Bushfire Hazard Assessment and Management
Our team can accurately assess the bushfire risk of a property and recommend appropriate management strategies to reduce the overall risk for a future development project.
Our services in Bushfire Hazards:
Our years of experience and team of of experts ensure that all bushfire hazard issues are identified and addressed for any existing or future development. Our services include the following:
Bushfire Hazard Assessment
A bushfire risk is an important factor in any new development and our detailed assessments can identify any bushfire hazard to allow a proper management plan to be implemented.
Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) Assessment
The Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) is an essential number to understand when building a new property. Our reporting will ensure the lowest rating possible for your new build.
Code Responses
We can provide detailed code responses for development applications that address both local council planning scheme codes and the State Planning Policy (SPP) codes.
Bushfire Hazard Management
Our detailed bushfire management plans will ensure the safest outcome possible when it comes to bushfire risk.
reduce your risk to a bushfire hazard today!
Contact us to learn how you can reduce the bushfire risk of your project or your family home! Have some questions about a bushfire hazard? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
BUSHFIRE HAZARD ASSESSMENT
Expert advice for bushfire hazard assessment and management
Our years of experience and team of of experts ensure that all bushfire hazard issues are identified and addressed for any existing or future development. Contact our office now to see how we can also calculate your Bushfire Attack Level (BAL).
FAQs
How do know if my house is at risk to a bushfire hazard
Most Council and State Governments have interactive mapping where you can search your site and see if there are any bushfire overlays that affect your property. For example, you could use the SPP mapping (State-Planning Policy).
What bushfire management techniques are there?
Building design is key in mitigating bushfire hazard. In particular, ensuring that appropriate setbacks between buildings and fire-hazardous vegetation and appropriate building specifications for the Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) acting on the building footprint are key.
Ongoing management of asset protection zones and firebreaks/trails is also important in managing fire risk.
All Queenslanders should be familiar with the official Bushfire Warnings system and have a completed Bushfire Survival Plan. Print-ready guides for preparing a Bushfire Survival Plan and to assist in the interpretation of the official Bushfire Warnings system are available for download from the Queenlsand Fire and Emergency Services website – https://www.qfes.qld.gov.au/prepare/bushfires
There are three formal Bushfire Warning levels:
Advice
Monitor conditions and review your bushfire survival plan.
Watch and act
Conditions are changing. Start taking action and follow your bushfire survival plan.
Emergency Warnings
You are in danger. Act on your bushfire survival plan now.
What is a Bushfire Attack Level (BAL)?
A Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) is method of describing the nature of a building’s potential exposure to ember attack, radiant heat and direct flame contact. It’s measured in increments of radiant heat (expressed in kilowatts/m2). Essentially a BAL assessment quantifies the severity of radiant heat acting on a building or building pad depending on its setback from fire-hazardous vegetation. A BAL (rating) is used in development planning and construction as the basis for establishing the requirements for construction (under the Australian Standard AS 3959-2009 Construction of Buildings in Bushfire Prone Areas) to improve resilience of building elements to bushfire attack.
How can I avoid a bushfire hazard?
Bushfire is a natural part of the Australian landscape, so it cannot be avoided in all cases. You can check Council planning overlays and State Government mapping to identify whether property is within a designated bushfire hazard area. On going management of property as per an approved bushfire management plan can help to greatly reduce the extent of hazard to property.
Can I clear trees for bushfire hazard reduction?
Regulatory requirements around vegetation removal for bushfire hazard reduction purposes vary depending on the Local Government area that the given property is in. As a general rule, clearing exemptions occur for the inner protection zone (often 10m) around an approved inhabited dwelling and for ongoing maintenance of existing fire breaks and trails. We strongly suggest that you check local area requirements with Council before clearing. Note that many Local Councils have vegetation management fact sheets on their website.
Who can help determine a bushfire risk?
Bushfire Risk to property can be assessed by characterization of surrounding hazardous vegetation as well as abiotic features such as slope and aspect. New Ground can undertake a bushfire risk (hazard) assessment for your property.
What happens to animals in a bushfire?
While bushfire is a natural and crucial aspect of many Australian ecosystems, it can be devastating for animal populations. For example, between August 2019 and March 2020,
12.6 million hectares burnt on the eastern side of Australia. It has been estimated that up to 80% of koalas were lost from some areas during the 2019-2020 “Black Summer” bushfires (Beale et al., 2022).
Who to call when there is a bushfire?
Contact emergency services (000) should you see a bushfire.
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