Bushfire Hazard Assessment

Bushfire Hazard Assessment
14 Serenity Close, Noosa Heads




7 RESULTS
The modelling results are described in terms of the extent and category of bushfire prone
areas and potential fireline intensity.



7.1      BUSHFIRE BEHAVIOUR


Modelling results based on the AEP 5% FFDI indicated that:

      ● the subject land did not contain areas of potential fireline intensity,
      ● although part of the lot containing the development is within the potential impact
        buffer, the proposed hotel is not located within 100m of bushfire prone areas
        (potential impact buffer) (Refer to Figure 7 and Map 10, attached).

Although the proposed development and bushfire hazard model incorporates the effect of
retention of native vegetation within Environmental Management and Conservation zoned
areas of the land, modelling results indicate that the vegetation retention does not
contribute to bushfire hazard. This is primarily because the land to south of the site
contains a mosaic of continuous and discontinuous areas of fuel comprised of pedestrian
pathways, trails, mown areas, weed-dominated regrowth, native regrowth and patches of
remnant vegetation. The combination of discontinuous and continuous fuel types within a
narrow corridor does not readily permit establishment or spread of a significant bushfire.
That is, the configuration of vegetation is sufficiently narrow and surrounded by built-up
areas (VHC 41.4) such that the vegetation is unlikely to support a fully developed flame
front (Catchpole et al. 1982). These areas are less likely to ignite due to their disconnection
with fuels that can carry running fire fronts. If ignited by a point or line ignition, these
areas will limit the fire head width, hence fireline intensity. The combined effect of lower
ignition likelihood and lower intensity is likely to result in fireline intensity of less than
4000 kW/m, and this presents a low hazard to land use planning and development
assessment.

The results of the assessment demonstrated that planning and management measures to
mitigate bushfire hazard are not required as part of the proposed development.




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