2020-08-17 General Committee Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                17 AUGUST 2020


8    FIRE MANAGEMENT ACTIONS UPDATE

Author             Environment Services Manager, Craig Doolan
                   Economic Development Manager, Anthony Dow
                   Environment & Sustainable Development Department

Index              ECM/ Fire Management Plan

Attachments        Nil


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Noosa experienced an unprecedented fire season in 2019 with wildfires burning thousands of
hectares and a number of homes and structures being lost or damaged at Peregian Beach and
Cooroibah. The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of Council’s fire management
program and outline what fire management actions are underway in preparation for the 2020
season and beyond.
RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Environment Services Manager and Economic Development
Manager to the General Committee Meeting dated 17 August 2020 providing an update on fire
management actions currently underway to enhance community safety.


REPORT
The management of fire risk in the Noosa Shire is a partnership between Council, Queensland
Parks and Wildlife Service, Queensland Fire & Emergency Services, other land management
agencies, and the community in general. Only through cooperation and a multi-faceted approach
can we effectively mitigate and reduce the risk to life and property by fire.
This report outlines Council’s current approached to fire management, approaches to the 2020 fire
season, and initiatives for the longer-term that are currently under way. There are three broad
areas to this approach:
1.   Management of bushland areas
2.   Working with the community
3.   Technology and future solutions.

1.   Management of Bushland Areas
Noosa Council currently has management responsibilities for 178 Bushland Reserves (public areas
managed primarily for conservation) that cover a total of 3,469ha. These areas include Council
freehold as well as State land that Council manages as trustee. Council Bushland Reserve
represents less than 4% of all land in Noosa, with significant larger portions of native habitat
present in National Park and on private land.
There are a number of key actions Council undertakes to mitigate the fire risk inherent in bushland
areas and reserves – implementation of fuel reduction zones, weed management and bushland
management, creation of fire access trails, and undertaking controlled burns. Every reserve is
different and not all actions are suitable for each one.
Forward planning
The Environment Services Branch has a program of planned burns and fire trial works for
2020/2021. The Bushland Reserve Fire Management Plan (FMP) identifies the highest priority

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