MCU14/0106 & OPW15/0001 Appendix F - Ecological and Bushfire Management Response

Noosa Civic Expansion
Bushfire Assessment Report



           b)        where it is not practicable to comply with the above, fire maintenance trails are located as
                     close as possible to the boundaries of the lots and the adjoining bushland hazard, and the
                     fire/maintenance trails:
                     - have a minimum cleared width of 6 metres; and
                     - have a formed width and gradient, and erosion control devices to local government
                       standards; and
                     - have vehicular access at each end; and
                     - provide passing bays and turning areas for fire-fighting appliances; and
                     - are either located on public land, or within an access easement that is granted in favour of
                       the local government and QFES.
           AND
           c)        sufficient cleared breaks of 6 metres minimum width in retained bushland within the
                     development (e.g. creek corridors and other retained vegetation) to allow burning of sections
                     and access for bushfire response.
With respect to the above, the proposed Noosa Civic expansion:
> involves extensions to Hofmann Drive and the internal ring-road that will surround the existing Noosa Civic
  development and proposed development with multiple access points to Walter Hay Drive; and
> provides appropriate building setbacks as discussed in Section 4.1 herein.
It is recommended that fire be actively excluded from Covenant J to facilitate the transition to a less hazardous
rainforest vegetation. Relevant management specifications are provided in the Bushfire Management Plan
(Cardno. 2015) presented in Appendix D.
Consistent with the Noosa Shire Business Centre Stage 1 Bushfire Management Plan (The Consultancy
Bureau, 2004) and the updated Bushfire Management Plan presented in Appendix D, a network of fire trails
will be established and maintained to facilitate:
> access around the perimeter of Covenant J and to the interface between Covenant J and the existing Noosa
  Civic buildings and the proposed expansions; and
> the conduct of fuel reduction burns within vegetation that is located within future development areas (i.e.
  Shire Business Centre Map area E7 and E6).

4.5              Access/Egress Arrangements
The ability of both landowners and fire fighters to access all areas of a property can be a vital factor in
determining whether a fire can be fought successfully or not. Secure access also allows for safe performance
of management actions and safe exit should evacuation be required.
In recognition of this the SPP 1/03 Guideline states that, for development that will result in multiple buildings
or lots, roads are designed and constructed in accordance with applicable local government and State
government standards and:
           a)        have a maximum gradient of 12.5%; and
           b)        exclude cul-de-sac, except where a perimeter road isolates the development from hazardous
                     vegetation or the cul-de-sac are provided with an alternative access linking the cul-de-sac to
                     other through roads.
The proposed development is consistent with the above SPP 1/03 Guideline recommendations and provides
multiple avenues of entry/exit to facilitate the deployment of fire-fighting resources and/or the evacuation of
personnel if required.
Further in this respect it is noted that any bushfire that occurs within the Noosa Civic locality and which is likely
to require an evacuation of the centre will most likely approach the site from either the east or south. Under
such a scenario there is the potential for the safe movement of traffic to be restricted on parts of the surrounding
road network due to smoke or flame hazards. Under such circumstance neither the health nor safety of Noosa

QIC Noosa Civic Pty Ltd                                Version 2                                         23 April 2015
J13041_Bushfire Assessment V2.docx               Commercial in Confidence                                    Page 19