bushfire Hazard Assessment

Bushfire Hazard Assessment
14 Serenity Close, Noosa Heads




6 METHODS
Bushfire prone areas in Queensland are identified, mapped and categorised as a function
of potential fireline intensity (kW/m). Potential fireline intensity can be calculated and
mapped spatially as a function of three inputs according to the method described by
Leonard et al. (2014) (Refer to Figure 4):

   i.   Fuel load based on vegetation hazard classes,
  ii.   Maximum landscape slope, and,
 iii.   Fire weather severity

The method described by Leonard et al. (2014) utilises a modified version of the McArthur
Equation (McArthur 1967; Noble et al. 1980). Hazard assessment should incorporate both
the development footprint and all land within 150 metres of the development footprint
(site assessment area) (Queensland Fire and Emergency Services 2019). Where
development involves or proposes changes to the configuration of vegetation within the
site assessment area, the re-modelling of bushfire behaviour is necessary.

Modelling of potential fireline intensity should incorporate the effects of the proposed
development on the configuration of vegetation within the site assessment area including:

    •   all necessary clearing to support the development and infrastructure, and,
    •   all requirements for revegetation, landscaping or environmental offsets.

Modelling potential fireline intensity utilised a combination of desktop and field methods,
including geoprocessing of spatial inputs and modelling of bushfire hazard according to
the process described in Bushfire Resilient Communities (Queensland Fire and Emergency
Services 2019). The modelling included the following measures of fire behaviour:

   i.   Potential bushfire fireline intensity (PFI, kW/m), and
  ii.   Radiant heat flux/Bushfire Attack Level (kW/m2/BAL) according to the View
        Factor Method described in AS 3959:2018 using the SPP Bushfire Asset Protection
        Zone Width Calculator (Queensland Fire and Emergency Services 2019).




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