Bushfire Hazard Assessment and Management Plan

                                                           Bushfire Hazard Assessment and Management Plan



This bushfire report will only ever be modified with the agreement of Noosa Council. This agreement
allows for changes to the plan scope, as determined through consultation and the acceptance of the
proponent. That is, where further actions are deemed necessary or where actions can be reduced in
scope.

4.4 Siting of Buildings

In accordance with the SPP 2017 (and associated guidance material) and the Noosa Plan 2020, the
proposed design has considered the key principles when siting development. The relevant clauses that
have been considered are:

    •    Utilising land that is predominantly cleared to minimise ecological impacts to native vegetation;

    •    Maximising where practicable building setbacks from any hazardous vegetation; and

    •    Siting of buildings so that elements of the development that are least susceptible to fire are
         situated closest to the bushfire hazard (e.g. driveways, parking areas and protective landscape
         treatments).



4.5 Asset Protection Zones

The use of an APZ is the most effective defence against flame and radiant heat and to a lesser extent,
ember attack. The APZ incorporates defendable space and allows for managing heat intensities at the
building surface. Appropriate vegetation management measures shall be required to manage fine fuels,
which have the greatest influence on the spread of a conventional flame front-driven bushfire
(Queensland Government and CSIRO, 2020).

The Noosa Plan 2020 specifies that buildings are to be separated from hazardous vegetation such that
they achieve a radiant heat flux of 29 kW/m2 (BAL-29) or lower. Table 5 provides the minimum horizontal
distance between the edge of unmanaged/hazardous vegetation and buildings required to achieve BAL-
29. An Asset Protection Zone (APZ) has been established to the south, south-west and east of the
proposed dwelling, to ensure that the dwelling will be able to achieve and maintain a BAL-29
construction rating (Figure 7). This APZ comprises the following:

    •    Inner Protection Area (IPA): 0 – 15 m from the edge of the dwelling (Figure 8). This area is
         to be maintained as an area that is effectively free of flammable material to provide defendable
         space and for managing heat intensities at the building surface. The IPA is to be managed as
         follows:

             o      Removal of all canopy trees and shrubs within the IPA. New trees are not to be planted
                    in the IPA.

             o      Landscaping treatments within the IPA shall comprise low threat vegetation, including
                    lawn areas managed in a minimal fuel condition (i.e. ≤ 100 mm nominal height as
                    specified in AS3959:2018) and landscape garden plant species that are of low
                    combustibility (i.e. species with high leaf moisture content, low volatile oil content,
                    absence of shedding bark, low production of leaf litter etc.). Flammable plants are not
                    permitted.




                                                      PR22116_BHAMP_178 Davis Rd, Cootharaba       Page 24