Meeting papers

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 risk, 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 be 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.


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.
Debris can include parts, rubbish and fishing gear from ships and fishing vessels, litter and rubbish
delivered via stormwater, general rubbish, building materials, outside furniture, and community
infrastructure from low-lying parks after floods. The Brisbane February 2022 floods deposited 18
pontoons from Brisbane River on Noosa’s beaches (see the Highlight Box below).

This debris is unsightly and poses a safety risk to beach users and wildlife, particularly when it is
obscured by storm foam. There is also a strong and growing body of evidence of the negative
environmental impact of marine debris through ingestion, entanglement, habitat damage and the
spread of alien and invasive species. 23

Debris is removed from the beach by community members or Council workers and placed near or
in the bins at the top of the beach access or removed to the Resource Recovery Centre and landfill
by rubbish contractors or Council workers.

Natural marine debris, natural wood, seagrass, seaweed, pumice stone, vegetation and similar,
can also be deposited in large amounts during extreme weather. Natural debris can act as a useful

23 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (2022). Why is Marine Debris a Problem? Available Online:

https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/discover-marine-debris/why-marine-debris-problem

Eastern Beaches Foreshore Reserves Management Plan 2023                                        Page 61

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