Bushfire Hazard Assessment

Bushfire Hazard Assessment
14 Serenity Close, Noosa Heads



       however occurred at scales too small to map and were otherwise surrounded by
       other discontinuous or grassfire-prone fuel types. These areas were mapped as VHC
       39.2 Low to moderate tree cover in built-up areas (8 tonnes per hectare) (Refer to
       Map 6). However, there was continuous remnant vegetation consistent with RE
       12.3.4 which was located on the southern side of the waterway (Refer to Appendix 2,
       VHC Assessment Site 5). The latter was mapped as VHC 22.1 Melaleuca open forests
       on seasonally inundated lowland coastal swamps (28 tonnes per hectare) (Refer to
       Map 6). There was no evidence of VHC 29.3 Heathlands and associated scrubs and
       shrublands with the waterway area (c.f. Maps 4 and 6).
   ● Site assessment also indicated that parts of the Weyba Creek Bushland Reserve
       North to the west of the proposed development (Lot 600 on SP188270) which were
       mapped as VHC 29.3 Heathlands and associated scrubs and shrublands on the SPP
       Input Map (Refer to Map 4) were comprised predominantly of 22.1 Melaleuca open
       forests on seasonally inundated lowland coastal swamps (28 tonnes per hectare)
       (Refer to Appendix 2, VHC Assessment Site 3). Whereas any areas of VHC 29.3
       Heathlands and associated scrubs and shrublands (20.1 tonnes per hectare) were
       located outside of the 150m site assessment area (c.f. Maps 4 and 6).
   ● The SPP Input Map also indicated an area of VHC 4.1 Notophyll and notophyll palm
       or vine forest (4 tonnes per hectare) located on a steep bank adjacent to the river on
       the northern side of the existing Serenity Close buildings. Site assessment indicated
       that the vegetation contained a mix of maintained gardens and lawns consistent
       with VHC 39.2 Low to moderate tree cover in built-up areas (8 tonnes per hectare)
       and also VHC 9.1 Moist to dry eucalypt open forests on coastal lowlands and ranges
       (24.2 tonnes per hectare) (Refer to Appendix 2, VHC Assessment Site 4). The latter
       was consistent with the current regional ecosystem mapping for the land which
       indicates the vegetation is comprised of RE 12.2.5 6.

As per Leonard et al. (2014), the Potential Fuel Load assigned to each Vegetation Hazard
Class is generally representative of the higher fuel load expected for the typical vegetation
types, landscape and site conditions within each Vegetation Hazard Class. This Potential
Fuel Load of each Vegetation Hazard Class would approximate the 80th percentile fuel
load of the “long unburnt condition” for the class (generally greater than 10 years without
burning). Modelled fuel loads for each of the amended VHCs were unchanged from the
loads recommended by Bushfire Resilient Communities (Queensland Fire and Emergency
Services 2019). Fuel loads for modelled VHCs were as per the Bushfire Resilient
Communities (Queensland Fire and Emergency Services 2019); with hybrid or complex
communities receiving the sum of the proportional fuel load of each constituent VHC (e.g.
remnant vegetation containing a mix of regional ecosystems). Areas containing
unmanaged regrowth or revegetation were mapped according to “long unburnt condition”
for the class i.e. the potential fuel load of the vegetation type at maturity. Map 7 indicates
the modelled fuel loads.




6 State of Queensland (Department of Resources) (2021). Vegetation management regional ecosystem map - version 12.0. Q.

Herbarium. http://qldspatial.information.qld.gov.au/catalogue/



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