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[OCR of page images]
Findings — Bushfire Hazard

The residential building at Iluka is intended to be separated from the bulk of the covenant
area by a low fuel zone of some 5.5 metres per the Fire Management Plan of WBM
Oceanics. The maintenance of this buffer is critical in providing a safety zone between the
building and flammable vegetation within the covenant which contains very steep slopes on
north and west facing aspects.

Such slopes and aspects — in combination with eucalypt fuels - are potentially serious
contributors to bushfire hazard. Although there are important site factors which mitigate
against the bushfire hazard in this locality e.g. proximity and extent of the Noosa River and
its riparian vegetation; and the relatively small width of approximately 40 metres, the
covenant area in question is also continuous with similar adjoining areas to the north-east
and south-west. It is relevant to note that bushfires need some distance to develop their full
intensity and rate of spread, and this is generally accepted as being at least 100 metres.

In essence the potential exists for a medium intensity fire within the covenant area but the
behaviour of fire in this locality is mainly governed by the steep slope which is narrow and
consequently the hazard affecting the adjoining buildings is only moderate.

While the WBM Fire Management Plan considers that a majority of the Settlers Cove
development should be considered as low hazard (apparently arrived at subjectively) it is
imperative to the understanding bushfire behaviour that there is no such thing as a zero
hazard. Therefore it is critical that the fuel load of the buffer zone be minimised and that the
fuel state of the balance of the vegetation covenant be monitored and managed to
acceptable levels.

The aforementioned low fuel zone consists of mulched gardens of approximately 5 metres
width from the building up to the fenced boundary and a similar width of low slope within
the covenant area which consists of existing, planted and maintained vegetation which has
also been mulched. At the time of inspection this mulch was quite damp from recent
substantial rain and/or irrigation.

The mulch consisted of hoop pine bark. This material contributes to the fuel load due to its
porous nature which allows access by oxygen during burning. Conversely a mulch such as
slash pine bark or wood chips are considered to be acceptable for bushfire purposes
because they tend to pack down and exclude oxygen. Inorganic mulches such as rocks and
stones are also acceptable.

The outstanding feature of the area in bushfire terms is the sheer quantity of fuel due to the
eucalypt leaf litter in the vicinity of those species. Around the property fence — and within
the fuel control zones — there are several eucalypts growing in close proximity to each other.
Most of these appear to be regrowth of less than 15 metres height and diameters up to 25
cm although there is a much larger specimen with a dual trunk at the north-eastern end.

 

Taylor Ecology Covenant Area Management — August 2014 Iluka, Serenity Close Noosa