ENGINEERING SECTION

ATTACHMENT B

ES - BURGESS BEACH, BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN 2013

ORDINARY MEETING

25 FEBRUARY 2014

Suppression Strategies In the event of a fire breaking out in or near the reserves, the following actions should be carried out by the Rural Fire Service depending on the

current and forecast Fire Danger Rating (FDR)*.

Current FDR* Forecast FDR* Action

Low – Mod Low – Mod

As far as possible, undertake indirect, parallel or direct attack along existing control lines.

Identify and survey backup control lines.

Low – Mod = > High

Undertake indirect, parallel or direct attack to minimise the time taken to contain the fire.

Construct new control lines if necessary to minimise the time to contain the fire.

Identify and survey backup control lines.

High All

Undertake indirect attack along existing or newly constructed control lines.

Secure and deepen control lines along the next predicted downwind side of the fire.

Identify and survey backup control lines.

All All

Ensure there is sufficient time to secure control lines before the fire gets to them.

If there is insufficient time to secure control lines, fall back to the next potential control line.

As far as possible, implement threatened species and cultural heritage management guidelines.

*Fire Danger Ratings (FDR) are determined daily for NSW Fire Areas by the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) and can be found on the RFS web page: http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/dsp_more_info_latest.cfm?CON_ID=1854

Contact Information Agency Position/Location Phone Fire and Rescue NSW Forster 6554 6096

NSW Rural Fire Service 24 hours 1800 679 737

Great Lakes Rural Fire District 6555 5782

Sydney Water 24 hour Service & Emergency Contact 13 20 90

State Emergency Service 24 hour Emergency Contact 13 25 00

Police Manning-Great Lakes Local Area Command 6555 1299

Ambulance Emergency 000

Hospital Bulahdelah 4987 9900

Council Great Lakes Council 6591 7222

Fire Season Information

Wildfires The statutory bushfire season occurs between 1st October and 31st March. This may be extended if weather conditions lead to increased fire danger outside of this period.

Prescribed Burning Prescribed burning in the Great Lakes area is normally undertaken in Spring through to Autumn.

Threatened Flora Fire Ecology* Name Fire Ecology

Cynanchum elegans White-flowered Wax Plant

(Endangered)

Restricted to eastern NSW usually on the edge of dry rainforest vegetation.

Fire ecology unknown

*Species found within study area Reference: Office of Environment and Heritage, Threatened Species Website.

Endangered Ecological Communities Fire Ecology

Community Fire Ecology

Littoral Rainforest No fire

No slashing, trittering or tree removal Reference: RFS 2006

Vegetation Communities Present On-site

Vegetation Formation Vegetation Communities within Formation

Littoral Rainforest

Myrtle

Fig-Giant Stinger/Myrtle

Tuckeroo

Reference: Great Lakes Council 2006, 2003

Vegetation Communities and Biodiversity Thresholds

Vegetation Community Biodiversity Thresholds

Littoral Rainforest Fire should be avoided.

Reference: NPWS 2003

Fire Management Zones

Asset Protection

Zones

The objective of APZs is the protection of human life and property.

Zone Name

Action Responsible

All Asset Protection

Zones

A 20m APZ is recommended. APZ widths may be adjusted where natural features provide logical boundaries.

APZs start at the building line and extend towards the hazard.

Pruning of trees permissible. 75% of original canopy cover must be retained.

On slopes less than 18 degrees, tree removal is permitted provided the root structure is undisturbed.

On slopes over 18 degrees, at least 90% ground cover must be maintained.

Use handheld tools and machinery only. No slashing, ploughing, grading, dozing or tree removal.

Implement the threatened species management strategies specified in the Operational Guidelines table as required.

See supporting document ‘Burgess Road Foreshore Bushfire Management Plan’ (ELA 2013) for detailed actions.

Great Lakes Council and Private Land

Holders

Strategic Fire Advantage

Zones

The objective of SFAZs is to reduce fire intensity across larger areas and complement APZs where these do not provide adequate protection. Adherence to guidelines for biodiversity will take

precedence where practical.

Zone Name

Action Responsible

No SFAZ identified

Land Management

Zones

The objective of LMZs is to conserve biodiversity and protect cultural and historic heritage.

Manage fire consistent with fire thresholds.

Zone Name

Action Responsible

No LMZ identified

Note: Given the low risk and environmental constraints the site, active mitigation methods should be considered in combination with the passive protection measures identified above. A hazard reduction certificate or approval by Council is required before any vegetation removal or pruning more than 10% of any tree is undertaken.

Schedule of Works Action Year Responsible

Inspect asset protection zones on western side of Burgess Road and maintain as required

Yearly and maintain as required

Private Land Holders

Inspect asset protection zones on eastern side of Burgess Road and maintain as required

Yearly and maintain as required

Great Lakes Council

Update this plan 2018 and every 5 years

Monitoring of APZ and hazard mitigation measures on private land

Yearly NSW RFS

Consider the findings of this Bush Fire Management Plan when updating the Great Lakes Bush Fire Management Plan

2013 Great Lakes Bush Fire Management Committee

Adopt a programme to educate the local community on prevention, preparation and emergency planning for bushfire events

2014

© Eco Logical Australia Pty. Ltd. Maps are not guaranteed to be free from error or omission. Eco Logical Australia Pty. Ltd. and it’s employees disclaim liability for any act done on the information contained within map(s) and any consequence of such acts or omissions.

Prepared By: MW Approved By: LS Status: FINAL Date: 7/8/2013

Datum: Geocentric Datum of Australia 1994 Projection: MGA Zone 56

Burgess Beach, Forster Bushfire Management Plan

2013

References

Great Lakes Council (2003). Great Lakes Council Vegetation Strategy: Eastern Portion. Draft for Public Display. Great Lakes Council (2004). Bushfire Plan of Management, Burgess Beach Great Lakes Council (2006). Plan of Management No. 5: Natural Areas Burgess Road Foreshore. National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) (2003). Guidelines for Ecologically Sustainable Fire Management NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) (2006a). Planning for Bushfire Protection. A Guide for Councils, Planners, Fire Authorities and Developers. NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) (2006b). Bushfire Environment Assessment Code for Asset Protection and Strate-gic Fire Advantage Zones.

Emergency Response and Risk Assessment

Fire Ecology

Fire Management

Terrain and Bushfire Hazard

Burgess Beach Environment and Bushfire Management Zone

Elevation and Vegetation Profiles

Vertical exaggeration for all profiles is approximately 3.25

Burgess Beach Terrain Model and Visualisation

Burgess Beach Bushfire Risk Assessment

Asset Type Asset Sub-

Type Asset Name

Likelihood Consequence Risk

Human Settlement

Residential Burgess Beach

Unlikely Moderate LOW

Notes:

A. Vertical exaggeration = 1.16

B. See ‘Burgess Beach Environment and Bushfire Management Zone’ Map for details of symbology

Profile A—A’

Profile B—B’

Profile C—C’

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Distance from Shore (m)

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