Bushfire

North Coast Environmental Services has over 20 years combined experience undertaking Bushfire Hazard Assessments, Bushfire Management Plans, Ecological Fire Management Plans and Bushfire Attack Level Assessments under AS3959-2009 for properties and developments throughout Queensland. Our typical assessment catchment focuses on South East Queensland where we service small to large scale private and public-sector development projects as well as non-development related conservation projects.

Some notable recent projects include the Master Fire Management Plan for Avid’s 5000+ homes Harmony Estate in Area A of the Palmview Structure Plan Area, the Master Fire Management Plan for PEET Developments residential estate in Area B of the Palmview Structure Plan Area, the Threatened Species Ecological Fire Management Plan for Stockland’s Brightwater translocation project and the Aussie World Redevelopment Master Plan.

Our detailed knowledge of bushfire science, regional vegetation types and distribution, and bushfire weather conditions offers our clientele access to high level hazard assessment and risk mitigation advice. This ensures our client’s assets are afforded an appropriate level of protection from bushfire impact and regulatory approvals are granted in a timely manner.

All bushfire hazard assessments and management plans undertaken by North Coast Environmental Services are completed in accordance with current industry best practise methodologies and guidelines. The current 2018 Queensland benchmark hazard assessment methodology comprises:

• A new methodology for State-wide mapping of bushfire prone areas in Queensland (Leonard et al., 2014). This methodology was adopted in the current Queensland State Interest Technical Manual – Natural Hazards, Risk and Resilience A ‘fit for purpose’ approach in undertaking natural hazard studies and risk assessment, which supports the State Planning Policy—state interest guideline Natural hazards, risk and resilience April 2016.

AS3959-2009 Bushfire Attack Level Assessments

Australian Standard 3959 (2009) Construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas provides minimum construction requirements for new dwellings and dwelling extensions in designated bushfire prone areas. The construction requirements are intended to improve the performance of buildings subjected to burning debris, radiant heat or flame contact. Buildings in designated bushfire prone areas must be built to the BAL construction standard relevant to the building site as identified by the Australian Standard 3959 (2009).

North Coast Environmental Services offers BAL assessments using either the Method 1 simplified procedure or the Method 2 normative procedure. The Method 2 approach offers a more detailed analysis of site parameters and increased confidence in the BAL acting on a dwelling. This is advantageous where a more specific site result is required or where site conditions vary from the available input parameters used in the Method 1 procedure. Method 2 would be relevant where site fuel loads are not consistent with the fuel loads prescribed for the relevant vegetation types in the Standard (i.e. as a result of modified site conditions or past burning practices), and or where variable slopes are present.