JANUARYMAY 2011 2012

DraftNorthwest Northwest Region Region Strategic Strategic FireFire ManagementManagement PlanPlan

Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 1 Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment

Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan

3 Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment Fire Management Section, Parks and Wildlife Service, GPO Box 1751 Hobart Tasmania 7001

Phone: 03 6233 4622 Fax: 03 6233 3972 www.parks.tas.gov.au

© Copyright State of Tasmania, 2012

ISBN: 978-0-7246-6633-1

Title: Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan

Publisher/Place: Dept. Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment – Hobart

Publication Date: January 2012 Contents

Strategic Plan 2008–2010 Statement ...... 3

1. Strategic Fire Management Planning 4. Fire Prevention 1.1 Approach ...... 3 4.1 Context ...... 19 1.2 Project Charter ...... 3 4.2 Objective ...... 19 1.3 Objectives ...... 4 4.3 Strategies and Actions ...... 19 1.4 Development of the Strategic Fire Management Plan 5. Preparedness 1.4.1 Project Outputs ...... 4 5.1 Context ...... 27 1.4.2 Project Scope ...... 4 5.2 Objective ...... 27 1.5 Fire Management for PWS in Tasmania ...... 6 5.3 Strategies and Actions ...... 27 1.5.1 Planning Structure ...... 6 1.5.2 Strategic Objectives ...... 6 6. Fire Response 1.5.3 Fire Management Policy and Legislation ...... 7 6.1 Context ...... 29 6.2 Objective ...... 29 2. Northwest Region 6.3 Strategies and Actions ...... 29 2.1 Background...... 8 2.2 Area Description...... 8 7. Recovery – Restoration 2.3 Fire History 7.1 Context ...... 32 2.3.1 Fire Regime ...... 10 7.2 Objective ...... 32 2.3.2 Fire Frequency ...... 11 7.3 Strategies and Actions ...... 32 2.3.3 Fire Cycle ...... 11 8. Standards, Monitoring and Reporting 2.3.4 Fire Size ...... 11 8.1 Context ...... 33 2.3.5 Fire Intensity ...... 12 8.2 Objective ...... 33 2.3.6 Fire Type ...... 12 8.3 Strategies and Actions ...... 33 2.4 Fire Environment 2.4.1. Climate and Weather ...... 13 9. Resource Requirements 2.5. Values at Risk ...... 14 9.1 Management of the Strategic Fire Management Plan ...... 35 2.5.1 Constructed Values ...... 14 9.2 Implementation of the Strategic Fire Management Plan 2.5.2 Forest/Agriculture Values ...... 14 ...... 35 2.5.3 Natural Values ...... 14 10. Reference Documents ...... 36 2.6 Vegetation Type ...... 15 11. Glossary and Abbreviations ...... 37 3. Bushfire Risk Assessment Model ALL PHOTOGRAPHS BY PWS STAFF 3.1 Bushfire Risk Assessment Process ...... 15 3.2 Regional BRAM Outputs 3.2.1 Ignition Potential ...... 15 3.2.2 Suppression Capabilities ...... 15 3.2.3 Values at Risk ...... 15 3.2.4 Fire Behaviour Potential ...... 16 3.3 Bushfire Risk Analysis ...... 16

Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 1 Lists of Appendices and Maps

Figure 1: Risk Management Process Overview...... 4 Appendix 8: Fire History Northwest Region...... 51 Figure 2: Map of Council Boundaries with Southern Region...... 8 Appendix 9: Register of Un-resourced Strategies...... 52 Figure 3: Map of Lend Tenure...... 9 Appendix 10: State Area Burned in Percentage/Sensitivity...... 53 Figure 4: Statewide Total Area Burned/Decade...... 10 Figure 5A: Northwest Region – Percent Area Burn by Map 1: Constructed Values...... 54 Sensitivity Class 1980s decade...... 11 Map 2: Forest/Agriculture...... 55 Figure 5B: Northwest Region – Percent Area Burn by Map 3: Natural Values...... 56 Sensitivity Class 1990s decade...... 11 Map 4: Flammability...... 57 Figure 5C: Northwest Region – Percent Area Burn by Sensitivity Class 2000s decade...... 11 Map 5: Fuel Group...... 58 Figure 6: Northwest Region: Fire Size Distribution/Decade...... 12 Map 6: Ignition Potential...... 59 Figure 7A: Percentage of Fire Occurrence by Cause Map 7: Suppression Capabilities...... 60 in Northwest Region 1981–2010...... 12 Map 8: Values at Risk...... 61 Figure 7B: Percentage of Fire Occurrence by Cause Map 9: Fire Behaviour...... 62 in Northwest Region 2001–2010...... 12 Map 10: Likelihood...... 63 Figure 8: Lightning Caused Fires – Area Burned by Decade...... 12 Map 11: Consequence...... 64 Figure 9: Peggs Beach Conservation Area – Campfire Structure...... 20 Map 12: Final Risk Grid...... 65 Figure 10A: Neighbourhood Community – Rocky Cape...... 21 Map 13: Arthur–Pieman Conservation Area – Risk...... 66 Figure 10B: Neighbourhood Community – Arthur River...... 21 Map 13A: Arthur–Pieman Conservation Area – Values at Risk...... 67 Figure 11: Class 5 Fire Trail – Rocky Cape National Park...... 21 Map 13B: Arthur–Pieman Conservation Area – Ignition Potential...... 67 Map 13C: Arthur–Pieman Conservation Area – Suppression Table 1: Timelines of Development ...... 5 Capability...... 67 Table 2: Document of Authority or Direction...... 7 Map 13D: Arthur–Pieman Conservation Area – Fire Behaviour Table 3: Temporal Fire Distribution in Northwest Region Potential...... 67 1980–2009...... 11 Map 14: Dial Range Region Area – Risk...... 68 Table 4: Fire Danger Index Exceeds – Very High and Extreme...... 13 Map 14A: Dial Range Region Area – Values at Risk...... 69 Table 5: Fuel Groups/TASVEG Type...... 15 Map 14B: Dial Range Region Area – Fire Behaviour Potential...... 69 Table 6: Qualitative Risk Matrix...... 16 Map 15: Franklin–Gordon Wild Rivers National Park – Risk...... 70 Table 7: Major Reserve BRAM Risk Summary...... 17 Map 15A: Franklin–Gordon Wild Rivers National Park Table 8: Strategic Fire Trails...... 22 – Natural Values...... 71 Table 9: Threatened Flora Priority Areas...... 24 Map 15B: Franklin–Gordon Wild Rivers National Park Table 10: Summary of Strategies for Prevention...... 27 – Ignition Potential...... 71 Table 11: Preparedness Matrix...... 28 Map 15C: Franklin–Gordon Wild Rivers National Park – Fire Behaviour Potential...... 71 Table 12: Summary of Strategies for Preparedness...... 29 Map 16: Lake St Clair–Cradle Mtn National Park – Risk...... 72 Table 13: Suppression Strategies – Dry Sclerophyll...... 30 Map 16A: Lake St Clair–Cradle Mtn National Park – Natural Values.....73 Table 14: Suppression Strategies – Moorland Buttongrass...... 30 Map 16B: Lake St Clair–Cradle Mtn National Park – Ignition Table 15: Typical Rate of Spread for Dry Sclerophyll Forest Potential...... 73 and Moorland Buttongrass...... 31 Map 17: Mt Roland Regional Reserve – Risk...... 74 Table 16: Bushfire Management Decision Support Matrix...... 31 Map 17A: Mt Roland Regional Reserve – Values at Risk...... 75 Table 17: Summary of Strategies for Response...... 32 Map 17B: Mt Roland Regional Reserve – Ignition Potential...... 75 Table 18: Summary of Strategies for Recovery – Restoration...... 33 Map 18: Peggs Beach Conservation Area – Risk...... 76 Table 19: Summary of Strategies for Standards, Monitoring and Reporting...... 34 Map 18A: Peggs Beach Conservation Area – Constructed Values...... 77 Map 18B: Peggs Beach Conservation Area – Fire Behaviour Potential...... 77 Appendix 1: Fire Planning Framework...... 39 Map 19: Rocky Cape National Park – Risk...... 78 Appendix 2: Northwest Region Reserve Breakdown...... 40 Map 19A: Rocky Cape National Park – Likelihood...... 79 Appendix 3A: Bushfire Risk Assessment Model Flow Diagram – Ignition Potential...... 42 Map 19B: Rocky Cape National Park – Fire Behaviour Potential...... 79 Appendix 3B: Bushfire Risk Assessment Model Flow Diagram – Map 19C: Rocky Cape National Park – Ignition Potential...... 79 Suppression Capabilities...... 43 Map 20: Vale of Belvoir Conservation Area – Risk...... 80 Appendix 3C: Bushfire Risk Assessment Model Flow Diagram – Map 20A: Vale of Belvoir Conservation Area – Values at Risk...... 81 Values at Risk...... 44 Map 20B: Vale of Belvoir Conservation Area – Fire Behaviour Appendix 3D: Bushfire Risk Assessment Model Flow Diagram – Potential...... 81 Fire Behaviour Potential...... 45 Map 21: Lavinia/Seal Rocks State Reserve – Risk...... 82 Appendix 4: Consequence Table...... 46 Map 21A: Lavinia/Seal Rocks State Reserve – Values at Risk...... 83 Appendix 5: State Fire Commission Statement Policy...... 47 Map 21B: Lavinia/Seal Rocks State Reserve – Fire Behaviour Appendix 6: Asset Protection Zone – Rocky Cape...... 48 Potential...... 83 Appendix 7: Daily Fire Action Plan...... 49 Map 22: Northwest Region Fire Management Zones...... 84 Map 23: Northwest Region Fire Mitigation Priorities...... 85

2 Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 Strategic Statement 1. Strategic Fire

Appendix 8: Fire History Northwest Region...... 51 Parks and Wildlife Service Strategic Management Planning Appendix 9: Register of Un-resourced Strategies...... 52 Plan 2008–2010 Appendix 10: State Area Burned in Percentage/Sensitivity...... 53 1.1 Approach Effective bushfire management requires departmental Map 1: Constructed Values...... 54 Vision Statement commitment and expenditure of adequate resources over time. Map 2: Forest/Agriculture...... 55 To protect, present and manage, in concert with the community, The allocation of sufficient funding is always a challenge with Map 3: Natural Values...... 56 Tasmania’s unique and outstanding reserve systems for all the competing demands on government budget and the changing Map 4: Flammability...... 57 people, for all time. global economy. A balanced strategic approach is required to Map 5: Fuel Group...... 58 first determine what is at risk and what resources or actions are Map 6: Ignition Potential...... 59 required to mitigate it. Map 7: Suppression Capabilities...... 60 Mission Statement The Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS) uses a strategic risk Map 8: Values at Risk...... 61 To create and maintain a representative and world-renowned management approach to manage bushfire. Risks are identified Map 9: Fire Behaviour...... 62 reserve system. To conserve the State’s natural and cultural and assessed using a risk assessment process, and risk treatments Map 10: Likelihood...... 63 heritage while providing for sustainable use and economic are applied with the aid of a landscape zoning system. Map 11: Consequence...... 64 opportunities for the Tasmanian community. Map 12: Final Risk Grid...... 65 The Strategic Fire Management Plan will provide a strategic Map 13: Arthur–Pieman Conservation Area – Risk...... 66 approach to all facets of fire management planning. It covers Map 13A: Arthur–Pieman Conservation Area – Values at Risk...... 67 The Strategic Plan requirements for fire prevention, fire preparedness, fire responses Map 13B: Arthur–Pieman Conservation Area – Ignition Potential...... 67 The plan is set out in six core programs, with clear objectives, and fire recovery. it is intended to provide direction for the Map 13C: Arthur–Pieman Conservation Area – Suppression strategies and performance indicators. Our business is complex, development of reserve fire management strategies see( Appendix Capability...... 67 and therefore the objectives are listed according to their 1: Fire Planning Framework). The strength in the document lies with Map 13D: Arthur–Pieman Conservation Area – Fire Behaviour primary program areas; however, cross-program relationships are the wholly strategic approach across jurisdictional boundaries; Potential...... 67 acknowledged. Program five is now focused on fire management all assumptions were applied statewide, identifying statewide Map 14: Dial Range Region Area – Risk...... 68 as this area is and will continue to be one of the Parks and challenges. Map 14A: Dial Range Region Area – Values at Risk...... 69 Wildlife Service’s core responsibilities. Identifying it as a program A number of strategies identified are presently unresourced Map 14B: Dial Range Region Area – Fire Behaviour Potential...... 69 reflects the emphasis placed on the program. Map 15: Franklin–Gordon Wild Rivers National Park – Risk...... 70 and the Department’s commitment will be based on allocated resource levels. The bushfire risk is displayed and analysed to Map 15A: Franklin–Gordon Wild Rivers National Park – Natural Values...... 71 Fire Management Program Objective 5.1 indicate the contributing factors that caused the level of risk, land management authorities then can determine whether they can Map 15B: Franklin–Gordon Wild Rivers National Park To manage fire and minimise the risks of bushfires. – Ignition Potential...... 71 mitigate or accept the risk. Map 15C: Franklin–Gordon Wild Rivers National Park – Fire Behaviour Potential...... 71 Map 16: Lake St Clair–Cradle Mtn National Park – Risk...... 72 Department of Primary Industries, 1.2 Project Charter Map 16A: Lake St Clair–Cradle Mtn National Park – Natural Values.....73 Parks, Water and Environment Draft PWS is responsible for managing nearly 2.5 million hectares of Map 16B: Lake St Clair–Cradle Mtn National Park – Ignition reserved land and other Crown land. Most of this land is covered Potential...... 73 Corporate Plan 2011–2013 by flammable native vegetation, with thousands of kilometres of Map 17: Mt Roland Regional Reserve – Risk...... 74 boundaries with neighbouring private property and State forest. Map 17A: Mt Roland Regional Reserve – Values at Risk...... 75 Like all land owners, PWS has a legal obligation to keep fire on its Map 17B: Mt Roland Regional Reserve – Ignition Potential...... 75 Objective own land. Map 18: Peggs Beach Conservation Area – Risk...... 76 Map 18A: Peggs Beach Conservation Area – Constructed Values...... 77 Sustainably manage the Tasmanian National Parks and Reserve However, PWS has never undertaken a strategic assessment of Map 18B: Peggs Beach Conservation Area – Fire Behaviour system. the risk exposure in relation to bushfire, and therefore there is no Potential...... 77 logical basis for identifying priorities for works and expenditure, Map 19: Rocky Cape National Park – Risk...... 78 except at the local level. Map 19A: Rocky Cape National Park – Likelihood...... 79 Priorities The Operational Safety Audit of Fire Management within the Map 19B: Rocky Cape National Park – Fire Behaviour Potential...... 79 Minimise the risk of bushfires in national parks and reserves Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service (Ellis, 2005) recommended Map 19C: Rocky Cape National Park – Ignition Potential...... 79 and other Crown land. that PWS undertake a statewide risk assessment, and a review of Map 20: Vale of Belvoir Conservation Area – Risk...... 80 Fire Management Risk (Rawson, 2006) recommended that PWS Map 20A: Vale of Belvoir Conservation Area – Values at Risk...... 81 undertake the preparation of a strategic fire management plan Map 20B: Vale of Belvoir Conservation Area – Fire Behaviour for each region. The PWS Strategic Plan 2008–2010 includes the Potential...... 81 strategy: Develop regional strategic fire management plans. Map 21: Lavinia/Seal Rocks State Reserve – Risk...... 82 Map 21A: Lavinia/Seal Rocks State Reserve – Values at Risk...... 83 The plan has been instigated to implement recommendations Map 21B: Lavinia/Seal Rocks State Reserve – Fire Behaviour of the Ellis and Rawson reports and to address bushfire risk to Potential...... 83 land managed by PWS by developing a bushfire risk assessment Map 22: Northwest Region Fire Management Zones...... 84 method, computer-based tools to conduct the risk assessment, and Map 23: Northwest Region Fire Mitigation Priorities...... 85 a strategic fire management plan for each PWS region to mitigate the bushfire risk.

Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 3 1.3 Objectives • The project will work with relevant experts to develop flammability, fire sensitivity, value ratings, fire response and The objective of the plan is to develop a consistent approach appropriate management actions for values and assets. The to fire management planning that addresses the bushfire risk extent of these model inputs will be limited to what can be to land managed by PWS, contributes to the PWS strategic practically developed within the timeframes indicated later in plan and facilitates compliance with recommendations of this plan. the Rawson review of fire management risk and the Ellis operational safety audit by: • The project will conduct a landscape scale risk assessment. This will include land of all tenure. • developing and implementing a fire management planning framework for PWS and strategic fire management plans for each region; Figure 1: Risk Management Process Overview • developing a risk management system to assess, identify, prioritise and manage the risk posed by bushfire hazard to or in relation to land managed by PWS and its values; • developing and implementing operational strategies and CONTEXT: Manage fire and tactics for prevention, preparedness, response and minimise the risk of bushfires recovery at a regional level that take into account environmental and cultural heritage requirements; and • effectively involving the public and other stakeholders in the development of the PWS bushfire risk management system. IDENTIFY RISKS: Ignition Potential, Suppression COMMUNICATE MONITOR Capabilities, Fire Behaviour and CONSULT: and REVIEW: Potential, Stakeholder Performance 1.4 Development of the Values at Risk Strategic Fire Management Committee, Indicators, AFAC Newsletter, Landscape Plan Community Performance Forums Measures 1.4.1 Project Outputs ANALYSE RISK: Bushfire • Strategic fire management objectives for land Risk Assessment Model managed by PWS. • GIS tools and computer models to conduct bushfire risk assessments. • A dynamic AS/NZS ISO 31000:2009 consistent landscape scale bushfire risk assessment of land managed by PWS. EVALUATE RISK: Reserve • A strategic fire management zoning system and map for Assessment analysis review land managed by PWS. • A strategic fire management plan for each region of PWS. • Community and other stakeholder satisfaction with the planning process and strategic plan. • Delivery to and facilitation of uptake of the plan by TREAT RISK: each region and provide information to the relevant Prevention – Education, stakeholders. Enforcement, Engineering, Fire Management Zones, Planned Burning, Asset 1.4.2 Project Scope Protection Methodology • The project will develop a bushfire risk assessment process Preparedness – Fire that will be consistent with the approach of the Australian Action Plan Standard AS/NZS ISO 31000:2009 (see Figure 1). Response – Bushfire • The project will develop GIS and other computer tools to Management Decision facilitate a landscape scale bushfire risk assessment based Support Matrix on Canadian and Western Australia models.

4 Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 • The project will develop a map of strategic fire Table 1: Timelines of Development (continued) management zones for land for which PWS has management responsibility as treatment zones for risk Date Task management. This includes land reserved under the Nature Ignition Potential layer complete June 15 Conservation Act 2002 and managed under the National Suppression Capabilities layer complete June 30 Parks and Reserves Management Act 2002, Crown land June/August/08 Values at Risk layer complete July 15 and public reserves. This does not include private property, Fire Behaviour Potential layer complete private property subject to a conservation covenant under August 1 the Nature Conservation Act 2002, State forest or forest Stakeholder Committee support for Bushfire Risk 07/07/08 reserves, land owned or managed by local councils, land Assessment Model owned or managed by Government business enterprises Support for SFMP project from Tasmania National such as Transend, Aurora or Hydro Tasmania, land owned or 14/07/08 managed by the Commonwealth, land owned or managed Parks Association by infrastructure providers such as telecommunications August/08 Commence Northern Region SFMP companies, gas companies and the like, or reserved land Draft Bushfire Risk Assessment threat map September/08 subject to a lease for exclusive use. produced

• The project will develop management prescriptions for Commencement of Interface development for October/08 strategic fire management zones as treatments for risk Bushfire Risk Assessment Model (BRAM) management. October – Q/A testing of beta version of interface model December/08

Approach 06/10/08 PWS endorsement for BRAM model

The Strategic Fire Management Plan process for PWS has 30/12/08 Draft Northern Region SFMP complete been developed progressively since June 2007 (see Table 1). An in-depth review of interstate and international agencies was 15/01/09 BRAM Phase 1 complete undertaken to see what was being presently being utilised in Draft Northern Region SFMP distributed for 25/05/09 the field. It was then determined that before PWS developed a review by stakeholders fire management strategy it must first determine where and if a risk actually existed. Work commenced on the development 25/05/09 Commence work on Southern Region SFMP of a Bushfire Risk Assessment Model (BRAM version 1) and the 01/06/09 Automation review of BRAM subsequent enhancement with BRAM V2. The other fire agencies (Tasmania Fire Service, Forestry Tasmania) indicated that there 01/06/09 Solicit Data for stakeholders was a need for a statewide seamless output, therefore entire 01/09/09 Automation complete on BRAM V2 state values have been collected where possible, regardless of tenure. Commitments to provide for annual updates have been 09/12/09 Receipt and input of data for BRAM V2 made by the various suppliers of data. 10/12/09 Northern Region SFMP endorsed by GM

01/02/10 BRAM V2 Initial Run

Table 1: Timelines of Development 31/05/10 Draft of Southern Region SFMP

Date Task 15/05/10 Commence work on BRAM V3 Automation of Fire Management Zoning in 01/06/07 Development of Project Plan, Charter and Scope 01/06/10 BRAM V2 18/06/07 Development of Communication Plan 07/07/10 Re-evaluation of BRAM V2 value scores 30/06/07 PWS Executive Approval of Project Plan Commence Northwest Strategic Fire Management 31/08/10 10/07/07 Draft Project Objectives Plan

15/08/07 Research Risk Assessment Models 10/09/10 Identification of treatable areas with APZ’s

November/ Formation of Steering, Stakeholder Committees 15/10/10 Re-run of BRAM V2 with adjusted scores December 07 and Working Groups 15/06/11 Southern Region SFMP endorsed by GM 15/12/07 GM Approval of Objectives 15/07/11 Draft of NW Region SFMP 01/01/08 Commence data collection for Risk Model BRAM V3 Operational model concept draft 15/12/11 15/02/08 Research defining Fire Management Zones complete

IT Consultant commencing development of 10/01/12 NW Region SFMP final plan complete 22/02/08 Context layers 15/01/12 Re-run of BRAM V2 with new fuel group data

Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 5 On completion of the strategic fire management planning 1.5 Fire Management for the Parks project, the process in which planned burns and bushfires will and Wildlife Service in Tasmania be managed on PWS-managed land will be a function of the available funding and the implementation of the entire fire management planning framework. 1.5.1 Planning Structure The success of the strategic fire management plans will be Planning for fire management in the Parks and Wildlife Service dependent on these measures being implemented over a will operate in a multi-tiered structure (see Appendix 1: Fire number of years and will not be measurable during the life of Planning Framework): this project (ie next two years). First tier will be at the State level, and will address legislation, code of practices and policy and procedure requirements. Consultation Second tier will be at the regional level, involving the A communication plan was developed early on in the process. development of regional strategic fire management plans, The objectives of this communication plan were to: regional reserve fire management strategies, annual planned burn programs, fire works plans and fire emergency response • raise community and other stakeholder awareness of plans. the strategic fire management planning project through meetings and the distribution of a newsletter; Third tier will be at the field centre level, and will address daily prevention preparedness, and the development of individual • facilitate community and other stakeholder consultation, works plans for specific areas of interest. providing a method to capture local knowledge and review community concerns; • keep interested stakeholders informed and involved during 1.5.2 Strategic Objectives the process; and PWS has the following responsibilities in relation to bushfire: • reduce possible misinformation about the project • to protect people – visitors and neighbours; objectives, outputs and tenure of land covered by the • to protect values on neighbouring properties from fires strategic fire management plan. that spread from reserved land and Crown land; This was achieved by the development of various working • to protect the conservation values of reserves, particularly groups with the identification, categorisation of stakeholders fire-sensitive vegetation and species for which bushfire is a and target groups being developed. The message was threat; disseminated to the various audiences by the use of an information newsletter, intranet and internet sites. • to provide a safe work environment for staff and fire- fighters from other agencies engaged in fire suppression The stakeholder committees consisted of membership from operations on reserved land. the following organisations: Historically, the focus of fire management statewide has been Parks and Wildlife Service fire suppression. Current practices need to shift and take Biodiversity Conservation Branch, DPIPWE into consideration both the positive and negative impacts of bushfires. Natural and planned fires remove fuel accumulation, Tasmania Fire Service therefore resulting in less intense and less severe bushfires. Forestry Tasmania Natural fire cycles will differ in frequency and intensity, depending on geographic location. Forest Industries Association of Tasmania The interruption of the natural cycle results in a buildup of State Emergency Service fuels, with the potential to create larger fires and higher fire Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association intensities than may have occurred naturally. A strategic and adaptive approach will recognise the need to allow natural fire Local Government Association of Tasmania regimes to resume in the landscape where feasible. Department of Premier and Cabinet The objective of the development of the Strategic Fire Natural Resource Management North Management Plan for PWS is to present an opportunity to change from existing fire management practices in order to Natural Resource Management South develop a landscape approach strategy that minimises human Cradle Coast Natural Resource Management manipulation and suppression activities while achieving key goals. Tasmanian Aboriginal Land and Sea Council

6 Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 To assist in the implementation, fire management will follow a Table 2: Document of Authority or Direction two-part approach: (continued) First, with Bushfire Management through the development and implementation of fire management zone PWS Fire Management Subject protocols, this will provide direction for assessing, actioning Policies and prioritising bushfire within each identified zone (see Fire Management Zones, page 25). PR-057 Fire duties availability and recall Second, in the application of a Planned Fire component, the introduction of various sizes, arrangements and intensities P-048 Fire and developments (buildings) of fire can achieve a variety of management objectives (see Planned Fire Strategy, page 23). The various strategic burns will P-049 Fire fighter fitness policy assist in the implementation of the bushfire management zone P-050 Fire management policy protocols.

P-052 Planned burning 1.5.3 Fire Management Policy and Legislation PR-019 Bushfire database reporting procedures The authority and direction for the Parks and Wildlife Service in regard to fire management comes from legislation and PR-045 Fire duty officer procedures departmental policy (see Table 2). The fire management section is presently reviewing and updating policies as required, and PR-046 Inexperience fire fighters on the fire ground in future will look at amendments to the existing legislation to assist in the management of fire protection. Fire fighter personal protective equipment PR-047 procedures Table 2: Document of Authority or Direction PR-048 Bushfire response procedures

Legislation Relevant Section PR-052 Vehicle emergency lights procedures

Fire Services Act 1979 Section 45 P-055 Fire planning policy

National Parks and Reserve Section 30 and 88A PR-100 Fire vehicle specifications Management Act 2002 SWP-010 Fire fatigue management Crown Lands Act 1976 G - 101 Pws incident management teams Threatened Species Protection Act 1995

Aboriginal Relics Act 1975

Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

Forest Practices Act 1985

State Coastal Policy 1996

Water Management Act 1999/ State Policy on Water Quality Management 1997

Note: only the most relevant legislation is listed here.

Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 7 An analysis of the extracted data will be the basis for the 2. Northwest mitigation strategies in the regional strategic fire management plans, as each region will have unique challenges and Region opportunities. The goal is to develop a process that allows systems to be in place before, during and after a bushfire to reduce loss of life, injuries, damage to environment, heritage and 2.1 Background cultural values, economic loss and social disruption. The Parks and Wildlife Service Strategic Plan identifies the need to develop regional strategic fire management plans, along with performance indicators showing that the percent and area 2.2 Area Description negatively impacted by bushfire decreases over time. The Northwest Region encompasses an area from Marrawah The Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities in the west and Devonport in the north-east, to areas south Council is in the process of developing National Landscape Fire of Strahan. It also includes the islands of King and Three Performance Indicators, and when this is complete PWS will Hummocks. Major reserves of the region include Cradle adjust its indicators to align with these. Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park, Walls of Jerusalem An initial Bushfire Risk Assessment Model (BRAM), was National Park, Southwest National Park, Arthur–Pieman developed and run for the State of Tasmania in 2008 with a Conservation Area, Central Plateau Conservation Area, Savage subsequent re-run of the model occurring at the end of 2009 River Regional Reserve and Mt Roland Regional Reserve. and 2010. Further enhancements of the BRAM regarding the One hundred and sixty nine individual land areas with a development and editing of fire management zones along with combined area of 1,090,752 hectares are managed by PWS the identification of treatable vegetation are proposed to refine Northwest Region staff (see Appendix 2: Northwest Region the power of the model to identify risk and mitigation options. Reserve Breakdown). This Parks and Wildlife Service jurisdiction incorporates twelve local government councils in part or whole (see Figure 2) and is alongside multi land tenures (see Figure 3).

Figure 2: Map of Council Boundaries with Northwest Region

8 Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 Figure 3: Map of Land Tenure

Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 9 2.3 Fire History

2.3.1 Fire Regime Fire plays an important role in maintaining species diversity Some analysis has occurred in parts of western Tasmania in most of the native vegetation in Australia, particularly in (eg Marsden-Smedley 1998) in which the author formulated eucalypt forest, coastal heathlands, moorland, grassland enlisted four broad categories in changes of the fire regimes in the communities and related shrubby communities (eg Gill and area. These were pre-1830 (Aboriginal), 1830 to 1930 (early Groves, 1981; Harris, 1991; Bradstock et al, 1995). European), 1940 to 1970 (middle European), and post 1970 (current). He goes on to assess historical documents and There is good evidence that the indigenous people applied available satellite imagery to develop a fire history map for regular burning to at least some areas in Tasmania for thousands Tasmania from 1890 to the present. An analysis was made using of years, although the extent to which Aboriginal burning has some of this data along with the current data to determine if a modified or influenced the vegetation is a controversial topic shift was occurring in the amount and type of vegetation being (Bowman, 1998). Before the arrival of the Aboriginal people, burned. Statewide analysis indicates an upward trend has been lightning strikes were the only source of ignition, which probably occurring since the 1930s of the burning of low–moderate fire- produced a very different pattern of burning to that imposed sensitive type vegetation (see Appendix 10). The most significant by Aborigines. In addition topography also assists in determining trend is shown when reviewing total area burned by decade. the distribution of fire and rainforests in south-west Tasmania Figure 4 shows that the area burned has tripled since the 1960s, (Wood et al 2011). It is certain, however, that fire has been with the largest percentage still falling in the low sensitivity present in the Tasmanian environment for a long time. As a classes. consequence, most native plant and animal species are adapted to cope with fire at least to some extent. Additional analysis has been completed specific to the Northwest region from 1980 to the present, with the area The concept of a ‘fire regime’ is an important one for land burned by TASVEG communities (see Figure 5). When reviewing managers. Together, the variables of fire frequency, season of fire the fire attributes categories of TASVEG it indicates that over occurrence, fire severity and fire size comprise what is known 76% of the area affected was in the low sensitivity category, as the ‘fire regime’. The variability of all of these factors is also which corresponds to over 80% of that same area occurring in known to be very important and contributes to determining either the extreme or very high flammability class. the species present in an area. It’s generally believed that variability contributes to maintaining biodiversity. The objective of vegetation management in reserves is to The season, intensity and frequency of burning are all factors maintain the range of vegetation communities and successional which must be considered when planning fire as an ecological stages within these communities and fire intervals. In so doing, management tool. Fires must be sufficiently intense to stimulate we hope that all of the species which are present may be flowering and germination of plants (eg Jones, 1988; Auld and maintained in perpetuity. To see this objective realised, PWS O’Connell, 1989; Bradstock and Auld, 1995); frequent enough recognises that it is necessary to deliberately burn some areas: to prevent the dominance of tall shrub species in heathlands fire is considered to be a natural part of the environment. (eg Specht and Specht, 1989; Keith and Bradstock, 1994); but PWS also appreciates that even with an ecological burning not so frequent as to eliminate plant species which require time program, we cannot be certain that we will maintain all to reach flowering age and produce seed (eg Benson, 1985; Gill species populations, because of the very limited knowledge of and Bradstock, 1992). It is also essential to allow variation in the appropriate fire regimes which is currently available. inter-fire interval to maintain species diversity (eg Bradstock et al, 1995; Morrison et al, 1995; Cary and Morrison, 1995). Figure 4: Statewide Notwithstanding the lack of knowledge about the long-term fire history of the reserves in the PWS Northwest Region, the fire-adapted nature of most of the native vegetation is well recognised. An analysis to investigate the relationship between vegetation communities and lightning distribution has been explored, and is a possible explanation for the current vegetation mosaic in south-west Tasmania (eg King 2004). A single bushfire is not thought to be a threat to the long-term survival or continued presence of any plant or animal species, except in the wetter vegetation communities such as rainforest or wet eucalypt forest and alpine and sub-alpine communities. An inappropriate fire regime, however, may lead to the reduction in abundance of some species or their complete extinction within some areas.

10 Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 Figure 5A: Northwest Region – Percent Area Burn 2.3.2 Fire Frequency by Sensitivity Class 1980s decade Fire frequency is defined as the total number of fires that occur over a period of time. PWS or its past authority maintained records of fires attended by its staff on or near the land that it manages. The records from earlier years are incomplete, and for the purpose of this report only the information on fires that have affected PWS reserve land and were fought by Forestry Tasmania and/or PWS staff were used. Records that were reviewed indicated that in the 30 years since 1980 a total of 485 fires have been recorded in what is now the Northwest Region, burning a total of 320 287 hectares. In 2003 the largest fires occurred, burning 78 078 hectares see( Appendix 8) which was 55% of the area burned for that decade. Annual fire frequency has been variable from 1980 to 2010, ranging from zero to 34 fires occurring per year with an significant increase since the 80s. Fire statistics had a wide variation from numbers Figure 5B: Northwest Region – Percent Area Burn of fires occurring per year to the area burned per year (see by Sensitivity Class 1990s decade Table 3).

Table 3: Temporal Fire Distribution in Northwest Region 1980–2009

Number Time Period Area Burned (ha) of Fires

2000–2010 196 143 684

1990–1999* 219 47 250

1980–1989* 70 129 352

*Records prior to 1990 are very incomplete, in 1996–97 the areas of the reserve system increased dramatically as an outcome of the RFA process. Figure 5C: Northwest Region – Percent Area Burn by Sensitivity Class 2000s decade 2.3.3 Fire Cycle Fire cycle is defined as a period of time within which an area equal to the total area of vegetation type will be burned (Tolhurst 2000). This detailed fire cycle information is not presently available for the region, but would be extremely useful to help us understand the extent to which specific vegetation types are being burned. A study of similar geographic areas could be undertaken to look for similar conclusions. In general, the fire cycle in this area has a high level of complexity due to the significant number of vegetation types.

2.3.4 Fire Size Because detailed fire information is not available for the region prior to 1980 only the statistics since that time can be reviewed. In the Northwest Region there have been 485 bushfires recorded between 1980 and 2010. The largest fire that affected a reserve occurred in 2003 and burned 78 078 ha;

Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 11 the second occurred in 1982 and burned 53 655 ha; followed 2.3.5 Fire Intensity by the third in 1986 which burned 36 678 ha. These three Fire intensity is a measurement of the amount of energy events account for 53% of the total area burned over the last released per given length of flame front (kw/m). The fire three decades. Over 75% of the fires during that timeframe regime in the area can be best described as having frequent were under 100 ha. By decade in the 80s the largest percentage small, low intensity surface fires with the only exception being of fires occurred in the size class 101–1 000 ha (33%); in the in the moorland buttongrass and heathland communities. 90s the same trend was maintained (20%); but in the 2000s the The majority of the region falls within a wet climate zone of trend shifted into the smaller size class of < 1 ha (35%). In a Tasmania, which supports high surface fuel decomposition rates, review of size distribution (see Figure 6) it appears that there and slow surface fuel accumulation rates. This combination can is a significant trend increase in the number of fires occurring develop areas that support moderate intensities in dry forest, in the <1 hectare class in the last decade. This change may be scrub, moorland buttongrass and the rare high intensity stand attributed to improved detection methods, which enable a replacing fire events only occurring with prolonged drought quicker response for suppression resources, along with more factors. accurate reporting procedures on small size class fires.

Figure 6: Northwest Region: Fire Size Distribution/Decade 2.3.6 Fire Type Fire Type refers to the true cause of the fire, either human caused or ignited by lightning. The leading cause of fires for the Northwest Region from 1980–2010 was human-caused, which accounted for 88% of the total fire occurrences and about 66 % of the area burned. Human-caused fires can be further broken down by true causes as defined by PWS causes; Figure 7A and Figure 7B outline the further detail which allows for analysis and target groups for prevention strategies. Statistics indicate that the only significant trend change in the last three decades is occurring in the natural-caused fires. Figure 8 indicates that lightning-caused fires occurrence numbers have Figure 7A : Percentage of Fire Occurrence by Cause increased six-fold, with the area increasing to 100 000 ha in the in Northwest Region 1981–2010 last decade, supporting Bureau of Meteorology observations on an increase in the number of lightning days.

Figure 8: Lightning-caused Fires – Area Burned by decade

Figure 7B: Percentage of Fire Occurrence by Cause in Northwest Region 2001–2010

KEY Undet – undetermined Lghtng – lightning Other – other Esc – escape Unkn – unknown Acc – accident Pbs – planned burn spot Not Id – not identified Arson – arson Rec – recreation

12 Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 2.4 Fire Environment

2.4.1 Climate and Weather The fire season in the Northwest Region of Tasmania extends from October to April (when 95% of the incidents A fire season is defined as the period of time in which fires occurred). This extended period occurs due to the flammable are most likely to occur. Fire seasons can vary geographically characteristics of the moorland buttongrass and scrub and help to define fire regimes. Across the southern part of vegetation complexes. Statistics indicate that the month of mainland Australia, above-normal fire potential has existed in January continues to support the highest incidence of fire starts, recent times, but these conditions have eased in Tasmania due averaging 34% of all starts over the last three decades. Major to the above normal precipitation occurring in the winters of fire events usually occur when the Fire Danger Index (FDI) 2009 and 2010. Fire potential depends on multiple factors: the exceeds 25; at or above this value, fire behaviour normally stage is often set by the antecedent rainfall, which factors in precludes successful suppression capabilities. Caution must be with the amount of fuel availability and time of grass curing. taken, since the vegetation type that supports the records of the large area burned are in the vegetation community which is not represented by the FDI rating system. Table 4 indicates historical daily records when reporting weather stations exceeded critical FDI values.

Table 4: Fire Danger Index Exceeds – Very High and Extreme

90 No. of Days No. of Days No. of Days No. of Days Weather Station Percentile Moorland Rating = Moorland Rating = FFDI>25 FFDI>50 FFDI or > Moderate or >Very High

00– Number Station <2000 00–2010 <2000 00–2010 2000–08 <2000 00–2010 <2000 2010

97072 Strahan (93)3 4 0 0 7 (92)26 51 (92)0 0

98017 King Island (93)2 8 0 1 8 (95)43 145 (95)0 0

91245 Cape Grim 0 0 0 0 8 (92)247 388 (92)14 15

95018 Tarraleah (94)1 2 0 0 10 (92)4 44 (92)0 0

91223 Marrawah 0 0 0 0 8 (92)100 154 (92)0 0

91292 Smithton 0 0 0 0 10 (96)35 197 (96)0 0

91107 Wynyard 0 6 0 0 11 (92)40 81 (92)0 0

91009 Burnie 0 0 0 0 9 (92)40 60 (92)0 0

Luncheon 91259 0 0 0 0 7 (95)23 79 (95)0 0 Hill

Mount 97085 0 0 0 0 2 (96)6 72 (96)3 0 Read

91291 Sheffield 0 0 0 0 10 (97)4 55 (97)0 0

91126 Devonport (93)2 10 (93)0 0 12 (92)97 248 (92)0 0

96033 Liawenee n/a 13 n/a 0 11 n/a 69 n/a 0

(Based on 15:00 Actual Weather readings; (94) indicates the period of time the records were reviewed from 1994–08)

Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 13 The data supplied in Table 4 is inconclusive: very few locations • Heritage: locations of both State – and Commonwealth – exceeded Fire Danger Index triggers of 25 and 50, which listed historic buildings. are the standard warning triggers. One could draw some • Non-burnable: values which cannot be negatively affected by speculative conclusions that either the weather reporting the passage of a bushfire. stations do not properly represent the region involved or more likely that the FDI rating system does not properly represent Relevant representatives from SES, LGAT, TFS, FT and PWS have the more frequent vegetation types that burn in this region. provided ongoing advice on which data should be collected and scored within the relative groups, and the data will be continue to A cursory review of large historical bushfires in the region be changed or updated. indicate that the vegetation type which is involved in large bushfires is moorland buttongrass. This preliminary information suggests that a threshold should be researched , developed and 2.5.2 Forest/Agriculture Values identified using the Moorland rating index for the region which This is a relative economic value classification of managed would provide a more meaningful standard warning triggers for forested land and research monitoring plots, along with some staff. locations of horticulture production areas. Forest values were Monthly variations in the occurrence of bushfires can be broken into 6 relative economic classes ranging from Class 0 explained by variations in weather patterns, and correlates to Class 5, with Class 5 being the highest value commercial with periods of time when there is high visitor use, since 88% plantation, through to Class 0, which are areas that are presently of all fires are human-caused. With global weather changes the not managed for commercial economic return (see Appendix: definition of a ‘normal’ fire season is likely to change. Figure Map 2). At this time all horticulture values are captured in a 6 will show the breakdown of fire by month, but will require single amalgamated data base. Examples of other values which further analysis by decade to determine whether any major could be captured are apiary operations and high-value grazing shifts are occurring with global change. locations. Relevant representatives from FT, Gunns, Norske Skog, Private Forest, Timberlands Pacific Pty Ltd and PWS have provided ongoing 2.5 Values at Risk advice on which data should be collected and scored within the relative groups. Values are defined as objects or locations that hold a relative economic, social or environmental worth within and outside of reserves. Not all values are affected or damaged by fire. 2.5.3 Natural Values Spatial data, for analysis in a geographic information system The items in this classification are specific flora, fauna, geo- (GIS), were collected state-wide from a variety of sources conservation and Ramsar sites, along with some water to attempt to develop a comprehensive collection of values. catchment locations which have been identified as requiring The objects collected were then classified into three categories: special protection. With flora, the specialists reviewed both Constructed; Forest/Agriculture; and Natural values. Impacts individual species as well as communities; their status and risk from bushfires were based on fire passage, not impacts that parameters for inappropriate fire frequency. Fauna species were might occur due to fire suppression activities. categorised relative to their individual restricted range (where local mortality could have high significant impact on species 2.5.1 Constructed Values survival) and vulnerability (where impact could cause mortality in the majority of individuals) along with the risk of fire presents The items in this classification are values that have been built or to their habitat. Geo-conservation and water catchment areas constructed by humans, including both historical and modern were categorised by their sensitivity to impacts from bushfires structures. Inputs into this classification have been broken down on their landbase (see Appendix: Map 3). into the following seven subgroups (see Appendix: Map 1): In general values were assigned their relative classification based • Life: spatial locations that have a high probability of on the following criteria: temporary visitor use within the reserves. • Neighbour: spatial locations of multiple density populations • Catastrophic was defined as total loss or extinction of that occur within 200 m of a reserve boundary. globally significant natural values or sites and long term ecosystem collapse over a wide area. • Wildland Urban Interface: locations of single, multiple, high density populations along with businesses. • Major was defined as significant loss or severe damage to nationally important values or sites; significant damage • Critical Infrastructure: locations of facilities that if temporarily to globally important values or sites or cross sector disrupted would cause extensive economic or social dysfunction in ecosystem extending beyond foreseeable impact. management • Burnable Infrastructure: locations of facilities that if disrupted • Moderate was defined as loss or significant damage or sites would cause some economic or social impact but could be of state significant;midterm reduction in ecosystem service replaced in a relatively short timeframe.

14 Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 Relevant specialist have provided ongoing advice that is the best available at the time on the basis of limited information and a 3. Bushfire Risk number of quite arbitrary decisions regarding relative values, and will be continue to be changed or updated. (Fire Management Assessment Model Section (2011) Bushfire Risk Assessment Model Project – Business Process Model V4. Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water (BRAM) and Environment, Hobart). Data on Aboriginal cultural values are not presently available for 3.1 Bushfire Risk Assessment this project. Process Both the Ellis and Rawson reports recommend the 2.6 Vegetation Type development of a risk assessment to help PWS focus on a strategic direction in regard to fire risk mitigation. Within the reserve system in Tasmania there exists a variety of vegetation communities which are inventoried through TASVEG International literature research was undertaken to review what Version 2.0. The underlying attributes were interpreted as existing computer models were presently being utilised. Models ‘Flammability Classes’ (Pyrke and Marsden-Smedley, 2005) and from the following locations were reviewed: Western Australia, ‘Fuel Groups’, which were used in this project to assist in the Canberra, New Zealand, South Africa, Greece, United States, analysis of fire behaviour in Tasmanian vegetation communities. British Columbia, and Alberta. Flammability classes were assigned to 5 categories from Ideas and processes were used and enhanced to come up with Extreme to Low (see Appendix: Map 4) with fuel grouping the model which was required and developed for Tasmania. broken up into 14 broad types based on fuel structure The processes helped evaluate four key input components (see Appendix: Map 5 and Table 5). to the model, which identifies challenges or shortfalls with the existing management direction. The model is built in a Table 5: Fuel Groups/ TASVEG type geographic information system utilising various spatial data, fire behaviour equations and climate records from many sources. The Bushfire Risk Assessment Model (BRAM) is the result Fuel Group TASVEG Types Covered (Fire Management Section (2011) Bushfire Risk Assessment Model Project – Business Process Model V4. Department of Fuel Group 1 Dry sclerophyll forest, dry sclerophyll woodlands Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Hobart).

Fuel Group 2 Buttongrass moorland 3.2 Regional BRAM Outputs Fuel Group 3 Heathland, dry scrub, coastal shrub, wet scrub, swamp and wetland 3.2.1 Ignition Potential Fuel Group 4 Grassland, native grassland — is assessed from historical ignition records or natural Fuel Group 5 Radiata and eucalypt plantations occurrences which could indicate a risk of ignition (see Appendix: Map 6). A variety of input data was used to Fuel Group 6 Wet sclerophyll woodlands – forests, mixed forests determine the final ignition potential output used see( Appendix 3A: Ignition Potential Flow Diagram). Fuel Group 7 Gorse, flammable weeds

Fuel Group 8 Rainforest 3.2.2 Suppression Capabilities — defined as areas within the state where bushfire Fuel Group 9 Slash occurrences can be detected and actioned utilising existing fire management procedures and resources see( Appendix: Fuel Group 10 Shelterwood coupes (burnt) Map 7). A variety of input data was used to determine the final suppression capabilities output used see( Appendix 3B: Fuel Group 10A Shelterwood coupes (unburnt) Suppression Capabilities Flow Diagram).

Fuel Group 11 Alpine, sub-alpine with conifers and deciduous beech 3.2.3 Values at Risk Fuel Group 12 Alpine, sub-alpine sedgy and grassy — is defined as any item or area that has either an economic, social or environmental worth (see Appendix: Map 8). A variety Fuel Group 13 Alpine, sub-alpine without conifers and deciduous beech of input data (see page 14) was used to determine the final values at risk output used (see Appendix 3C: Values at Risk Flow Fuel Group 14 Forest agriculture land Diagram).

Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 15 3.2.4 Fire Behaviour Potential It must be noted that the BRAM and therefore the consequences, likelihood and risk outputs are based on available — defined as factors that would affect the development and data. While the maps are presented as complete maps of propagation of a fire see( Appendix: Map 9). A variety of input Tasmania, there are gaps in the data inside and outside areas of data was used to determine the final fire behaviour potential reserved land managed by PWS. For example, the mapped fire output used (see Appendix 3D: Fire Behaviour Potential Flow history which contributes to the Ignition Potential and therefore Diagram). Likelihood layers is not complete on private land (ie outside of reserved land and State forest). Also, if additional resources 3.3 Bushfire Risk Analysis could be directed to assist in the collection of improved datasets in the natural value category and agriculture land (ie To determine overall risk the NERAG (National Emergency Risk grazing), this would greatly contribute to the quality of the Assessment Guidelines August 2009) document (see Appendix Values at Risk layer and therefore the Consequence layer also 4) was used. The level of risk is determined by combining located on private land. consequences and likelihood (see Table 6). Table 7 presents analysis of individual reserves parcels which Likelihood is defined as a qualitative method to assess the identifies specific locations of risk by type and an overall likelihood rating to the consequences occurring. The likelihood summary breakdown for the entire reserve. This information of an event (see Appendix: Map 10) was generated by the provides some guidance on what percentage of the reserve is average combinations of the output generated from the under a specific risk category at a landscape scale. following: Ignition Potential, Suppression Capabilities and Fire Behaviour Potential, followed by assigning these output values The development and use of a onsite risk assessment tool similar to the ‘Red Zone’* software program could prove to be to categories in a likelihood matrix. This is taken to mean the likelihood of a fire occurring in a specific area which surpasses a valuable tool for staff when working with adjacent residence scale concerns. the ability of the fire agencies to contain within the first 24 hours. Consequences are defined as a qualitative rating of damage from fire to values. The consequences see( Appendix: Map 11) were taken directly from the output generated through the Values at Risk spatial layer output. A representation of risk (see Appendix: Map 12) is developed when you combine the factors of likelihood and consequence. The generated output map of risk shows qualitative areas of risk, not areas of perceived risk. Thus, the model assists in objectively defining areas where genuine risk is present. In-depth analysis will indicate what factor is the major contributing cause of the risk.

Table 6: Qualitative Risk Matrix

*Red Zone is a mapping software program developed in the United States which assesses sites using a variety of input parameters to determine an overall site hazard score.

16 Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 Table 7: Major Reserve BRAM Risk Summary

Risk (Percentage of Reserve) Name Extreme High Moderate Low

Arthur–Pieman Conservation Area (West 2 60 30 8 Point, Sundown Point SR) (see Appendix Map 13)

Approved Plans: Arthur–Pieman Conservation Area Management Plan 2002, Arthur–Pieman Conservation Area Fire Management Plan 2003, Arthur–Pieman Conservation Area: Vehicle Tracks Assessment: Geoconservation, Flora and Fauna values and impacts 2007, Arthur–Pieman Conservation Area Sustainable Recreational Vehicle Access 2010 Reserve Fire Management Strategy: General Analysis indicates scattered areas of extreme and high values and larger area of moderate in the mid section of the reserve (see Appendix Map 13A), areas high ignition potential (see Appendix Map 13B) are indicated from historic starts. Recommend increased prevention. A great percentage of the reserve falls within poor or slow suppression capability (see Appendix Map 13C). Changes in spotter detection flight paths would improve response time lag. A significant portion of the reserve falls with the strategic fuel management zone and there is opportunity to undertake large scale planned burns to reduce the fire behaviour potential (seeAppendix Map 13D).

Dial Range Regional Reserve (Mt Montgomery SR-NRA, 18 8 57 18 Mt Dial NRA, Ferndene SR) (see Appendix Map 14)

Approved Plans: Management Plan for the Mount Montgomery State Reserve 1979 Reserve Fire Management Strategy: General analysis indicates a strip of extreme values at the north end of the reserve (see Appendix Map 14A) which is the Transend transmission line. There is opportunity for planned burning in this area as shown on the moderate fire behaviour potential which would help to limit potential fire spread.

Franklin–Gordon Wild Rivers National Park (see Appendix 2 32 40 26 Map 15)

Approved Plans: Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Management Plan 1999, Tasmanian Wilderness WHA Tactical FMP 2004 Reserve Fire Management Strategy: General analysis indicates ribbons of high natural values (see Appendix Map 15A). Combination of very high ignition potential (see Appendix Map 15B) and fire behaviour potential see( Appendix Map 15C). There is opportunity for some strategic fuel reduction along with increased prevention activity, which will reduce fire intensity and ignition potential.

Cradle Mountain–Lake St ClairNational Park (see 6 31 64 0 Appendix Map 16)

Approved Plans: WHA Management Plan, Cynthia Bay Recreation Area Plan, Pencil Pine Cradle Valley Visitor Service Zone Plan 2006 Reserve Fire Management Strategy: General analysis indicates significant areas of natural values see( Appendix Map 16A) in the north end of the reserve. High ignition potential (see Appendix Map 16B) is indicated from historic starts. Recommend increased prevention activities. There are some limited areas for planned burning which could provide some value protection.

Mt Roland Regional Reserve/ Conservation Area (see 21 44 35 0 Appendix Map 17)

Approved Plans: Reserve Fire Management Strategy: General analysis indicates the area has significant values (seeAppendix Map 17A) located at the west end of the reserves which are the Transend transmission lines. High ignition potential (see Appendix Map 17B) from historic starts. Recommend increased prevention activities, targeted patrols occurring during high FDR days to reduce starts. There is some limited opportunity for planned burning.

Peggs Beach/Little Peggs State Reserve (see Appendix 38 18 30 14 Map 18)

Approved Plans: Reserve Fire Management Strategy: General analysis indicates the area has significant values at risk, both critical infrastructure and PWS campground see( Appendix Map 18A), an area of high fire behaviour potential (seeAppendix Map 18B) on the west end of the reserve exists. The vegetation type leads to some opportunity for planned burning which will reduce fire intensity, increase suppression success and protect values.

Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 17 Table 7: Major Reserve BRAM Risk Summary (continued)

Risk (Percentage of Reserve) Name Extreme High Moderate Low

Rocky Cape National Park/ Dip Range Regional Reserve 7 29 40 24 Appendix Map 19

Approved Plans: Rocky Cape National Park, Dip Range Regional Reserve, Detention Falls Conservation Area Fire Management Plan 2003 Reserve Management Strategies: General analysis indicates the area has extreme values at risk on the central portion of the reserve caused by the main Transend transmission line, along with high value adjacent constructed values caused by the communities. High areas of likelihood (see Appendix Map 19A), high areas of fire behaviour potential see( Appendix Map 19B). Could be reduced by planned burning which would reduce the fuel loads and aid in suppression success. High ignition potential (see Appendix Map 19C) could be reduced through increased prevention activities, such as targeted patrols occurring during high FDR days to reduce fire starts.

Vale of Belvoir Conservation Area 28 58 13 0 Appendix Map 20

Approved Plans: Reserve Management Strategies: General analysis indicates that a central strip area of the reserve is under extreme risk, caused by a combination of the following factors: extreme values at risk, the main Transend transmission line which transects the reserve (see Appendix Map 20A), high ignition potential along with high fire behaviour potential (seeAppendix Map 20B). Targeted patrols occurring during high FDR days to reduce fire starts, along with some opportunity for planned burning in the APZs, will reduce fire intensity and increase suppression success.

Lavina State Reserve/Seal Rocks State Reserve (see 80 12 7 1 Appendix Map 21)

Approved Plans: King Island Reserves and Crown Land Fire Management Plan 2002, Lavina State Reserve Management Plan draft, King Island Wildfire Management Plan 2009 Reserve Fire Management Strategy: General analysis indicates significant areas high geo-conservation values see( Appendix Map 21A). There is some limited opportunity for planned burning within the reserve and adjacent areas if approval can be given from the adjacent landowners (see Appendix Map 16B). This could limit potential fire spread.

The initial analysis indicates that large areas within PWS The focus for mitigation strategies will be on three main reserves are in fact not a risk, and contribute very little to the fronts: risk in surrounding areas. 1. Prevention, to reduce the number of bushfires Regional working groups should be developed with the occurring three fire agencies represented and local area stakeholders 2. Pro-active response, instead of a reactive to do an in-depth review of the outputs generated by the response, to minimise the negative impacts which could model to determine the contributing factor(s) of areas at risk. be caused by bushfire and ensure that resources are Through community engagement, education can be focused already located where the greatest hazard and risk exists. on developing a better understanding of the areas of genuine qualitative risk, not on areas of perceived risk. 3. Deploying the correct response requirements once a bushfire is detected to minimise the extent of Further analysis will occur for areas within reserves identified the impact. as high or extreme risk to determine if the risk is intolerable, tolerable or acceptable. Mitigation strategies will at present be focused on areas of highest risk due to budget constraints. The BRAM maps at the end of this plan are indicative – it is intended that detailed analyses will utilise GIS and the GIS model.

18 Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 Table 7: Major Reserve BRAM Risk Summary (continued) the recreational public. Additional support should be provided 4. Fire Prevention to the Discovery Ranger program off season so that the awareness message can be provided to both school and youth groups through presentations. All existing departmental 4.1 Context pamphlets should include fire awareness and fire management Prevention controls are designed to prevent the occurrence of information for the general public, and provide additional a bushfire and/or facilitate easier control. contact leads for interested individuals or groups. Recent experience has identified that a significant percentage of 4.2 Objective the public do not understand the importance of fuel reduction burning, nor do they appreciate what a planned burn may look Fire ignition occurs by two factor types: natural or human- like. Thus an education program is required that includes these caused. In fire prevention the focus is to reduce the likelihood messages: of incidents occurring through the initiation of, or changes to, education, enforcement or engineering programs. • Fuel reduction burning is essential to protect communities from devastating bushfires. The education program will focus on human-caused bushfires. Analysis determined that the major cause breakdown in the • Lots of smoke and large flames will be produced by Northwest Region is as follows: planned fires that are safely under control. Human-caused Arson: 42% occurrences, 17 % area burned Campfires Escape: 7 % occurrences, 19 % area burned It has been by noted by staff that in 2010 there was an increase Natural in abandoned or unattended campfires on reserved land. These Lightning: 12% occurrences, 34 % area burned can pose an elevated bushfire threat. Reserves which continue to allow the use of open fires should 4.3 Strategies and Actions install properly engineered fireplaces and enforce their exclusive use only or evaluate the social impact of initiating a total open (Summary of Strategies see Table 10) fire ban. Formal site plans should be developed for reserve areas that show a high incidence of abandoned campfires. Education Any site developed should be designed as per Australian The program should target industrial and agricultural Standards AS3959–1999 and comply with the provisions of the neighbours, which account for 12% of all the fires which are Fire Service Act 1979 (eg the requirement for 3 metre clearance occurring in the reserves (see Figures 7A and 7B for breakdown during the permit season, or 6 metres from highly flammable by cause). A fire awareness package should be developed and vegetation). The original fire reporting system had not allowed delivered. Through individual meetings and workshops the for the capture of this information and therefore the data is not messages can be given and adjusted by regional user group presently included in BRAM. The Forestry Operation Database trends (eg four wheel drive, tasmanian aquaculture and fishing (FOD) has been modified to incorporate this information so institute clubs). that in the future this data can be captured. In addition, the Department is part of a working group with Areas that indicate a evaluated level of risk should be assessed Tasmania Fire Service in the development of Community Alert and modified by the installation of engineered campfire messaging. The Department will continue to work towards structures and/or the removal of adjacent fuel accumulations to the development and utilisation of standard bushfire warnings help reduce the potential for a bushfire to occur. In addition, the and prevention messaging, including the need for care with area should be monitored under increased patrols to educate campfires, barbecues and planned fire messages. and curb the inappropriate practice. The following actions are The fire management awareness component of the existing recommended for those areas: Discovery Ranger program should continue to be upgraded, as only through education can we enact change in culture. 1. Develop a site plan prioritised based on risk A new fire awareness kit was developed and presented to the Discovery Ranger staff so that knowledge transfer from 2. Designate areas where fires are allowed fire management staff can be initiated. Fire management staff 3. Design and install fireplaces could accompany Discovery Rangers in their roving activities 4. Education so that the fire management message can be passed on to 5. Enforcement

Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 19 Enforcement un-defendable may be protected by the development of an effective emergency response plan with pre-identified escape A program should be developed and directed toward malicious routes and ‘nearby safer places’ if available, and educated about and irresponsible individuals or companies that show disregard the inherent risks which native vegetation poses during a for the legislation and the damage that they cause by bushfires. bushfire. A process should be developed to investigate all human-caused fire, and if appropriate, charges should be laid under the existing legislation. Options will be investigated to review existing legislation to allow the Department to recover fire suppression Figure 9: Peggs Beach Conservation Area costs. – Campfire Structure (rusted out) Changes have occurred in the National Parks and Reserve Land Regulations 2009 which will assist departmental staff in designating appropriate locations for allowing or not allowing open fires. Since arson still accounts for 28% of fire occurrence, areas with a high incidence of suspicious ignitions should be monitored closely by patrols, particularly at times of severe fire weather (eg FDI 25). PWS should develop enforcement protocols which could include the following: • The formation of working groups with investigators from Tasmania Police and Tasmania Fire Service to review case files for all fires of suspicious origins. (All efforts should be made to assist in the apprehension of these individuals.) A significant percentage of the fires have been caused by escapes from adjacent landowners. Existing 2008 incident statistics from the Tasmania Fire Service indicate that once the permit season was initiated, the incidence of vegetation fires in the southern region dropped by 30%. Discussion should Private infrastructure or companies operating through the be initiated with the Tasmania Fire Service to encourage the existing lease and license program should be externally audited development of a standard permit season policy, as statistics to determine the level of bushfire risk to their operations and clearly indicate that there is a reduction of vegetation fire assets (see Figure 10A and 10B). Conditions could be applied incidents once the declared permit period is in place. A process through the lease or license renewal program under Section in which all fires must be registered pre- and post-season 48 of the National Parks and Reserves Management Act 2002 would greatly assist duty officers’ ability to look pro-actively for to ensure that all buildings are compliant to AS3959-2009 possible hazardous threats to the reserves. (Construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas) and PWS policy. This legislation will provide a framework to allow the Department to apply fire management operating conditions to individuals or companies that operate within the reserves. Engineering Where in some situations due to design or site location, A program will be focused on all infrastructure located within compliance is not economic, socially or environmentally the reserve system, both PWS and privately owned. desirable, individual site fire control or evacuation plans could be initiated to help mitigate the risk of loss. In some situations Developed sites should be designed in accordance with acceptance of the inherent risk may be necessary. Wherever the Tasmania Fire Service document Guidelines for possible, all new sites should conform to the above referenced Development in Bushfire Prone Areas in Tasmania. documents. Existing PWS structures which do not reach the standards should be tracked through the Information Management System with the scheduled maintenance to convert facilities to standards when possible. Some of the sites will be assessed on whether they are compliant with Guidelines for Development in Bushfire Prone Areas in Tasmania. When this pre-incident triage has been completed it will provide valuable information enabling the most effective use of the limited suppression resources of PWS in line with State Fire Commission Policy Statement 1/07 (see Appendix 5). Visitors to sites deemed

20 Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 Figure 10A: Neighbourhood Community adequate network of tracks. The inventory in Table 8 covers six – Rocky Cape reserves. The remaining reserves require formal assessments to determine where tracks, breaks and waterholes are required. The strategy is to use the BRAM to help guide and prioritise the development of an effective network of fire trail infrastructure in reserves which are under high and extreme risk. To be of strategic value, fire trails should be located in the following situations: 1. adjacent to the assets which they require to protect 2. leading to strategic water sources 3. breaking up large tracts of contiguous flammable vegetation and fuels 4. facilitating access and egress from reserves 5. providing boundaries for planned burning blocks 6. where adverse environmental impacts of construction and use are acceptable. All built-up fuel loads within the perimeter of the asset protection zone (see Figure 11) should be identified and dealt with, otherwise the integrity of protection will be in question. Fire trails and breaks which are located on multi-jurisdictional land tenure (eg unallocated Crown land or local government land) should be identified, and formal memorandums of understanding should be developed to provide clear direction and authority identifying responsibilities. Fire trail access should be controlled through gating, and locked through a tiered key Figure 10B: Infrastructure – Cradle Mountain system with the level of access control coordinated through the Huts regional office with master access allowed for fire management staff. Standard naming procedures should be followed as outlined below (eg Arthur–Pieman Conservation Area Class 5 Fire Trail number 25 identified as ARPCA5025). This method would avoid confusion and help identify trails for tracking and maintenance scheduling. A reserve naming nomenclature has been developed for planned burns and should be utilised in a similar way.

Figure 11: Class 5 Fire Trail – Rocky Cape National Park

Fire Trail Guidelines Throughout the reserve system lies a network of fire trails which should be maintained using the standards specified in the PWS document Fire Management Infrastructure Categories and Standards as a guide. In general the reserves in the region have a poor network of fire trails, breaks and waterholes. Some reserves such as Rocky Cape National Park and Arthur–Pieman Conservation Area have an

Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 21 Table 8: Strategic Fire Trails

Reserve Name Trail Name Class Type ID #

Banksia Corner Class 5 RCKNP5001

Sisters Beach East Class 5 RCKNP5002

Sisters Beach South Inner Class 5 substandard RCKNP5003 Rocky Cape National Park Sisters Hill Link substandard

Anniversary Bay Class 5 RCKNP5004

Rocky Cape West Boundary substandard

The Nut State Reserve Lower Fire Trail Class 5 substandard TNUSR5001

Marrawah Boundary Class 5 substandard ARPCA5001

East Marrawah Crown Land substandard

Bluff Hill Point Outer Class 3 ARPCA3001

Bluff Hill Point Inner Class 3 ARPCA3002

Stewarts Creek Class 5 substandard ARPCA5002

Arthur River North Outer substandard

Arthur River North Inner Class 5 substandard ARPCA5003

Arthur–Pieman Conservation Area Arthur River East Class 5 ARPCA5004

Arthur River South–west substandard

Sundown Creek Class 5 substandard ARPCA5005

Nelson Bay Class 3 ARPCA3003

Sarrah Anne Rocks Class 5 ARPCA5006

Couta Rocks Class 3 substandard ARPCA3004

Temma Farm Boundary substandard

Temma Farm Trail Class 5 ARPCA5007

Dasher River Class 5 substandard DSRCA5001 Dasher River Conservation Area Dasher River Horse Track substandard

Speeler Plains South Class 5 VOBCA5001

Vale of Belvoir Conservation Area Speeler Plains Main Class 5 VOBCA5002

Campground West Class 5 VOBCA5003

Black Bluff Nature Recreation Area Devonport Creek Substandard Class 5 BBNRA5001

Strategic Water Sources to which mitigation strategies are acceptable. PWS will use Presently the Department has a heavy reliance on light vehicle the Fire Management Zone framework (see below), which is water tankers when suppressing bushfires. The assessment, aligned with the draft General Management Plan – Southern inventory, classification and enhancement of water source Region (soon to be released internally), to help guide what the availability within our reserve system would greatly assist the site-specific strategy process will be. department when responding to fires. These units have a small carry capacity and require frequent refills to complete a normal Fire Management Zones operation. The development of Fire Management Zone protocols will assist in providing operational direction for prioritising bushfires Planning occurring within landscape areas, along with providing direction Fuel is the only component of a fire environment that can be for mitigation strategies. Zoning protocols, along with all altered to reduce the probability of the occurrence of intense strategies, will be re-assessed on an ongoing basis to determine bushfires (McArthur 1962). For reserves where they exist, whether objectives are being achieved or require modification. the statutory management plans provide some direction as The aim is to designate all reserved land into one of the four

22 Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 categories of fire management zone. Some reserves may have one or more areas designated to one or more of the zone Level 1 <50 m wide, identifying where further assessment categories. The four zone categories and protocols associated is required to determine mitigation actions with each are described below. Appendix: Map 22 indicates the Level 2 < 1 kilometre wide, identifying where further zones at a regional scale – for detailed examination and analysis assessment is required to determine mitigation actions of the zones it is necessary to utilise a geographic information system on computer which enables zooming in to Mitigation Actions – Treated areas will be variable in size a suitable scale (only PWS tenure displayed). It also highlights and shape, depending on the type of value that requires the impact that adjacent neighbouring assets have on protecting, and spatial characteristics of the site which our reserves system (eg narrow reserves which have no are available to be modified. Treatments may include inventoried values may show up as a APZ1 due to adjacent mechanical fuel modification (eg slashing), fuel reduction assets). The Strategic Fuel Management Zone is developed burning, evacuation or engineering (eg a sprinkler system). using the inventory of TASVEG on all tenure. Not all parts of all asset protection zones will be treated An asset for the purpose of the zoning methodology is – the zones are intended to help guide treatment options, generically defined as a feature either human-made or natural, priorities and location. Consideration must be made of significant value, in which a fire would have a negative impact. for natural and human-made features when defining In the case of some natural assets, inappropriate fire regimes the treatment boundaries, such as fuel type/load, slope, may also have a negative impact. In this respect the process hydrology and access trails. The values and ecology of the could be aided by convening an expert panel charged with native ecosystem will be considered in the design of the developing a comprehensive list of species or communities appropriate treatment regime. at risk, mapping their location and the development of management prescriptions. Many of these entities do not have Suppression Guidelines – Use of a full range of pre- sufficient information to determine management prescriptions, suppression and suppression tactics. The use of machinery and this should be listed as a priority for additional research is not permitted unless approved in the management plan and monitoring. or by the Regional Manager, and is subject to machinery hygiene prescriptions. Asset Zone

Primary Purpose – geographic location of asset(s) of high value or importance Strategic Fuel Management Zone

General Location – the physical boundary of the asset Primary Purpose – Area of management that will increase the likelihood of controlling a bushfire within or the General Characteristics – the area involved could be variable forward spread through the area, along with minimising in size depending on the value in question (eg hut or the potential for a bushfire to achieve a size greater than threatened flora and fauna polygon) 5 000 ha.

Suppression Guidelines – use of a full range of pre- General Location – Areas will be located strategically in fuel suppression and suppression tactics. The use of machinery types of high or greater flammability see( Forest Fuels); size is not permitted unless approved in the management plan greater than 5 000 ha; taking into consideration natural and or by the Regional Manager, and is subject to machinery man-made attributes to provide anchor points. hygiene prescriptions. General Characteristics – Fuel will be managed by prescribed burning of areas of suitable vegetation of sufficient size and Asset Protection Zone continuity to act as a barrier to fire spread by reducing rate of spread, intensity, spotting under 90th percentile (see Table 4) of fire weather by methods and resources Primary Purpose – Area of high strategic importance to available. The aim, however, will be to maintain appropriate protect values in asset zones. Bushfires will be managed on fire regimes for the vegetation and biodiversity/ a priority basis to confine spread and extinguish. geodiversity assets as far as possible.

General Location – Areas generally adjacent or upwind from locations of high significant values in asset zones. Level 1 Suppression Guidelines – Use of a full range of pre- APZ adjacent to neighboring houses may be equivalent to suppression and suppression tactics. The use of machinery the Building Protection Zone and or Fuel Modified Buffer is not permitted unless approved in the management plan Zone of the TFS Guidelines for Development in Bushfire or by the Regional Manager, and is subject to machinery hygiene prescriptions. Prone Areas of Tasmania. (continued next column)

Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 23 Table 9: Threatened Flora Priority Areas

Species Site Description Tenure Priority Henry Somerset Orchid Burns as per Henry Somerset Orchid Sanctuary fire Caladenia tonellii Private high Sanctuary management plan (AVK 2009) Preferred interval 5–8 years, autumn (understorey only Caladenia campbellii Devils Elbow Private high and 75% removal) Arthur–Pieman Conservation Watching brief of known sites: input into APCA FMP as Pterostylis rubenachii PWS high Area needed (8–15 year interval preferred) Lime Fern Creek Pneumatopteris pennigera Exclude fire from known sites PWS high (Arthur–Pieman CA) Vittadinia australasica Possum Banks Watching brief: input into APCA FMP as needed PWS high var. oricola Viminaria juncea Flacks Road, Coles Bay Preferred interval 8–20 years, mosaic, autumn Private (& PWS) medium Stonesiella selaginoides Horseshoe Marsh Preferred interval 10–25 years, mosaic, autumn FT medium Stonesiella selaginoides Blindburn Creek Preferred interval 10–25 years, autumn PWS medium Blindburn Creek and Douglas Epacris grandis Preferred interval 10–25 years, autumn PWS medium River Leucochrysum albicans Township Lagoon Nature Preferred interval 4–8 years, late summer/autumn PWS medium subsp. albicans var. tricolor Reserve Boronia hemichiton Mt Arthur Preferred interval 10–20 years, mosaic, autumn FT medium Pherosphaera hookeriana Mt Field National Park Exclude fire PWS medium Blindburn Creek and Spyridium lawrencei Preferred interval 10–25 years, autumn PWS medium The Thumbs

• Three-tier rating is based on the output scores from the Threatened Species Prioritisation project in which projects were developed for 171 endangered and vulnerable species, then prioritised in terms of their efficiency.

24 Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 Land Management Zone Planned Fire Strategy Planned fire is used for vegetation management, habitat Primary Purpose – Fire management in the zone is to management and value protection (ie fuel reduction or maintain appropriate fire regimes for the landscape modification). Planned fire is also used as a means to restore vegetation communities, species diversity and cultural fire disturbance patterns over the landscape by the introduction heritage. Land management zones will have secondary of controlled burns that closely mimic the natural range of zones within them that have specific fire management fire variation in the area. With a coordinated approach, a requirements for ecological, research, cultural or other prioritisation hierarchy can be developed so that multiple land reasons. management objectives can be achieved in a single burn. As a general principle, only those vegetation communities General Location – Areas remote from significant visitor identified by Pyrke and Marsden-Smedley (2005) as having a use and assets that are damaged by fire. low fire sensitivity are suitable for planned burning, including buttongrass moorland, dry sclerophyll forest and woodland, dry General Characteristics – Vegetation burning should be scrub, coastal scrub, heathland and native grassland. managed in such a fashion that will provide a mosaic of post-fire ages which falls within the range of ecological Planned burning will be undertaken primarily in Asset requirements of the flora and fauna present. Secondary Protection Zones and Strategic Fuel Management Zones, land management zones will have prescriptions attached with priority given to areas where the risk to values is the to guide the land managers to achieve the zone’s highest, as identified by the BRAM. Planned burning may objectives. Specific fire regimes can be managed for also be undertaken in all zones when and where there is an single species management (eg Orange-bellied Parrot) identified need for species or communities that require fire. but generally managed at a vegetation community scale. Table 10 identifies areas of threatened plants: these sites require the introduction of fire to maintain population diversity Suppression Guidelines – Use of suppression tactics of and richness. Intermittent fire at the appropriate frequency minimal intervention only to maintain appropriate fire is required by certain fauna species as well as flora. (Notable regime or to ensure a fire location stays within the zone. examples being the ptunarra brown butterfly and orange- The use of machinery is not permitted unless approved bellied parrot). Once areas can be identified for fauna purposes in the management plan or by the Regional Manager, and they will be added; however at this time limited information is is subject to machinery hygiene prescriptions. available. Not all of the native vegetation within Asset Protection Zones, Ecological Management – Risks to species and ecological Strategic Fuel Management Zones and Land Management communities from inappropriate fire regimes have not Zones is amenable to planned burning. For example, most of been thoroughly assessed therefore identified. This the Asset Protection Zone identified by Map 22 in the Cradle process could be rectified by identifying the species Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park identified for flora and communities at risk, determining appropriate fire catchment is Nothofagus rainforest and Eucalyptus delegatensis. regime, mapping the location and creating secondary Planned burning would not be appropriate in these vegetation land management zones along with management types because of the very long fire intervals required to prescriptions (eg high Poa altitude grassland). maintain biodiversity and vegetation structure.

Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 25 Methodology for the Identification of Regional Priority Areas within Asset Protection Zones

This section describes the methodology to translate the fire management zones and strategies described above into plans for operations that will be implemented within the region. The Northwest Region will be subdivided into workable management units, for example, either by Parks and Reserve Manager jurisdictional areas or by local government council boundaries. Within the defined area all reserves will be examined utilising the methodology listed below. The summary outcome will be a Permanent Fire Management Zone layer with a list and maps of priority blocks by prescription methods.

Step 1: Overlay the extreme and high risk outputs from the BRAM model against the single layer developed for Fire Management Zones (see Appendix: Map 23 – Northwest Region Fire Mitigation Priorities). Assets zone data will be acquired from the BRAM models Values at Risk layer for Constructed, Forestry/ Agriculture and Natural components (which has achieved a value score of 80 or greater and is within 1 km of PWS reserves) and the developed threatened flora and fauna priority areas for sedentary species and critical habitat for vulnerable or endangered species.

Step 2: Assess the common area identified (Working Fire Management Zone layer) and then determine what management prescription is acceptable: mechanical fuel reduction (eg slashing), planned fire, engineering, or evacuation.

Step 3: Overlay existing approved plans for planned burning and mechanical fuel reduction (eg fire management plans, fire management strategies and burn programs approved through the RAA process or equivalent) against the common area identified in Step 2.

Step 4: The areas not covered by the existing approved plans should then be assessed for treatment options.

Step 5: Site-specific treatments will then be developed for the areas (ie engineering, emergency reponse planning, planned burns), including consideration and utilisation of existing features for unit boundaries (ie trails, topography, fuel load and type). The fire sensitivity and suitability of the vegetation type for prescribed burning must be considered.

Step 6: Prepare a map, or maps, at an appropriate scale of the ‘defining’ treatments within the designated management unit.

Step 7: The proposed reserve fire management strategy will be assessed through the annual planned burning RAA or annual fire management works RAA.

Step 8: Zones will be reconfigured once the development and application of individual reserve fire management strategies have occurred. This information will be input back into the zoning database and will create the Permanent Fire Management Zone layer.

In areas within APZs, where the above assessment has identified prioritisation for mitigation areas. Attempts will be made to that fuel modification is required, hazards and fuel loads within collect similar data for priority areas for threatened fauna and the zone should be mitigated to a level to enable bushfire incorporate it in the process. The process will be redefined as containment under 90th percentile of fire weather (see Table 6 the model goes through its improvement stages. for FDI values) by methods and resources available. The Department should support the development of a Within Level 1 APZs, modification of fuel arrangements should bushfire community protection project and re-establish be intended to allow for the safe deployment of suppression and support active fire area management committees. The resources within the zone to defend the asset value, or objectives of these projects should be: modified in such a fashion that would increased success rate for suppression action if not pre-deployed. Fuel Hazard Levels 1. Development of emergency response plans for reserves should be maintained at low (Overall Fuel Hazard Guide for that have visitors at high risk Victoria). 2. Identification of ‘nearby safer places’ within our reserves if Within Level 2 APZs, modification of fuel loads is intended to they exist. facilitate increased success rate for suppression action. Fuel Through the use of the BRAM and the methodology listed Hazard Levels should be maintained at or below moderate above regional priority reserve areas that require further risk (Overall Fuel Hazard Guide for Victoria). assessments will be identified. Reserves which are not presently Based on the draft data available, Appendix: Map 23 has adequately covered by existing Fire Management Plans will identified the initial areas in Step 2 to be re-evaluated for need to be addressed through the development of Reserve mitigation priorities. Existing approved plans along with Area Fire Management Strategy. This document will identify the threatened flora priority areas will be evaluated against values which are at risk and what mitigation strategies will be the outputs generated by this process for verification and employed to reduce the level of risk.

26 Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 Table 10: Summary of Strategies for Prevention

Strategy Appropriate Level of Action Who to Action Resource Status

Fire Management Section/ Development of fire awareness presentations un-resourced Region Education

Discovery Ranger awareness Fire Management Section ongoing

Campfire Campfire and sign strategy Region un-resourced

Enforcement Development of enforcement protocols Fire Management Section ongoing

Region/ Assessment Assessment of PWS infrastructure ongoing Management Group

Assessment of private infrastructure on PWS tenure Leases/Licenses Section un-resourced Engineering Inventory, classification, maintenance and identification Region ongoing of fire trails

Inventory, classification of water source locations Region un-resourced

Development of fire management zone procedures Fire Management Section ongoing

Re-defining and ground truthing of zones Region ongoing Planning Emergency response plans Fire Management Section un-resourced

Reserve area fire management strategies Region ongoing

*Register of Un-resourced Strategies (see Appendix 10)

the scene within 30 minutes. In some situations the critical time 5. Preparedness period for the fire or fires to escalate to uncontrollable size may be even shorter than 30 minutes. In some situations it maybe warranted to have a tactical 5.1 Context air observer available to assist in providing fire intelligence Preparedness controls are designed to mitigate the impact. back to the fire duty officers if community messages or fire Preparedness means all the activities that make organisations prioritisation is required. ready and better able to respond to bushfires. Fire Danger Index values triggers will be used to assist staff to determine the level of readiness or positioning of resources 5.2 Objective that are required (see Table 11). A program should be in place to have sufficient staff, resources The existing suppression system will be reviewed to determine or processes in place to action incidents. whether any enhancement can be made to the program Alert levels need to increase as the fire weather danger to improve suppression effectiveness. In the course of the increases. development of the Suppression Capabilites layer of the Bushfire Risk Assessment Model (BRAM), a comprehensive list of factors were inputted and evaluated to determine where 5.3 Strategies and Actions the existing standard procedures provided adequate detection (Summary of Strategies see Table 12) and suppression coverage state-wide. Significantly, areas of The ideal objective is to provide sufficient initial attack capability no coverage or little coverage were also discovered, and are with the aim of suppressing and containing, within 24 hours, any viewable as a separate output layer of the model. fire that threatens values. At times, however, even with all the Whenever and wherever possible, fire fighting resources should strategies and actions in this section, PWS acknowledges that be placed in areas which exhibit ‘High to Extreme’ risk as long resources may not be adequate to achieve this ideal objective. as the existing and forecast weather intelligence supports that When the Fire Danger Index is 18 or higher, any fire will be decision. To assist in the effectiveness of this initiative we have difficult to contain with initial attack unless several crews are on developed processes within the Department:

Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 27 1. The identification of accessible departmental It should be noted that the BRAM is a decision support tool accommodation to assist in limiting travel time to and from and should be used in conjunction with staff knowledge to areas of high risk (see listing in Fire Action Plan). make the best informed operational decision. Regional staff could use existing outputs such as Suppression Capabilites 2. The identification of strategic staging areas for helicopters and Values at Risk maps to make adjustments to resource to maximise area coverage by helicopter of PWS-managed deployment to improve daily coverage assessments. land. Additional computer support models should be developed as 3. In collaboration with Forestry Tasmania, development of an enhancement to the BRAM Version 2 to determine daily and plans to use fixed-wing water-bombing aircraft, including forecast bushfire risk. This information can assist with making identification and improvement of suitable airstrips. operational decisions on resource deployment.

Table 11: Preparedness Matrix

ON DUTY Fire Danger Index Shift Times Actions/Resource Requirements Dispatch Times

Pre-Fire Season Regular hours < 60 minutes Fire equipment serviceable. 1 to 11 Low – Moderate Regular hours < 30 minutes Vehicle equipped with appropriate fire gear. Regular start with possible All staff must carry PPE and remain contactable. 12 to 24 High < 15 minutes evening extension based on risk Assess the need for pre-positioning of fire crew.

Daily fire action plans are prepared. Spotter flights required based on risk. Pre-position and patrol of both ground units and rotary wing to area of concern. 25 to 49 Very High Possible staggered shifts with 5 minutes Activation of Incident management team will be considered. Fire Weather Warning evening extensions Activation of a tactical air observer will be considered. Trail and reserve closure will be implemented. Hot works shutdown to occur in reserves. Campfire restrictions implemented.

MAC group assess the availability of interstate support resources. 50 plus Severe, Extreme, Possible staggered shifts with Total closure of specified reserves and trails implemented. Catastrophic 5 minutes evening extensions Level 3 Incident Management Teams along with resources Total Fire Ban may be pre-positioned.

Planning flights) are in place and operating when the fire danger risk is forecast to exceed 25 FDI. An FDI value of 24 and/or forecast A Daily Fire Action Plan has been developed and will be lightning event over areas will trigger the need for the initiation enhanced to assist PWS staff evaluate risk and determine of spotter flights and linked via the Daily Fire Action Plan. whether threats are located adjacent to areas of high value. The Detection Layer of the BRAM indicates where the existing The plan will assist making appropriate adjustments or pre- detection gaps are located (see Appendix: Map 23). The flight placement of additional response units geographically as paths of spotter flights, ground and air patrol units will be close as possible to the threat and improve effectiveness adjusted to ensure that gaps are covered between manned fire (see Appendix 7: Daily Fire Action Plan). This pro-active process towers coverage. will reduce the assembly and response time of resources to a fire location and therefore support increased containment The need for additional ground observation locations can success rate and decrease area and/or value loss. This also be evaluated and implemented during high risk periods. information will be made available to the other fire agency duty Forecast lightning may also require pre-positioning and officers through the PWS state duty officer, which will help to readiness of helicopters and initial attack crews at appropriate implement the existing MAC protocols. locations. There is a need to review the biosecurity protocols established The development of pre-suppression plans for reserves that through Keeping it Clean (Allan and Gartenstein, 2010) of all exhibit high to extreme risk profiles that cannot be mitigated staff involved in operations. could enhance suppression effectiveness. The plan could include table top bushfires scenarios identifying trigger points, control A daily detection plan should be developed to ensure that lines and suppression options. the appropriate detection agents (eg fire towers, spotter

28 Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 Training A training program review should be put in place to ensure 6. Fire Response that staff are competent, and that training is delivered in a standard fashion. The review should also identify any 6.1 Context shortcomings to the present training program and help support Fire response controls are designed to mitigate the impact once the development of any new course requirements. the incident occurs. The updating of the existing statement of duties, along with a performance management system to reflect departmental needs in fire management, would greatly assist in addressing 6.2 Objective specific resource shortages. Reduce the deleterious impacts of fire on life, the environment and assets whilst acknowledging that fire is a natural part of the environment (eg regular fire is required for regeneration and Resourcing habitat maintenance in heathland and dry forest communities Development of a procedure to utilise employees along with but has detrimental effects in peat, alpine and rainforest volunteers in non-combatant fire roles would greatly enhance communities). the resourcing shortage when a fire occurs. A review of fitness standard requirements for specific fire roles may also assist in the utilisation of staff who presently cannot meet the existing 6.3 Strategies and Actions fitness requirements. (Summary of Strategies see Table 17) The region should develop a process to assess and review The ideal goal of a successful program is to arrive on the their equipment utilisation and allocation levels. Equipment may scene when the fire is in such a state and size that the available need to be shifted from low use areas or increased in areas of resources dispatched can control and contain it within the first high use if the existing levels do not adequately provide for the burning period (before 10 am the following day). Fire reponse area’s needs. should not cause environmental damage through incursion The Department owns and operates numerous infrastructure of weeds and pathogens as a result of soil disturbance using facilities, and should explore the opportunity to design an machinery or creating access points for unauthorised users. infrastructure protection response component to our fire The Bushfire Risk Assessment Model has attempted to collect a suppression units. The modifications to our existing light thorough database of all the constructed, forest/agriculture and tanker units with a combination of portable pumps, sprinklers natural values which are located within and/or adjacent to our and/or fire-gel products could be completed, increasing our parks reserves. The Values at Risk layer will display the priorities effectiveness and reducing the risk to the personal safety of fire of values which can be used to help identify high value areas. fighters in dealing with this type of situation.

Table 12: Summary of Strategies for Preparedness

Strategy Appropriate Level of Action Who to Action Resource Status

Develop a daily fire action plan Region ongoing

Planning Develop a detection plan Region un-resourced

Develop pre-suppression plan Region un-resourced

Review biosecurity protocols Region ongoing

Review and update departmental training program Fire Management Section un-resourced

HR/Fire Management Training Update position SOD ongoing Section

Review and update staff WLATS Region ongoing

Develop process to utilise non-fire-active PWS Fire Management Section/ un-resourced and non-PWS staff in non-combatant roles HR

Resourcing Develop a process to assess annual resource allocation Region un-resourced

Develop infrastructure protection unit component for Fire Management Section un-resourced light tanker

*Register of Un-resourced Strategies (see Appendix 10) Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 29 Action of our existing light tanker units to provide a combination of portable pumps, sprinklers and/or fire gel products would Through staff training and the implementation of regional and increase our effectiveness and reduce the risk to the personal state duty officer roster systems, along with the use of the safety of fire fighters in dealing with this type of situation. Australasian Inter-service Incident Management System (AIIMS) being used during bushfires, helps to ensure that knowledgeable FDI value triggers are recommended to be put in place to assist decisions are being made. staff to know what the predicted fire behaviour in fuels will be and the type of suppression tactic which will be successful. The Department has existing policies, interagency protocols Note that increased fuel loads, in conjunction with high Soil and procedures to guide our fire response see( Table 2). Earth- Dryness Index (SDI) values, drastically increase fire behaviour. moving equipment may be required to be used within the The information below (see Tables 13, 14, 15, 16) will be used reserve system, although proper authorisation is required. as a guide to assist staff in determining the correct type and The existing interstate mutual aid agreement for fire fighting amount of resources to dispatch to a bushfire at a given Fire support with Victoria has been renewed and work is continuing Danger Index. to develop a single agreement with all forest fire management The strategies of burn-out and aerial ignition discussed in agencies Australia-wide. Additional procedures will be Tables 14 and 15 are not presently supported by the PWS developed as information and resources become available. training program. The opportunity to develop these skills from The Department owns and operates numerous items of international training organisations should be explored. infrastructure, many of which are located in remote locations. The development and implementation of the Fire Management If a bushfire occurs, our staff and equipment are often the first Zone protocols will assist in the assessment and prioritisation to respond. The Department should therefore explore the of a single- and multi-fire start situation. Through the ongoing opportunity to design an infrastructure protection response development of fire management reserve strategies the areas component to our fire suppression units. The modification will be redefined and clarified.

Table 13: Suppression Strategies – Dry Sclerophyll (fuel load@15 tonnes/ha)

Head Fire Intensities Rate of Spread Head Fire Flame Fire Danger Index Strategy/Tactic (Kw/m) (km/hr) Height (m)

< 5 < 675 .09 2.0 Direct Attack: Hand Tools

5–12 675–1 589 .26 5.0 Direct Attack: Hand Tools

12–24 1 589–3 105 .40 8. Anchor-Flank: Tankers/Aircraft

24–50 3 105–7 650 .85 14. Indirect: Tankers/Aircraft

50–100 7 650–12 600 1.6 Crown Indirect: Burn-out

100 + >12 600 Crown Indirect: Aerial Ignition

Table 14: Suppression Strategies – Moorland Buttongrass (fuel load@10 tonnes/ha; 10 year old, medium productivity site)

Moorland Fire Danger Head Fire Intensities Head Fire Flame Height Rate of Spread (Km/hr) Strategy/Tactic Index (Kw/m) (m)

<3 <900 .30 2.0 Direct Attack: Hand Tools

7 900 – 1 800 .60 3.0 Anchor-Flank: Hand Tools

14 1 800 – 3 600 1.20 5.0 Indirect: Tankers/ Aircraft

30 3 600 – 7 200 2.40 7.5 Indirect: Aircraft

50 7 200 – 10 800 3.60 10.0 Indirect: Burn-out

*Register of Un-resourced Strategies (see Appendix 10)

30 Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 Table 15: Typical Rate of Spread for Dry Sclerophyll Forest and Moorland Buttongrass, Time to 1.0 ha. and size at 1 hour response (after fire has established 100m flame front)

TYPICAL FIRE BEHAVIOUR Fire Danger (Based on fire having already accelerated and established a 100m flame front) Index FUEL TYPE FROS (m/min.) TIME TO Size in 60 (fuel load 15t/ha) TYPICAL FIRE TYPE 1.0 ha. Minute Range Average

FDI < 5 Dry Sclerophyll <1.5 <1.5 37.3 min 2.5 ha Ground Surface

FDI 6 – 12 Dry Sclerophyll 1.6–3.5 2.6 21.5 min 7.6 ha Surface

FDI 13 – 24 Dry Sclerophyll 3.6–6.8 5.3 10.6 min 31.8 ha Vigorous Surface/Torching

FDI 25 – 50 Dry Sclerophyll 7.2–14.2 10.7 5.2 min 129.4 ha Torching/Crown

FDI 51 – 100 Dry Sclerophyll >14.2 14.2 4 min 228 ha Active Crown

FDI > 101 Dry Sclerophyll Active Crown

MFDR 1 – 3 Moorland <4. 2.2 25.5 min 5.5 ha Surface

MFDR 4 – 5 Moorland 4.5–8 6.3 8.9 min 44.9 ha Running Surface

MFDR 6 – 12 Moorland 8–17 12.5 4.5 min 176.6 ha Vigorous Surface/ Spotting

MFDR 13 – 24 Moorland 18–34 26 2.2 min 764.1 ha Long Distance Spotting

MFDR 25 – 50 Moorland 35–70 52.5 1 min 3 115.7 ha Unpredictable

MFDR 51 – 100 Moorland > 70 > 70 Unpredictable

NOTE: Table based on McArthur Mk5 (FDI) and Moorland Fire Danger Rating Models (MFDR). Drought Factor assumption 10. The Bushfire Management Decision Support Matrixalong with the Fire Management Zone protocols was developed to assist fire management staff to determine what the appropriate tactic and strategy for the specific reserve locations.

Table 16: Bushfire Management Decision Support Matrix

Zone Season/FDI Initial Attack Sustained Action

Asset All Ye s Ye s

Asset Protection All Ye s Yes (will assess if required if it occurs in a proposed burn block)

Fire Season : FDI>12 Yes – for the first Fire will be assessed on whether it will stay within confines of the zone or if it Strategic Fuel burning period occurs in a proposed burn block. If confirmed fire may be monitored or if in Management question indirect attack tactics may be utilised to maintain fire within zone. Outside season: FDI>12 No

Yes – for the first Fire Season : FDI>12 Fire will be assessed on whether it will stay within confines of the zone, burning period Land Management if confirmed fire will be monitored. Indirect or direct suppression tactics will be employed if fire leaves zone. Outside season: FDI>12 No

*Register of Un-resourced Strategies (see Appendix 10)

Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 31 Table 17: Summaries of Strategies for Response

Once a fire is reported, dispatch the closest and appropriate number Regional Fire Duty ActionStrategy Appropriate Level of Action Who to Action Rongoingesource Status of resources, if available Officer

Manager Fire Ensure that staff making the decision are competent at that level ongoing Operations

Ensure, within limits of overall resource constraints, that sufficient Regional Fire Duty support resources are in place to back up initial attack or shifting ongoing Officer requirements

Manager Fire Ensure decisions are made consistently ongoing Operations

7. Recovery – Restoration 7.1 Context Once a bushfire has been controlled and extinguished there is a need to have a Bushfire Rehabilitation Response Plan (BRRP)in place to prevent the recurrent and further degradation of the affected values. Fire Restoration To aid in the implementation of this objective the Department should develop a bushfire rehabilitation guideline. Within 7.2 Objective the document will be a process that will assist an Incident Controller in a method which they can assess and address the An effective, transparent, systematic and efficient management short term negative impacts caused by a bushfire. process to assess and restore the social, environmental and economic impact of a bushfire area back to a working and The additional development of a Bushfire Rehabilitation balanced state. It will be required to be implemented as soon Response Plan process will be required to address long term as possible. negative impacts caused by large landscape bushfires. The process will identify specific trigger points which will activate the process, identifying the immediate and long term resource 7.3 Strategies and Actions requirements, protocols for assistance from other agencies (eg Resource Management and Conservation Division, BAAT Critical Incident Management Team), along with reporting procedures. The Department trains all staff involved with bushfires in the process and implementation the Australasian Inter-service Incident Management System. One purpose of AIIMS is to provide a management framework for the effective and efficient control of incidents, and through its implementation provides mechanisms to minimise stress occurring. Bushfire incidents are constantly monitored within the AIIMS system by the incident controller, or externally through the regional/state duty officer systems. If a situation arises and conditions are warranted, internal or external support agencies are engaged to assist staff in dealing with the occurrence. A procedure is in place to schedule debriefs after all type 3 incidents. Through this process, along with the year end summary debrief, the Department goes through a lessons learned procedure that will hopefully identify those things that worked and those which did not during the past season. These findings, if required, can then be used in adjusting policies or procedures for the upcoming seasons.

32 Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 Table 18: Summary of Strategies for Recovery – Restoration

Strategy Appropriate Level of Action Who to Action Resource Status

Actively manage critical incident stress through incident debriefing and support mechanisms Critical Incident Management Manager Fire Provide counselling to staff when required through ongoing Operations the departmental Employee Assistance Program

Conduct external and internal all party debriefs

Assess the need for formal bushfire rehabilitation guideline during and after every fire and the need to Incident Controller engage BAAT teams Fire Restoration Fire Management In the short term perform burn area stabilisation Section – Planning/ un-resourced and rehabilitation work to protect social, economic Policy Assurance, and environment values Resource Management and Conservation Development of BRRP guidelines, policies in regards Division to all impacts

*Register of Un-resourced Strategies (see Appendix 10)

8. Standards, Monitoring and Reporting

8.1 Context Data Collection An adaptive management process is imperative for a successful Fire data is a fundamental ecological dataset used widely for and positive fire management program. Establishment of biodiversity planning, policy and management. It provides a standards, monitoring and reporting procedures will support basis for a range of biodiversity analysis and reporting from and validate current and future program direction. the State of the Environment Reports to State of the Forests and others. There is need for the Department to investigate options for high resolution mapping by remote sensing means 8.2 Objective of fires greater then 50 hectares and in forest types in which To provide measurement standards to assess the effectiveness canopy inhibits assessments (eg rainforest). A method should of the Strategic Fire Management Plan, subordinate operational be developed to determine where and when vegetation plans and to provide a means to collect data that can be used communities have been exposed to inappropriate fire regimes in submission to the AFAC – Landscape Fire Performance (eg too frequent burning). This ability to have an accurate Measures and PWS Strategic Plan – Performance Indicators. account of annual fire impacts assists land management agencies in adjusting natural value prioritising in risk assessments. 8.3 Strategies and Actions Landscape Fire Performance Measures Reporting (Australasian Fire and Emergency Bushfire and Planned Burn Reporting Services Authorities Council) It is essential that good record-keeping is undertaken for The Department this year will provide Phase 1 data for national bushfires and planned burns. This data is essential for fire reporting to the Productivity Commission for the 2005/06 to management planning, the BRAM, risk assessment and reporting 2009/10 years. They are as follows: at many levels, including performance measures, annual reports A1 Fire deaths due to landscape fires per 100 000 of etc. Regional staff must ensure that all reports for bushfires population and planned burns are submitted to Fire Management Section in a timely manner in accordance with PWS policies and A3 Fire injuries to fire fighters due to landscape fires per procedures. 100 000 of population

Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 33 E1 The number of landscape fires per 100 000 of population Reporting C1 The number of primary dwellings destroyed by landscape Consistent monitoring and reporting is crucial and required fires per 100 000 dwellings. against identified performance indicators. A two-tier reporting We will continue to redefine and work on the collection of system will capture information at both strategic and Phase 2 indicators by 2011(see Appendix 8). operational levels. The Fire Management Section is to report against set targets which are identified within the PWS Strategic Performance Indicators Plan and will develop additional targets (eg percentage of (Strategic Plan 2008–2010 ecological burns successfully completed; percentage of asset protection burns completed) in the Regional Strategic Fire Provide annual reporting figures on the following: a) percentage Management Plans. Regional Fire Management Officers will and area of land negatively impacted by bushfire; b) percentage report against individual targets set at the Regional Reserve Fire and number of scheduled controlled burns successfully Management Strategies level. Reporting will be used to track completed; and c) percentage and number of staff trained and program achievements and performance, and assist in decision- actively involved in fire suppression. making. Annual statistics will be analysed, taking into consideration A review of the Fire Management Program will occur on an seasonal and yearly fluctuations, to determine whether the annual basis, but major directional changes should not occur fire management program of the strategic plan is supporting a solely based on yearly statistical figures. A comprehensive reduction of negative impact caused by bushfires. review of the Strategic Fire Management Plan will occur every five years with annual assessments of operational plans to

Operational Indicators capture recent operational and scientific developments. Track and monitor annual bushfire statistics to determine whether implemented operational strategies are successful and make adjustments where required.

Table 19: Summary of Strategies for Standards, Monitoring and Reporting

Strategy Appropriate Level of Action Who to Action Resource Status

Ensure fire and planned reports are Region and Fire Management complete and submitted in a timely ongoing Section manner

Investigate options for remote sensing Fire Management Section un-resourced mapping

Reporting Investigate options for fire regime mapping and the additional reporting of the negative Fire Management Section un-resourced effects caused by bushfires

Provide data for AFAC indicators Fire Management Section ongoing

Provide data for PWS Strategic Plan Fire Management Section ongoing indicators

*Register of Un-resourced Strategies (see Appendix 10)

34 Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 9. Resource Requirements

PWS should ideally develop a transparent and consistent responsibilities and helps to identify its potential resource approach for the identification and prioritisation of resource implications. It is clear that effective and efficient fire allocations for the implementation of the Strategic Fire management strategies will require the sustained effort and Management Plan. The existing approaches used to evaluate resources of all fire management agencies within Tasmania. resources required should not be discarded but should be used as support for the strategic direction. A summary of un- resourced strategies occurs on Appendix 9. Once additional 9.2 Implementation of the Strategic program funds become available prioritisation could occur. Fire Management Plan Specific aspects of the Strategic Fire Management Plan will 9.1 Management of the Regional generate demands on PWS and specific individuals responsible for them. In some areas significant effort will be required to Strategic Fire Management Plan keep the strategic focus through the life of the plan. The Fire Management Section and Northwest Region is Version 1 of the Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management responsible for the implementation of the plan. The functions Plan will be reviewed, analysed and redefined with new data required to monitor the implementation demand human, when available during the development of subsequent versions, technical and physical resources and will be required therefore creating a living document. consistently for the life of the plan. The ongoing maintenance and updating of the BRAM will be The development of the Strategic Fire Management Plan required through the Fire Management Section. Annual data aims to provide a workable document framework that can submission will be required from the stakeholders (eg Resource be adapted to the changing internal and external pressures. Management and Conservation Division, Forestry Tasmania, This collaborative process identifies PWS legal and moral Gunns, Norske Skog, Private Forest, Hydro, Transend, Aurora). In addition there is a necessity to allocate resources to a) assemble and summarise available information on risks and fire needs to natural values; b) annual review of the information; and c) assist in supporting further research for areas where a lack of knowledge exists.

Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 35 10. Reference Documents

The following documents were used in the development of the Keith, DA, and Bradstock, RA, 1994 Fire and competition in Southern Strategic Fire Management Plan. Australian heath: a conceptual model and field investigations. Journal of Vegetation Science 5, 347-354. AFAC Glossary. King, Karen J, 2004 Simulating the Effects of Anthropogenic Burning AS/NZS ISO 31000:2009 Australian Standard Risk Management. Patterns of Biodiversity, 208-214. Alexander and Fogarty, 2002 New Zealand Forest Research – Fire McArthur, AG, 1962 Control Burning in Eucalypt Forests. Technology Transfer Note). Morrison, DA, Cary, GJ, Pengelly, SM, Ross, DG, Mullins, BJ, Thomas, Allan, Kaylene and Gartenstein, Simon, 2010 Keeping it Clean CR, and Anderson, TS, 1995 Effects of fire frequency on plant – A Tasmanian field hygiene manual to prevent the spread of species composition of sandstone communities in the Sydney freshwater pests and pathogens. region: Inter-fire interval and time-since-fire. Australian Journal of Ecology 20, 239-247. Auld, TD, and O’Connell, MA,1989 Changes in predispersal seed predation levels after fire for two Australian legumes, Acacia Parks and Wildlife Service Strategic Plan 2008–2010. elongata and Sphaerolobium vimineum. Oikos 54, 55-9. Parks and Wildlife Service (unpublished). Southern Region Australasian Fire and Emergencies Services Authorities Council, Strategic Fire Management Plan – Project Plan (2010). 2008 Landscape Fire Performance Measures. Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Hobart. Benson, DH, 1985 Maturation periods for fire-sensitive shrub species in Hawkesbury Sandstone vegetation. Cunninghamia 1, 339- Parks and Wildlife Service (unpublished). Bushfire Risk Assessment 349. Model Project Business Process Model (2008). Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Hobart. Bowman, DMJS, 1998 Tansley Review No. 101. The impact of Aboriginal landscape burning on the Australian biota. New Parks and Wildlife Service (unpublished). Tasmanian Bushfire Risk Phytologist 140, 385-410. User Guide (2010). Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Hobart. Bradstock, RA, and Auld, TD, 1995 Soil temperatures during experimental bushfires in relation to fire intensity: consequences Parks and Wildlife Service (unpublished). Tasmanian Bushfire Risk for legume germination and fire management in south-eastern Assessment Model V4 (2011). Department of Primary Industries, Australia. Journal of Applied Ecology 32, 76-84. Parks, Water and Environment, Hobart. Bradstock, RA, Keith, DA, and Auld, TD, 1995 Fire and conservation: Parks and Wildlife Service, 2009 Northern Region Strategic Fire imperatives and constraints on managing for diversity. In Management Plan. Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water ‘Conserving biodiversity: threats and solutions’ (Eds RA Bradstock, and Environment, Hobart. TD Auld, DA Keith, RT Kingsford, D Lunney, and DP Sivertson), Pyrke, AF, and Marsden-Smedley, JB, 2005 Fire-attributes Surrey Beatty and Sons: Chipping Norton, pp. 323-333. categories, fire sensitivity, and flammability of Tasmanian vegetation Cary, GJ, and Morrison, DA, 1995 Effects of fire frequency on plant communities. Tasforests 16, 35-46. species composition of sandstone communities in the Sydney Rawson, R, 2006 Review of Fire Management Risk. Tasmanian Parks region: Combinations of inter-fire intervals. Australian Journal of and Wildlife Service. Ecology 20, 418-426. Specht, RL, and Specht, A, 1989 Species richness of sclerophyll Ellis, S, 2005 The Operational Safety Audit of Fire Management (heathy) plant communities in Australia – the influence of within the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service. overstorey cover. Australian Journal of Botany 37, 337-350. Fire Management Infrastructure Categories and Standards. Tasmania Fire Service, 1995 Guidelines for Development in Gill, AM, and Groves, RH, 1981 Fire régimes in heathlands and their Bushfire Prone Areas in Tasmania. plant-ecological effects. In ‘Ecosystems of the World 9B. Heathlands Threatened Species Section, 2010 Prioritisation of Threatened and related shrublands’ (Ed R L Specht), Elsevier: Amsterdam, pp. Flora and Fauna, Recovery Actions for the Tasmanian NRM 61-84. Regions. Nature Conservation Report 10/03 Department of Gill, AM, and Bradstock, RA, 1992 A national register for the fire Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Hobart. responses of plant species. Cunninghamia 2, 653-660. Tolhurst, K, 2000 Guidelines for Ecological Burning in Foothill Harris, S, 1991 Coastal vegetation. In ‘Tasmanian native bush: Forest of Victoria. a management handbook’. (Ed JB Kirkpatrick), Tasmanian Wood, SW, Murphy, BP and Bowman DMJS, 2011 Firescape Environment Centre: Hobart, pp. 128-147. ecology: how topography determines the contrasting distribution Jones, D, 1988 ‘Native orchids of Australia.’ Reed: Forest, NSW. of fire and rainforest in the south-west of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.

36 Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 11. Glossary and abbreviations

Aerial Ignition: ignition of fuels by dropping incendiary Fire Response: actions taken in anticipation of, during, and devices or materials from aircraft immediately after an incident to ensure that its effects are AFAC: Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Authorities minimised Council Fire Regime: a combination of variables of fire frequency, Anchor: an advantageous location, usually a barrier to fire season of occurrence, fire severity and fire size which best spread, from which to start constructing a fire line describe a given landscape APZ: asset protection zone Fire Severity: a general term most commonly used to describe the combined affects of both flaming combustion and AS: Australian Standards document smouldering combustion on either a bushfire or prescribed AS/NZS: Australian/New Zealand Standard document fire site as manifested in various fire behaviour characteristics (eg fire intensity, flame height and length, residence and burn- BOM: Bureau of Meteorology out times etc) BRAM: Bushfire Risk Assessment Model Fire Suppression: all activities concerned with controlling and BRRP: Bushfire Rehabilitation Response Plan extinguishing a fire following its detection; synonymous with fire control Burn-out: a fire set to consume islands of unburnt fuel inside the fire perimeter and between the fire edge and fireline Fire Type: true cause of fire ignition Bushfire: a general term used to describe a fire in vegetation Flammability Class: a method used to classify vegetation into similar flammable characteristics Community Fire Refuges: buildings identified by the TFS in partnership with councils and other government agencies that Flank: obtaining control of a fire by attacking its side/s (flank/s) offer basic amenities including temporary shelter, drinking water FOD: Forestry Operations database and toilet facilities FROS: forward rate of spread Crown Fire: a fire that advances from top to top of trees or shrubs FT: Forestry Tasmania Direct Attack: a method of fire attack where wet or dry fire Fuel Group: a method used to group vegetation types with fighting techniques are used. It involves suppression action right similar fuel structure arrangements on the fire edge which then becomes the fireline FWD: four wheel drive Emergency Response Plan: a document which helps GIS: Geographic Information System provide direction to staff in case of an emergency GM: General Manager of Parks and Wildlife Service Fire Cycle: a period of time within which an area equal to the total vegetation type will be burned Ground Fire: fire that consumes the organic material beneath the surface litter ground, such as a peat fire FDI: Fire Danger Index ha: hectares Fire Behaviour Potential: factors that would affect the development and propagation of a fire Ignition Potential: a method to classify historical ignition records along with potential start from natural causes of Fire Frequency: total number of fires that occurred over a occurrence which could indicate a risk period of time Indirect Attack: a method of suppression in which the Fire Intensity: measurement of the amount of energy control line is located some considerable distance away released per given length of flame front from the fire’s active edge. Generally done in the case of a Fire Preparedness: all activities undertaken in advance of fast-spreading or high-intensity fire and to utilise natural or an incident to decrease the impact, extent and severity of the constructed firebreaks or fuelbreaks and favourable breaks incident and to ensure more effective response activities in the topography. The intervening fuel is usually backburnt; but occasionally the main fire is allowed to burn to the line, Fire Prevention: all activities concerned with minimising the depending on conditions occurrence of incidents, particular those of human origin IT: information technology Fire Recovery: the coordinated process of supporting emergency affected area in reconstruction km/hr: kilometres per hour Kw/m: kilowatts per metre

Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 37 Likelihood: the combination of ignition potential, suppression capabilities and fire behaviour potential Nearby Safer Place: an pre-identified area as close to your home as possible which is open area that offers some protection from radiant heat Neighbourhood Safer Place: an area identified by Tasmania Fire Service which is likely to be an open area that offers some protection from radiant heat; it should only be used as a last resort NERAG: National Emergency Risk Assessment Guide m: metre MAC: multi-agency coordinating group consisting of members from Forestry Tasmania, Tasmania Fire Service and Parks and Wildlife Service MFDR: Moorland Fire Danger Rating Pre-Suppression: activities organised in advance of fire occurrence to ensure effective suppression action and/or to minimise risk to humans and resource damage PWS: Parks and Wildlife Service Red Zone: computer software program designed to assess bushfire risk at a local scale RFDO: Regional Fire Duty Officer SDI: Soil Dryness Index SFMP: Strategic Fire Management Plan SOD: Statement Of Duties Spotting: behaviour of a fire, producing sparks or embers that are carried by the wind and start new fires beyond the zone of direct ignition by the main fire Suppression Capabilities: areas within the state where bushfire occurrences can be detected and actioned utilising existing fire management procedures and resources Surface Fire: fire that burns loose debris on the surface, which includes dead branches, leaves and low vegetation TAFI: Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fishing Institute Tanker: a mobile fire fire fighting vehicle equipped with a water tank, pump, and the necessary equipment for spraying water and/or foam on bushfires TASVEG: Tasmanian Vegetation Inventory System TFS: Tasmania Fire Service Torching: a tree (or small clump of trees) is said to candle when its foliage ignites and flares up, usually from the bottom to top V1: Version 1 Values at Risk: object or location that holds a relative value WLAT: Working , Learning and Achieving Together document Wildfire: see bushfire

38 Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 Appendix 1: Fire Planning Framework, Fire Planning Policy, Parks and Wildlife Service

National Parks & Reserves Management Act 2002

Code of Practice for Fire Management Other codes of practice State

PWS Policies, procedures, guidelines, prescriptions

Regional Strategic Fire Management Plans

Other plans, eg statutory Regional procedures and instructions management plans, emergency management plans

Region Reserve(s) / Area Fire Management Strategies

Fire Works Plans Annual Planned Burning Fire Action Plan Fire Emergency & RAAs Program and RAAs Response Plans

Field Centre Prevention and Planned Burn Forms Rehabilitation Plans Incident Action preparedness works and burns and works Plans and response assisted by FMS operations

Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 39 Tenure Type – Nature Reserve

Appendix 2: Northwest Region Reserve Name Area (Ha) Breakdown The Doughboys Nature Reserve 17 Lake Johnson Nature Reserve 138 Three Sisters –Goat Island Nature 48 Reserve Tenure Type – Historic Site Kentford Forest Nature Reserve 37 Albatross Island Nature Reserve 22 Name Area (Ha) Reid Rocks Nature Reserve 4 Strahan Customs House Historic Site >1 Sith Cala Nature Reserve 115 Lyons Cottage Historic Site >1 Dismal Swamp Nature Reserve 102 Highfield Historic Site 4 Black Pyramid Rock Nature Reserve 40 Cape Sorell Historic Site 85 Penguin Islet Nature Reserve 4 Macquarie Harbour Historic Site 15205 Councillor Island Nature Reserve 19 Currie Lightkeepers Residence >1 Historic Site Christmas Island Nature Reserve 95

Tenure Type – National Park Tenure Type – Regional Reserve

Name Area (Ha) Name Area (Ha) Dip Range Regional Reserve 4131 Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair 161336 National Park Gog Range Regional Reserve 1646 Franklin – Gordon Wild Rivers Leven Canyon Regional Reserve 2474 445281 National Park Meredith Range Regional Reserve 71315 Rocky Cape National Park 3081 Mount Dundas Regional Reserve 38802 Savage River National Park 17963 Mount Farrell Regional Reserve 1783 Southwest National Park 605004 Mount Heemskirk Regional Reserve 11106 Walls of Jerusalem National Park 51730 Mount Murchison Regional Reserve 7334 Mount Roland Regional Reserve 7107 Tenure Type – Nature Recreation Area Parting Creek Regional Reserve 1879 Savage River Regional Reserve 19080 Name Area (Ha) Tikkawoppa Regional Reserve 4528 Lake Barrington Nature Recreation 235 Tyndall Regional Reserve 12674 Area West Coast Range Regional Reserve 18025 Reynolds Falls 13354 Lukes Knob 3127 Briant Hill 126 Crotty Ridge 145 Donaldson River 30621 Four Mile Beach 145 Mount Dial 419 Renison Bell 145 Mount Montgomery 421 Black Bluff 146 Tenure Type – State Reserve

Name Area (Ha) Alum Cliffs State Reserve 1585 Cape Wickham State Reserve 3 Eugenana State Reserve >1 Ferndene State Reserve 35 Forth Falls State Reserve 52 Hellyer Gorge State Reserve 3049 Henty Glacial Erratics State Reserve 1 Kimberley Springs State Reserve >1 Lavinia State Reserve 7022 Little Peggs beach State Reserve 158 Mersey Bluff State Reserve >1 Mount Montgomery State Reserve 275 Pieman River State Reserve 3900 Roger River State Reserve 182 Seal Rock State Reserve 584 Sundown Point State Reserve 158 Table Cape State Reserve 12 The Nut State Reserve 68 Three Hummock State Reserve 7194 Trial Harbour State Reserve >1

40 Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 Trowutta Caves State Reserve 65 Calder River Conservation Area 56 West Point State Reserve 560 Mount Hicks Road Conservation Area 12 Yellow Creek State Reserve 71 Flowerdale River Conservation Area 10 Calm Bay 378 Table Cape Conservation Area 126 Gunns Plain 416 Fossil Bluff Conservation Area 36 Welcome River 471 Doctors Rocks Conservation Area 104 Detention Falls Conservation Area 328 Sisters Island Conservation Area 2 Forwards Beach Conservation Area 98 Type – Game Reserves Edgcumbe Beach Conservation Area 48 Black River South Conservation Area 24 Farm Cove Game Reserve 377 Stanley Conservation Area 6 Bird Island Game Reserve 304 Peggs Beach Conservation Area 275 Petrel Island Game Reserve 649 West Inlet Conservation Area 69 Stack Island Game Reserve 624 Tatlows Beach Conservation Area 66 New Year island Game Reserve 227 Black River Conservation Area 21 Black River Bridge Conservation Area 13 Heazlewood Hill Conservation Area 257 Crown Land Precinct Bernafai Ridge Conservation Area 1636 Unnamed CA (Duck Bay) 1542 Cradle Airstrip <1 Lees Point Conservation Area 388 Queenstown <1 Perkins Island Conservation Area 232 Lillico Beach <1 Big Bay Conservation Area 248 Rocky Cape <1 Lake Mikany Conservation Area 32 Arthur River <1 Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area 103765 King Island <1 Arthur River Conservation Area 35 Ulverstone <1 Roger River Conservation Area 21 Brick Islands Conservation Area 12 Harcus Island Conservation Area 17 Kangaroo Island Conservation Area 169 Conservation Areas Wallaby Islands Conservation Area 89 NAME Area Montagu Island Conservation Area 95 St Clair Lagoon Conservation Area 14 Howie Island Conservation Area 40 Princess River Conservation Area 8626 Slaves Bay Conservation Area 39 Granite Tor Conservation Area 22415 Hunter Island Conservation Area 7322 Crotty Conservation Area 4415 Murkay Islets Conservation Area 14 Tully River Conservation Area 6 Harbour Islets Conservation Area 11 Clarence River Conservation Area 15 Kentford Forest Conservation Area 93 Lake Beatrice Conservation Area 2966 Colliers Swamp Conservation Area 1087 Ocean Beach Conservation Area 6272 Cataraqui Point Conservation Area 300 Unnamed CA (Sun Ridge) 263 Stokes Point Conservation Area 244 Dasher River Conservation Area 197 Red Hut Point Conservation Area 191 Unnamed CA (Mersey River) 125 Seal Rocks Conservation Area 459 Mount Roland Conservation Area 308 Counsel Hill Conservation Area 1209 Narrawa Road Conservation Area 15 Tathams Lagoon Conservation Area 12 Forth Falls Creek Conservation Area 35 Sea Elephant Conservation Area 730 Seagull Islet Conservation Area 5 Porky Beach Conservation Area 455 Lillico Beach Conservation Area 51 Cape Wickham Conservation Area 99 Blythe River Conservation Area 934 Eldorado Conservation Area 107 Upper Blythe Conservation Area 120 Central Plateau Conservation Area 4705 Unnamed CA (Fern Glade) 44 Southwest Conservation Area 147778 Unnamed CA (Gunns Plains) 60 Chasm Creek Conservation Area 55 Gunns Plains Conservation Area 15 Dove River Conservation Area 860 Unnamed CA (Clerkes Hill) 15 Swift Creek Conservation Area 461 Vale of Belvoir Conservation Area 4267 Cam River South Conservation Area 71 Emu River Conservation Area 327 Cam River Conservation Area 112 East Cam River Conservation Area 45

Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 41 Appendix 3A: Bushfire Risk Assessment Model Flow Diagram – Ignition Potential

Likelihood

Ignition Potential

Historical Lightning Probability BOM Professional Fire Records Observation

Fires (PWS-FT) Optical Transient 1966–2009 Satellite Detector

Fires (TFS) Strike Data 2006–2007 1998–2009 Fire Season

42 Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 Appendix 3B: Bushfire Risk Assessment Model Flow Diagram – Suppression Capabilities

Likelihood

Supression Capabilities

Optimum Bucketing Ground Attack Rotary Wing Detection Capabilities Capabilities Coverage Attack Coverage

Hydrology Fire Towers PWS Bases PWS Bases – Large River/Lakes

Water Sources TFS Brigade Bases TFS Base (FT/Gunns) Spotter Flights

Commercial Fixed Wing Routes

Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 43 Consequences

Appendix 3C: Bushfire Risk Assessment Model Flow Diagram – Values at Risk Values at Risk

Forest/Agriculture Natural Values Constructed Values Values

Production Forest Flora Values PWS–IMS Value Classes

Neighbour Research Monitoring Fauna Values

Wildland Urban Interface Agriculture Production Geo-Morphic

High Life Risk Water Catchment

Multi Occupancy Ramsar Sites

Businesses

Single Occupancy

Infrastructre

Critical Infrastructure

Burnable/Replaceable Infrastructre

Heritage Buildings

Non-Burnable

44 Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 Appendix 3D: Bushfire Risk Assessment Model Flow Diagram – Fire Behaviour Potential

Likelihood

Fire Behaviour Potential

Head Fire Fuel Flammability Slope Factor Intensity Grid Grid

90 Weather Percentile

Fuel Group

Rate of Spread

Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 45 Appendix 4: Consequence Table

46 Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 Appendix 5: State Fire Commission Statement Policy

Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 47 Appendix 6: Asset Protection Zone – Rocky Cape

Strategic Fuel Management Zone – Arthur Pieman Conservation Area

48 Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 Appendix 7: Daily Fire Action Plan

PWS Fire Ac+on Plan Effec%ve Date

State Fire Duty Officer Geoff Coles Northern Region Duty Officer Average FDI 75‐99 Extreme Ac7oned Required Ground Patrol ‐ specified Route Number Route 28 Staff on FDA Prospect Emms Chris 0429 353 178 Mole Creek Overend Linda 0429 977 711 Liawenee None Narawntapu Kearns Brenda 0418 569 563 Flinders Island Dick Wayne Tamar Van Brecht David 0427 098 070 ScoXsdale Couzens Dominique 0427 560 451 Freycinet None St Helens None Mt William Geoghegan

Northwest Region Duty Officer Average FDI 100+ Catastrophic Ac7oned Required Ground Patrol ‐ specified Route Number Route 14 Staff on FDA Ulverstone Fordham Mark Stanley Hefferon Peter King Island None Cradle Mt Bugg Ted Lake St Clair Norris Trevor Strahan None Queenstown Beams Sandra Arthur River Hamilton Bob 0448 179 368

Southern Region Duty Officer Average FDI 25‐49 Very High Ac7oned Required Walking Track Closure Route Number Route 5 Staff on FDA Derwent Cusick Peter Huonville None Has%ng Price Peter 7 Mile Beach Dudgeon Stuart 0427 570 080 Maria Island None Mt Field Moonie Brendan 0488 678 881 Bruny Island Edwards Bernard 0417 384 548

Fire Crew Pre‐ Deployment 1 Bruny Island Helicopter Pre‐Posi%on 1 Friendlys Beach Airstrip IMT Ac%vated Incident Management Team‐2 Contact Details Cargill Andrew 0439 384 929 Helicopter Pre‐Posi%on 2 none Fire Crew Pre‐ Deployment 2 7 Mile Beach Contact Details Cleaver Clancie 0428 641 804 Fire Crew Pre‐ Deployment 3 None Contact Details Fire Crew Pre‐ Deployment 4 None Contact Details Fire Crew Pre‐ Deployment 5 7 Mile Beach Contact Details Hagell Stuart 0408 653 350

Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 49 Adrian Pyrke 1‐11 Low‐Moderate Reserve Closure Reserve Closure Reserve Closure Ashley Rushton 12‐24 High Walking Track Closure Walking Track Closure Walking Track Closure Chris Colley 25‐49 Very High Reserve Fire RestricEon Reserve Fire RestricEon Reserve Fire RestricEon Geoff Coles 50‐74 Severe Total Fire Ban Total Fire Ban Total Fire Ban Mark Bryce 75‐99 Extreme SpoPer Flight Required SpoPer Flight Required SpoPer Flight Required Shane Breen 100+ Catastrophic Ground Patrol ‐ specified Ground Patrol ‐ specified Ground Patrol ‐ specifed Stuart Lennox None None None

Duggan Phil 0427 570 108 KeaEng Trevor 0428 333 884 Black Paul 0429 358 622 Emms Chris 0429 353 178 Fordham Mark 0428 524 998 Cusick Peter 0427 528 595 Stanley Donna 0428 151 918 Staier Eddie 0427 998 712 McConnell Kent 0418 524 948 Summers Steve 0407 337 508 Ashlin Tim None None Pharoah Mark 0427 820 071 Buck Rob 0427 328 973 Overend Linda 0429 977 711 Bishop Merv 0400 965 609 Garner Michael 0427 648 467 None Hefferon Peter 0418 363 468 None Cousins Mike 0437 598 148 None Stafford Peter 0458 336 268 Neasey Jason 0417 124b406 None Davison Shelley 0438 036 899 None None Price Peter 0428 983 158 Freestone Simon 0429 857 187 Kearns Brenda 0418 569 563 Bugg Ted 0427 853 914 Dudgeon Stuart 0427 570 080 Timmerman Anthony 0407 848 760 None Hall Grant 0428 319 016 None Helleman Paul 0428 484 053 Dick Wayne 0427 592 217 Norris Trevor 0429 839 067 None Warren Wayne 0427 594 539 None None Lingard Peter 0438 571 420 Smith Adam 0409 506 029 Arthur Chris 0438 066 079 None Van Brecht David 0427 098 070 None Wicks Phillip 0427 057 541 Widdowson JusEn 0429 963 921 Norman Natasha 0400 974 733 None Moonie Brendan 0488 678 881 Beams Sandra 0407 318 007 None Couzens Dominique 0427 560 451 None None Edwards Bernard 0417 384 548 Gale William 0428 571 277 None Evert Steve 0429 419 395 Hamilton Bob 0448 179 368 Frelek Dave 0418 135 355 None Hunter Mark 0429 432 473 None

Allen Vern 0417 158 369 Downing Clinton 0409 386 990 None Poole Lionel 0419 006 856

Geoghegan David 0427 193 440 None

7 Mile Beach Burt Adam 0439 739 858 Friendlys Beach Airstrip Incident Management Team ‐1 Arthur River Cargill Andrew 0439 384 929 St Helen Staging area Incident Management Team‐2 Bruny Island Clark Laurence 0429 660 319 ScoPs Peak‐PWS pad Incident Management Team‐3 Cradle Mt Cleaver Clancie 0428 641 804 Ryan's Point Incident Management Team‐4 Flinders Island Coles Jeremy 0400 318 211 Mt Field‐PWS pad Freycinet Hoar Dan 0439 605 898 Strahan Airport Ground Patrol ‐specify Petersen Daral 0407 362 224 Zeehan Airport HasEngs Shaw James 0418 172 556 Derwent Bridge ‐ PWS pad Huonville SimoneEs George 0438 954 895 Cradle Mt ‐ PWS pad King Island Smith Fergus 0438 906 357 none Lake St Clair Walker Linda 0428 577 488 Liawenee Ward Neville 0407 618 444 Lutuna Watson Rod 0400 875 750 Maria Island Duggan John 0407 618 444 Mole Creek Hagell Stuart 0408 653 350 Mt Field Taylor David 0429 961 692 Mt William Whight Sandra 0429 832 625 Route 23 Route 10 Route 1 Narawntapu Wright Adele 0427 486 261 Route 24 Route 11 Route 2 None Route 25 Route 12 Route 3 Prospect Route 26 Route 13 Route 4 Queenstown Route 27 Route 14 Route 5 ScoPsdale Route 28 Route 15 Route 6 St Helens Route 29 Route 16 Route 7 Stanley Route 30 Route 17 Route 8 Strahan Route 31 Route 18 Route 9 Tamar Route 32 Route 19 N/A Toolsa Street Route 33 Route 20 Ulverstone Route 34 Route 21 Route 35 Route 22 Route 36 N/A Route 37 Route 38 Route 39 Route 40 Route 41 Route 42 Route 43 Route 44 Route 45 Route 46 Route 47 N/A

50 Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 Appendix 8: Fire History Northwest Region

Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 51 Appendix 9: Register of Un-resourced Strategies

State Responsibilities

Section Strategy Type Action

development of fire awareness presentations Education Prevention development of emergency response plans

Engineering assessment of private infrastructure on PWS tenure

develop a process to utilise non-fire-active PWS and non-PWS staff in non-combatant roles Preparedness Resourcing

develop infrastructure protection unit component for light tanker

development of fire rehabilitation guideline Recovery Fire Restoration development of Bushfire Rehabilitation Response Plan process

determine options for accurate mapping of landscape bushfires Reporting Resourcing determine a method to assess the negative impact caused by bushfires to the inappropriate sequencing of fire regimes on vegetation communites

Region Responsibilities

Section Strategy Type Action

inventory and classification of water source locations Prevention Engineering campfire and sign strategy

develop a detection plan Planning development of pre-suppression plans Preparedness

develop a process to assess annual resource requirements Resourcing

52 Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 Appendix 10: State Area Burned in Percentage/Sensitivity

Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012 53

w

Contact details Fire Management Section Parks and Wildlife Service GPO Box 1751, Hobart Tasmania 7001

Contact details

Fire Management Section

Parks and Wildlife Service

GPO Box 1751

Hobart , Tasmania 7001

86 Northwest Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, January 2012