Approved Document Bushfire Management Plan 132004.5633.03

The ‘Noosa Plan 2017, Division 9 – Natural Hazards Overlays Code’ (O7) requires ‘building
works to be sited, designed and constructed to minimise the number of people and property
subject to a bushfire risk; and maximise the protection of people and property during the
passage of a fire front’. Councils Probable Solution (S7.1) of ‘1.5 times the predominant
mature canopy tree height or 10m whichever is the greater; and 10m from any retained
vegetation strips or small areas of vegetation’ is detailed. This separation distance, does not
consider level of bushfire hazard (i.e. Medium to Very High), nor the building construction
standards of the proposed development. In addition, given the nature and limitations of the
site, setbacks dictated by mature vegetation height may lead to unnecessary extensive
vegetation loss both on and adjacent the subject site.

Consequently, and as per the Bushfire Resilient Communities Technical Reference Guide
(QFES, 2019), the required setbacks (APZ’s) detailed in the AS3959-2018, with regard the
minimum distance required to achieve appropriate BAL ratings for the proposed
development, are considered appropriate to inform the identified bushfire hazard to the
proposed development and consequently meeting the intent of Councils Planning Scheme
and State Methodologies. Subsequently, the following section details the minimum distance
required to achieve a Maximum BAL-29 for the proposed development. These calculations
are subsequently used to inform required APZ distances adjacent the proposed development,
in order to comply with the performance outcomes of the Australian Standard (AS3959-2018)
and the intent of the NSC Performance Outcome.

3.2 Bushfire Attack Level - Construction Standards
The Building Code of Australia (BCA) requires all Class 1-3, and 10a (associated with a
dwelling) buildings to be constructed in accordance with the Australian Standard 3959 (2018)
- Construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas (AS3959-2018). This Standard provides
minimum construction standards for new dwellings in designated Bushfire Prone Areas.
The construction standards are intended to improve the performance of buildings subjected
to burning debris, radiant heat or flame contact. The AS3959- 2018 methodology prescribes
Bushfire Attack Levels (BAL’s) to the facades of proposed buildings to which corresponding
construction safety standards are applied. AS3959-2018 defines Bushfire Attack Levels as:
   ‘A means of measuring the severity of a building’s potential exposure to ember attack,
   radiant heat and direct flame contact, using increments of radiant heat expressed in
   kilowatts per metre squared, which is the basis for establishing the requirements for
   construction to improve protection of building elements from attack by bushfire.’

3.2.1 Bushfire Attack Level Assessment
In accordance with the Australian Standard – Construction of Buildings in Bushfire-prone Areas
(AS3959, 2018), an assessment of the required construction standards for the proposed
development of has been undertaken using a Method 2 Minimum distance calculation (Tables
 30 April 2021                35 Rules Road, Pomona - Bushfire Management Plan V5         Page 15
                                            www.wollemi-eco.com.au