What’s so scary

about planning for

bushfire?

Workshop

October 2013

Who are we to talk about bushfire?

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What is the point?

• Strategically and economically it makes sense

• Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission

• State Planning Policy Framework

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What is the point?

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Bushfire behaviour 101

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Factors affecting bushfire behaviour

• Vegetation (type and structure)

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Factors affecting bushfire behaviour

• Topography (steep v flat)

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Other factors to consider

• Strategic access

• Urban form that would modify the underlying vegetation (and changes bushfire behaviour)

• Look at decision guidelines at Clause 52.47-3 of the VPPs

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Semi Managed

Fuel

Scary and unfamiliar terminology

Forms of bushfire attack • Ember attack

• Radiant heat

• Direct flame contact

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Can you make some judgements?

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So why do you think it is scary?

• The maps don’t give the answer

• It is not like a flood or native vegetation

• Comparing unlike things

• Subjective judgements about risk acceptance

Overcoming our fears?

• Accept the risk exists

• Present information about the bushfire hazard to decision makers

• Form a judgment on acceptable risk – what is the residual risk?

Acceptable Not Acceptable

Risk Assessment

PANEL

Practical tools…

• In most peri-urban areas we will be considering development in areas of:

• lesser risk (direct development)

• some risk (carefully consider and make a risk judgement)

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Establish context

• Collate information regarding the site and surrounds:

• Locality and site description (aerials and plans)

• Bushfire hazard information • Bushfire Management Overlay, Bushfire Prone Area mapping

• Other Overlays – e.g. Environmental Significance Overlay

• Victorian Fire Risk Register rating

• Regional Bushfire Planning Assessment

• Fire history

• Any other relevant information

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Information

Establish context (Cont.)

• Strategic justification • Why has the location been selected?

• What other lesser risk locations were considered? If none, why?

• Is there a structure plan (or similar) providing direction?

• Does that strategic plan consider bushfire matters?

• Outline of Proposal • Conceptual plan

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Information

Qualitative judgement/risk assessment

• For sites where development needs to be carefully considered, additional information is required:

• Landscape scale assessment • Bushfire behaviour (landscape and local scale)

• Access and egress both to the site and within the site

• Proximity of the site to a settlement or township area

• Proposed bushfire protection measures

• Other information that may be necessary: • More information on the proposal (vulnerability)

• Comments from Integrated Fire Management Planning/ Emergency Management

• Vegetation controls/management 22

Information

Case Study

• Vegetation, topography and other factors?

• What are the likely bushfire risks?

• Forms of bushfire attack?

• Mitigation measures?

• Relationship with other planning objectives/ requirements?

• Residual risk – is it acceptable?

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‘CREATING A

SAFER

COMMUNITY’ For more information visit

www.cfa.vic.gov.au