Beyond the Edge: Australia's First National Peri-Urban Conference La Trobe University Oct 2013

1. What’s so scary
about planning for
bushfire?
Workshop
October 2013

2. Who are we to talk about bushfire?
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3. What is the point?
• Strategically and economically it makes sense
• Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission
• State Planning Policy Framework
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4. What is the point?
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5. Bushfire behaviour 101
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6. 6

7. Factors affecting bushfire behaviour
• Vegetation (type and structure)
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8. Factors affecting bushfire behaviour
• Topography (steep v flat)
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9. 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
Semi Managed
Fuel
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10. Scary and unfamiliar terminology
Forms of bushfire attack
• Ember attack
• Radiant heat
• Direct flame contact
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11. Can you make some judgements?
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12. 12

13. 13

14. 14

15. 15

16. So why do you think it is scary?

17. • The maps don’t give the answer
• It is not like a flood or native vegetation
• Comparing unlike things
• Subjective judgements about risk acceptance

18. 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?
Risk Assessment
Acceptable
Not Acceptable
PANEL

19. 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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20. Information
Establish context
• Collate information regarding the site and
surrounds:
• Locality and site description (aerials and plans)
• Bushfire hazard information
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•
•
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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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21. 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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22. Information
Qualitative judgement/risk assessment
• For sites where development needs to be carefully
considered, additional information is required:
• Landscape scale assessment
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•
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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:
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•
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More information on the proposal (vulnerability)
Comments from Integrated Fire Management Planning/
Emergency Management
Vegetation controls/management
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23. Case Study
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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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24. ‘CREATING A
SAFER
COMMUNITY’
For more information visit
www.cfa.vic.gov.au