Meeting papers

Fire management and firefighting access
Fire management and firefighting access across much of the EBFRs creates various challenges.
Fire fighter access to the 2019 fires was very restricted and high risky, and meant fire fighters
needed to often walk down unknown, narrow, one-way accesses alongside private houses to
access the fire, making it dangerous for fire fighters. In some locations there is continuous
vegetation and fuel between the bush and houses. Several residences and outbuildings have zero
or near zero boundary clearance to the foreshore reserves.


Fire access trails and fuel reduction zones
The Noosa Bushland Reserve Strategic Fire Management Plan 2021 – 2026, wherever possible,
seeks accessible through-fare fire access trails next to residential development, buildings and
facilities of up to four metres, and up to three meters where the bushland strip is narrow.

Where fire access trails are not possible (due to the dimension of the bushland reserve, slope, or
sensitive environmental values) the Noosa Bushland Reserve Strategic Fire Management Plan
2021 – 2026 seeks a Fuel Reduction Zone (FRZ) of up to ten metres as a suitable Interface Zone
treatment for fire risk management. A fuel reduction zone reduces fuel by reducing the middle and
connecting vegetation layers while keeping the ground cover and canopy trees.

These fire risk management areas should be appropriately stabilised to prevent erosion. Outside of
these areas, reserves are managed for conservation and landform stability values.

Fire risk will be considered in, and fire risk management areas will incorporated as required into,
encroachment recovery and rehabilitation areas. Where fire risk management areas are not yet
established where recovery or rehabilitation works are undertaken, a buffer with the same
dimensions and characteristics should be established.

These fire risk management areas are highly desirable from a fire risk management point of view
and would significantly improve fire fighter safety. Any fire access trails and fuel reduction zone
planning, and establishment shall be initiated, planned and implemented by Council and shall be
considered with respect to the fire risk priorities of our entire bushland reserve network.

The Noosa Bushland Reserve Strategic Fire Management Plan 2021 – 2026 requires double
ended, through fire access trail widths next to residential development, buildings and facilities of up
to four metres, and up to three meters where the bushland strip is narrow. All vegetation, except for
closely mowed ground cover, needs to be removed. Outside of this area reserves are be managed
for conservation and landform stability values.

This is highly desirable from a fire risk management point of view, would significantly improve fire
fighter safety and is the preferred option. Where a through access is not yet established, a buffer
with the same dimensions and characteristics should be established.

Where fire access trails are not possible (due to the dimension of the bushland reserve, slope, or
sensitive environmental values) the Noosa Bushland Reserve Strategic Fire Management Plan
2021 – 2026 identifies a Fuel Reduction Zone (FRZ) of up to ten metres as a suitable Interface
Zone treatment for risk management. A fuel reduction zone reduces fuel by reducing the middle
and connecting vegetation layers while keeping the ground cover and canopy trees.


Marine debris events
As shipping up the east coast and the region’s urbanisation increases, the amount of marine debris
on our beaches increases. Climate change is increasing the intensity and occurrence of extreme
weather, and floods and storms have the potential to deposit more marine debris after events.

Eastern Beaches Foreshore Reserves Management Plan 2023                                        Page 68


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