bushfires – safety to social responsibility denis sweeney

Bushfires Safety to Social Responsibility Denis Sweeney

Agenda 1. The bushfire phenomenon 2. Who is responsible for what 3. Social responsibility 4. Environmental plans 5. A bit of history 6. What are the penalties 7. A case history 8. Suggested bushfire response 9. Points for discussion 2 | Brisbane | 19 March 2013

The Bushfire Phenomenon there must be fuel available to burn there must be sufficient heat to cause and maintain ignition Heat can come from as simple as a match / cigarette butt or dramatic as lightning strike 3 | Brisbane | 19 March 2013 there must be sufficient oxygen to sustain combustion The oxygen required for combustion is provided by the atmosphere and is constantly being replenished by the winds, either created by the fire itself, or by the atmospheric winds Higher winds mean more oxygen and more intense flames For a bushfire to start and to be sustained, three things are needed:

The responsibility of landowners (firebreaks / no firebreaks) Northern Territory (no professional fire service) The basic principle for fire management established in the Act is that responsibility for bushfire management rests with the landholder Western Australia Landholders are regarded as primarily responsible for fire management activities New South Wales Property owners must comply with a direction from the NSW Rural Fire Service to carry out bushfire reduction works South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and Queensland The occupier of any land is responsible for reporting any unauthorised fire Australian Capital Territory Landholders must take all reasonable steps to prevent and prohibit the outbreak and spread of fire 5 | Brisbane | 19 March 2013

The responsibility of the explorer Northern Territory Obligation to fight fire as much as possible, then call 000 and leave area Basic fire fighting equipment should be available (fire extinguishers) in vehicles NT Work Safe needs to be notified ASAP on 1800 019 115 and filling out form FM137 Queensland No legislation on specific equipment requirements Mandatory risk assessment on every worksite and fire extinguishing equipment at discretion of company Every vehicle should have fire extinguishers for containment of spot fires If fire out of control, retreat from area and call 000 South Australia There used to be a regulation on equipment needed on site, but it has been removed Obligations are to keep an updated Emergency Management Plan The suggestion is to check the bushfire risk in the area daily and plan accordingly If bushfire occurs, try to put it out with fire extinguishers, then leave area if it gets out of control 6 | Brisbane | 19 March 2013

Social responsibility when exploring 8 | Community Outreach Capacity Building Non-core landowner side Longer term business development as well as contributing to development HSE Ethics & Standards Business Critical Serving short and medium term business needs as well as contributing to development Sample portfolio of mitigation and prevention measures addressing social hazards Community Economic Content Brisbane | 19 March 2013

Code of Conduct for Mineral Explorers in the Northern Territory of Australia * The Code recognises that mineral activity is a temporary land use and therefore its goal is to keep land available to multiple land users, particularly for the future. Exploration activities can occur simultaneously on common ground without undue interference to other users provided that the needs of each group are recognised, understood and respected. 7.3 Bush Fires and fire Control Fire legislation given by the NT Police, fire and emergency Services and the Northern Territory Bushfires Council must be followed precisely Minimise fire risk by placing combustible material within cleared areas Burning off is strongly discouraged but, if necessary may be permitted with the prior permission of the landowner and the authorities In the event of a bush fire on the pastoral property, all possible assistance should be given to the landowner All explorer vehicles should carry an appropriate extinguisher and in high-risk areas, field vehicles should carry backpacks as well 9 | Brisbane | 19 March 2013 * Northern Territory Minerals Council seismic surveys listed in code

Order of importance 10 | Brisbane | 19 March 2013 1. People 2. Assets 3. Environment

Environmental plans Northern Territory DEPARTMENT OF MINES AND ENERGY - Mineral Titles Act and Regulations RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE LAND OWNER There is a general expectation that explorers will conduct themselves in a professional manner and the Department strongly encourages consultation between the holder and the landowner to ensure a harmonious relationship between the parties. ENVIRONMENTAL PLAN (EP) REQUIREMENTS 4. Environment Description This section should: Include the key values and sensitive aspects of the environment; whether within, or immediately close to, the project activity: Sacred and Cultural Heritage sites Protected areas/Conservation Areas Rare or endangered flora and fauna Areas of significant habitat Fire regime 12 | Brisbane | 19 March 2013

1993199419951996 1997 1998 A bit of history* 14 | 19992000200120022003200420052006200720082009 2010 20112012 2013 YTD Geoscience Australia Brisbane | 19 March 2013 * The Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre (Bushfire CRC)

NT Bushfires Act 2009 40 Fires not to be left (1) A person shall not leave a fire in the open which he has lit or used unless he has thoroughly extinguished it Penalty: $25 000 or imprisonment for 5 years (2) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence against subsection (1) that the defendant had, before leaving the fire, arranged with a responsible person who also used the fire to remain at the place where the fire is and not leave it unless that person has: (a) thoroughly extinguished the fire; or (b) made a similar arrangement with another responsible person who used the fire 16 | Brisbane | 19 March 2013

A case history 18 | Brisbane | 19 March 2013

Reminder of bushfire requirements There must be fuel available to burn 19 | Brisbane | 19 March 2013 There must be sufficient heat to cause and maintain ignition There must be sufficient oxygen to sustain combustion

Various outcomes when fuel, heat and oxygen meet 20 | Brisbane | 19 March 2013 10-Sept: vehicle strike ~3m2 area10-Sept: pick strike ~500m2 area 14-Sept: vehicle strike ~150m2 area11-Sept: grader strike ~0.01km2 area

Various outcomes when fuel, heat and oxygen meet 21 | Brisbane | 19 March 2013 20-Sept: Vibrator incident ~0.26km2 area 20-Sept: Lightning incident ~0.015km2 area

Alternate line preparation machinery

Suggested bushfire response Tier 1 Tier 1 is a level at which an outbreak of fire is considered at a low-medium level where the flames range up to between 1.0 to 1.5m in height (knee to waist height) and spot fire in nature At this level seismic crew personnel who have received an agreed level of fire awareness training may attempt to extinguish the fire and only if they deem it safe to do so Above dependent on wind speed and direction and advance speed of the fire Tier 2 Tier 2 is a level at which an outbreak of fire is considered at a high level where the flames range above 1.5m in height (waist height and above ) At this level seismic crew personnel must fall back from fire fighting with hand-held fire-fighting equipment and the required machinery to create firebreaks to control the fire are deployed Tier 3 Back-burning Trained and experienced bushfire fighting personnel to be in place 24 | Brisbane | 19 March 2013

Points for discussions / work group 1. Conduct assessment of required fire regime during environmental assessment (early) as opposed to project risk assessment workshops (later) Is good fire management being conducted by the landowner i.e. firebreaks in place Fuel load calculations 2. Define resources to be on crew to meet Teir-1, Teir-2 or Tier-3 situations Agree basic level of firefighting training required (Tier-1); seismic crew workers are not trained bushfire fighters Marine is legislated (OPITO) Agree on basic fire fighting equipment standard for a seismic vehicle; weight / ground clearance is a major consideration for line vehicles 3. Social responsibility Determine what response or support will / can be given should a fire start 26 | Brisbane | 19 March 2013

Thank you

bushfires – safety to social responsibility denis sweeney

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