Bushfire Info Kit PR22034_BIK_Settlers Cove Covenant E_VerA · OPW22/0166

                                                                                      Bushfire Information Kit

2.1.2   POSCWP Area

This section applies to fuel reduction area which extends from the covenant fuel control area to the
Noosa Inlet. It consists of a mixture of sclerophyll vegetation and littoral rainforest adjacent to intertidal
vegetation fringing the Noosa Inlet. This area shall be restored and managed in accordance with the
Ecological Restoration Plan and the Fauna Management Plan. This area is to be managed to protect
and reinforce its environmental values including its koala habitat and corridor values, Glossy Black
Cockatoo habitat values, scenic amenity values and water quality protection function. All known Koala
habitat and Glossy Black Cockatoo trees shall be protected unless specific approval is provided by
Council. All native trees and vegetation must not be removed, pruned, lopped, damaged or otherwise
adversely affected without written approval from Council’s Manager – Environmental Services.

Control burning is not an appropriate means of fire fuel reduction in the narrow areas of restored
bushland adjacent to residential areas. Therefore, fuel reduction in these areas will continue to be
undertaken by hand. The fire fuel load shall not exceed 10 tonnes/ha.

If required, additional planting within the fuel control areas must be fire retardant plants. A list of suitable
species is provided in Appendix 1 and comprises primarily low growing plants that will limit the
development of a vertical fuel load.

As per the ERP (C&B Group, 2005), the following specific task are to be undertaken within the
POSCWP:

    •   Manual removal of fuel load (Dead wood) and excessive leaf litter adjacent (5-10m) to the
        development boundary;

    •   Undertake weed control / removal to avoid disturbance where possible in steep area (identified
        by the restoration ecologist);

    •   Weed removal/control to recreate natural environment and allow light penetration;

    •   Placement of mulch in steep areas; and,

    •   Use of watering systems that enhance fire protection.

Manual fuel reduction in the covenant area must be completed annually and prior to the onset of the
annual fire danger season, i.e. before September. The bushfire management specialist will advise the
best way to treat the surface and near-surface layers to achieve a forest fuel load of < 10 t/ha in their
annual fuel reduction report following a site assessment. As mentioned earlier, site --specific events will
influence the treatment required, e.g. fallen trees, proliferation of weed species, nest building by brush-
turkeys, surface water runoff, etc.

The fuel reduction performance objectives within the covenant area are:

    •   treatment of weed species; and

    •   combined surface and near surface fuel load are < 10 t/ha.

The fuel reduction performance objectives will be achieved by:

    •   treatment of weeds in accordance with ERP (C&B Group, 2005); and

    •   undertaking fuel reduction works in accordance with the bushfire management specialist’s
        annual fuel reduction report.



                                                       PR22034_BIK_Settlers Cove Covenant E             Page 5