07/1413 - Response to Information Request [As Published] · 132007.1413

10.0 TREE SELECTION FOR FIRE-PRONE AREAS

Select plants that match the conditions of the environment (soils, rainfall,
temperatures, frost and wind), but don't overlook fire as a factor. Some species may
be invasive in different environments. (RFS 2002)

FLAMMABILITY

All plants will burn, but some are more tolerant of fire than others.

Severe fires cause more damage. Low to moderate fires scorch or burn plants. High-
intensity fires incinerate plants. Young plants are more susceptible to damage than
mature plants.

Features of plants that provide protection from fire include (check with local Council
for an endemic species list):

high salt content of leaves

high moisture content of leaves

low volatile oil content of leaves

thick bark protecting conductive tissues and dormant buds

seeds enclosed in woody capsules

dense crown

lowest branches out of reach of ground fires

Plants that retain or accumulate dead leaves and twigs will burn, especially if this
material is continuous from the ground to the crown. Trimmed cypress hedges, for
example, are an extreme fire hazard. Volatile oils in leaves of eucalypts, callistermons
and melaleucas burst into flames on heating and increase fire intensity. Thick bark
will protect trees, but may be a fire hazard if it is loose, fibrous or stringy.
These types of bark easily ignite and encourage fire to spread through the crown of
“the trees. Wind can carry burning bark, especially loose, flaky or ribbon bark, away to
start new fires - a process called "spotting". (RFS 2002)

ABILITY TO REGENERATE

Many plants can regrow or regenerate after a fire. Native plants have evolved with fire
and most will regenerate well. They have survival mechanisms such as dormant buds,
thick bark and thick, woody capsules to protect’ seeds, or they store seed in the soil.
Introduced plants have few survival mechanisms, but burn less readily than most
natives.

Eucalypts can reshoot from dormant buds beneath their bark. Casaurinas and some
acacias reshoot from roots. Some eucalypts, acacias, tea-trees, banksias, hakeas and
calistemons regenerate from seed. Seed of many acacias is stored in the soil and
germinates after fire. Larger acacias are more tolerant of fire than smaller ones.

If crowns and trunks of native species such as eucalypts, acacias and casaurinas are
killed by fire, the tree will often reshoot from the stump when felled.

Introduced deciduous trees, such as poplars and willows, reshoot from roots, and oaks
reshoot from stumps when the fire-killed crown and trunk is felled. Most pines will
not recover if more than half their foliage is burnt, although Canary Island pine,
Ponderosa pine, Aleppo pine, and Redwood are more fire-tolerant than this. (RFS
2002)

Prepared by: BushfireSafe Services 07) 38209992 12
Bushfire Hazard Report: Proposed Tourist Facility, Lot 89. Black Mountain Road, Black:
Mountain in SP158854.