Bushfire Info Kit PR22034_BIK_Settlers Cove Covenant E_VerA · OPW22/0166

                                                                                    Bushfire Information Kit

in Figure 2). These areas will be planted with fire retardant species. Fire-retardant species are flora
species that have the ability or tendency to slow up or halt the spread of fire. Within the fuel control area,
this species must be maintained at a height of no more than 30 cm (ground-cover species). Horizontally
growing plants are preferred to eliminate the need for intensive maintenance. A list of suitable ground-
cover species is provided in Appendix 1.

No flammable features or structures are permitted in this area. This includes barbeques, fire wood,
unmaintained grass and vegetation and hazardous substances.

Fire retardant features accepted within the fuel control area include paved pathways, swimming pools,
mowed grass, fire-retardant vegetation (refer to Appendix 1). Any features will need to ensure that
access to the hydrant and tap is available.

A hose reel is to be permanently fitted to the hydrant.

Fuel reduction must occur in the building fuel control area, at least fortnightly, during the fire danger
season, i.e. September to March.

Fuel load monitoring of this area is to be undertaken annually before the end of June. A bushfire
management specialist will be engaged to perform fuel load monitoring in the fuel control area and the
covenant area and will consider the fuel reduction performance objectives outlined in this section when
identifying annual fuel reduction works.

Within two weeks of completing the fuel load monitoring, the bushfire management specialist will provide
a brief report which presents the results of the fuel load monitoring and identifies weeds and fuel
reduction works.

The fuel reduction performance objectives within the fuel control area are:

    •   treatment of weeds;

    •   surface fuel layer is < 10 – 25 mm deep across 60 – 80% of the area;

    •   Lawn maintained to < 100 mm in height;

    •   Groundcover plants (including plantings) in the near-surface fuel layer are maintained to remove
        dead leaves and trimmed to a maximum of 30 cm in height;

    •   No forest litter from the covenant area in gardens; and

    •   Fire retardant vegetation height below 30 cm.

The fuel reduction performance objectives will be achieved by:

    •   Visually monitoring lawn and garden areas;

    •   Mowing lawn to ensure lawn height is maintained; and

    •   Collecting and removing dead leaves, branches and forest litter from gardens by hand or with a
        garden blower/vacuum.




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