Bushfire Risk Management and how it affects Revegetation Design

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Bushfire Risk Management and how it affects Revegetation Design"

Kory Wilkins
5 years ago
Views:

1 Bushfire Risk Management and how it affects Revegetation Design Town Planning Management Engineering Geoffrey Lush Dr Markus Mikli

2 INTRODUCTION This is a snapshot of current bushfire / landscape issues. Highlighting proposed policy and regulatory changes. There are many views on suitable fire management measures. Discussing existing measures as required to be applied to developments. Offers some revegetation approaches that comply with guidelines.

3 Two current policy initiatives are: State Planning SPP 3.7 Planning for Bushfire Risk Management; and Planning and Development (Bushfire Risk Management) Regulations 2014

4 State Planning Policy 3.7 Highest order planning document. Public advertising now closed. Includes Management Guidelines and Bushfire Protection Criteria. Bushfire Protection Criteria update existing Planning for Bushfire Protection Guidelines.

5 Bushfire Regulations Apply to all Planning Schemes in the State. Operate in conjunction with the State Bushfire Prone Mapping. Used to trigger application of AS3959 construction standards. Require planning approvals for dwellings in extreme hazard areas. Effective from May 2015.

6 Integration of Bushfire Management Bushfire management plans are used to assess subdivision design against the Bushfire Protection Criteria. Has often been done at the end of the planning process as a condition of subdivision. The SPP promotes that fire management now be addressed at the start of the planning process. Subdivision Form 1A to be altered. Need to make assumptions regarding revegetation and landscaping.

7 Integration of Bushfire Management Traditional fire management measures promote the physical separation of the development and the hazard. This can result in reduced amenity. Need for better management of the development interface.

8 Integration of Bushfire Management The most common issue is insufficient separation between vegetation and development. The minimum separation distance will normally be 20m being the building protection zone. On the development interface the subdivision road is often used.

9 Vegetation Classification The Bushfire Regulations / AS3959 requires the classification of vegetation within developments. Applies to any vegetation more than 2,500sqm and 20m width (canopy). Applies to landscaping, revegetation buffers and existing vegetation.

Accreditation BAL assessments, hazard assessments and preparation of bushfire management plans are to be done by qualified bushfire consultants.

10 Accreditation BAL assessments, hazard assessments and preparation of bushfire management plans are to be done by qualified bushfire consultants. The Fire Protection Association Australia (FPA Australia) is the peak technical and educational fire safety organisation in Australia. It has developed the Bushfire Planning and Design (BPAD) Accreditation Scheme which is proposed to be adopted in Western Australia.

11 Current Issues Provision of low fuel zone between vegetation and development. Building protection zone versus BAL setbacks. Confusion between management specifications for hazard separation zone versus BAL setbacks. Requirement for 3m firebreaks on lots/reserves of more than 0.5 hectares. Debate over what constitutes maintained parks and reserves and low threat vegetation.

12 Tree Spacings

13 Shrub Spacings

14 Various Plant Size Spacings

15 How BMPs Affect Reveg Design Revegetation Planners need to include a Bushfire Management Plan (BMP) Building Protection Zones (BPZ) and Hazard Protection Zones <100m (HSZ) Strategic firebreaks Water supply Multiple Access for fire response Includes Maintenance Need Bushfire Attack Level assessments (BALs).

16 Revegetation Approaches How to meet revegetation needs while limiting fuel load (e.g. ecological/ social functions, number of plants). Maximise size of body of revegetation area, taking into account BPZs and HSZs. Use firebreaks and physical buffers (e.g. roads). Innovation needed in revegetating HSZs and BPZs. Consider alternative plantings, not a native design.

18 Revegetation Area Size and Shape Similar to edge effects Account for amount of HSZs Larger and rounder the area, the more area unrestricted for revegetation Longer and thinner the area, the more restricted revegetation

21 Revegetation Location Take into account surrounding land Liaise with Planners for best outcome

24 HSZ and BPZ Plant Density and Size Question purpose of revegetation to determine whether plant size or numbers is important Large Plants reduce plant numbers High numbers reduce plant size

28 Building Protection Zone Heavy revegetation restrictions on size and numbers Almost impossible for conventional revegetation Question revegetation purpose Need to consider non-traditional revegetation (e.g. xerophytic landscaping, exotic fire retardant plants)

29 Conclusion New bushfire planning guidelines will severely restrict revegetation planning in many projects. Revegetation Plans need to be integrated with BMPs. Much innovation now required to comply with new guidelines. Always question purpose of revegetation. Liaison with DFES and Planners needed.

Amendments to the Protected Plants Legislative Framework under the Nature Conservation Act 1992

Amendments to the Protected Plants Legislative Framework under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 Protected plants overview: Protected plants are regulated under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 and subordinate