Murray Valley National & Regional Parks Operational Guidelines Status of Biodiversity Thresholds Locality RFS Fire Brigade Areas & Towers Brief all personnel involved in suppression operations on the following issues using the SMEACS format: Finley Berrigan Boomanoomana & Mulwala General Guidelines Scale 1:75,000 P036 LGA . Tocumwal Precincts The use of bombing aircraft should support containment operations by aggressively at tacking hotspots and spot-overs, Mulwala- Road 0 1 2 km Mt Gwynne Aerial Water . The use of bombing aircraft without the support of ground based suppression crews should be limited to very specific Berrigan LGA Savernake Fire Management Strategy 2012 Bombing circumstances, Barooga Mapsheet 1 of 1 . Where practicable foam should be used to increase the effectiveness of the water, Tocumwal M . u This strategy should be used in conjunction with aerial photography and field reconnaissance during incidents and the development of incident action plans. Ground crews must be alerted to water bombing operations. rr These data are not guaranteed to be free from error or omission. The NSW National Parks and Wildlife and its employees disclaim liability for any act done on the Yarrawonga Road a y R . Aerial ignition may be used during back-burning or fuel reduction operations where practicable, but only with the prior consent of iv Mulwala-Tarramia inform ation in the data and any consequences of such acts or omissions . T his document is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of study, research Murray Corowa LGA e Barooga r criticism or review , as permitted under the copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission. This strategy is a relevant Plan u nder NPWS Regional Manager, OEH Section 44 delegate or as prescribed in an operational burn plan, R Mulw Aerial i ala-B Sectio n 38 (4) and Section 44 (3) o f Rural Fires Act 1997. T he NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service is part of the Office of Environm ent and Heritage. Published by v aroog e a Rd Ignition . Aerial ignition will only be undertaken by accredited navigators & bombardiers, r Barooga the Office of Environm ent and Heritage (NSW), March 2011. Mulw ala-Ba . rooga C ontact: OEH PW G Regional Office: 200 Yambil St, Griffith NSW 2680 P.O. Box 1049 Griffith NSW 2680 ph. 02 6966 8100 The pattern for aerial ignition will be specified in the IAP during fire suppression, Rd . Utilise incendiaries to rapidly burn out large areas where required. Mulwala ISBN 978 1 74293 653 6 OEH 2012/0419 Date: August 2012 Version No. 1 Mulwala . Temperature and humidity trends must be monitored carefully to determine the safest times to implement back -burns. Generally, Map Details Related Documents when the FDI is Very High or greater, back-burning should commence when the humidity begins to rise in the late afternoon or Datum: Geocentric Datum of Australia (GDA) 1994 1:50k Topographic Map: Tocumwal 8026-S OEH Fire Management early evening, with a lower FDI back-burning may be safely undertaken during the day, Back-burning . Projection: Map Grid of Australia (MGA) Zone 55 (AGD-1966) Manual 2011 - 2012. Where practicable, clear a 1m radius around dead and hollow bearing trees adjacent to containment lines prior to back -burning, or wet down these trees as part of the back-burn ignition, Scale1:750,000 Scale1:500,000 Data: Spot Satellite Imagery: 2005. Scale: Noted scales are true when printed on . A1 size paper Use parallel containment lines when applicable, 0 5 10 km 0 4 8 km . All personnel must be fully briefed before back-burning operations begin. . Standard Incident Management Systems are to be applied, . Boomanoomana Mulwala Command & On the arrival of other combatant agencies, the initial incident controller will consult with regard to the ongoing command, control Precinct Vegetation Control and incident management team requirements as per the relevant BFMC Plan of Operations, Precinct . Where OEH is not the first responding fire authority to arrive at a fire on OEH-managed lands, a competent officer of the first Threatened Sites Guidelines arriving fire authority will direct fire management activities until a competent OEH officer assumes control (unless prior Site Guidelines agreements have been made). . Construction of new containment lines should be avoided, where practicable, except where they can be constructed with minimal Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Site Management environmental impact, An aboriginal sites survey is yet to be conducted for this reserve (as of August 2012). . For new containment lines IMT to liaise with a Senior NPWS officer prior to construction, Mulwala-barooga Road Containment Note Avoid fire and grading control lines within 100 m of a water course, wh erever possible, to . Use parallel containment lines when applicable, Lines Evaluation of Biodiversity Thresholds protect unknown aboriginal sites. . All containment lines not required for other purposes should be closed at the cessation of the incident, Vulnerable The area will be too frequently burnt if it burns before the minimum threshold Threatened Fauna Management . All personal involved in containment line construction should be briefed on both natural and cultural heritage sites in the loca tion, to Frequent years are reached. . . Containment line construction using earthmoving equipment must be in accordance with the earthmoving guidelines contained Utilise mosaic burning and avoid disturbance at known sightings, roostings or refuges and Yarrawonga Road Fire . Protect from fire as far as possible. FA1 within the RFMS. avoid frequent fire (<6 years). Within the threshold for vegetation in this area. Species have had sufficient time . Earthmoving equipment may only be used with the prior consent of a senior NPWS officer , and then only if the probability of its Within . Utilise mosaic burning, avoid disturbance at known sightings, roostings or refuges, avoid to mature and reproduce, and for habitats to develop. success is high, Threshold FA2 . A fire event is neither required nor should one necessarily be avoided. frequent fire (<6 years) and exclude chemical use. . Earthmoving equipment must always be guided and supervised by an appropriately experienced person, and accompanied by a Fire frequency is below fire thresholds in the area. FA3 . Utilise mosaic burning and protect hollow bearing trees. support vehicle. When engaged in direct or parallel attack this vehicle must be a fire fighting vehicle, Long . A fire event may or may not be advantageous. Consider ecological effects of . . Containment lines constructed by earthmoving equipment should consider the protection of drainage features, observe the Unburnt FA4 Utilise mosaic burning, protect hollow bearing trees and avoid frequent fire (<6 —10 years). fires in these areas. Earthmoving Threatened Species and Cultural Heritage Operational Guidelines, and be surveyed, where possible, to identif y unknown FA5 . Utilise mosaic burning. No Fire Areas which do not have recommended fire intervals assigned to them, e.g. Equipment cultural heritage sites, FA6 . . Regime cleared land, rock or water bodies. Exclude fire from habitat. Earthmoving equipment must not leave tracks or create new tracks in Machinery Exclusion areas as marked on the Incident Map . of a RFMS, NB. Fire thresholds are defined for vegetation communities to conserve biodiversity FA7 Exclude fire from habitat and avoid the use of machinery and chemicals. . Earthmoving equipment must be washed down, where practicable, prior to it entering NPW S estate and again on exiting NPWS estate, . Where multiple items of earthmoving equipment are being used, the IMT should consider the establishment of a Plant Boomanoomana Operations Manager. Precinct Fire Advantage . All fire advantages used during wildfire suppression operations must be mapped and where relevant added to the database. Recording Incident Map Mulwala . Use of wetting and foaming agents (surfactants) is permitted on the reserve, 24 24 Precinct Fire . The use of fire retardants are only permitted with the prior consent of the seni or NPWS officer and should be avoided where Scale 1:35,000 Suppression reasonable alternatives are available, Chemicals . Exclude the use of surfactants and retardants within 50m of watercourses, dams and swamps, 0 0.5 1 km

. Areas where fire suppression chemicals are used must be mapped and the used produc t’s name recorded, Mcmahons Road . The Threatened Species Operational Guidelines are to be observed. Vaggs Road Rehabilitation . Where practicable, containment lines should be stabilised and rehabilitated as part of the wildfire suppression operation. Fire Trail Scale 1:75,000 . Mulwala-barooga Road Fire Trl 2 The potential impacts of smoke and possible mitigation tactics must be considered when planning for wildfire suppression and Barinya Estate Road The Coach Road 0 1 2 km Smoke prescribed burning operations, Management . If smoke becomes a hazard on local roads or highways, the police and relevant media must be notified, 2/01/1983 . Smoke management must be in accordance with relevant RTA traffic management guidelines. 3/03/1984 . OEH personnel are not trained in structural fire fighting and must not enter a structure in order to undertake structural fire Wilgo Road Structural fighting, Wiltons Road Fire Fighting . Fire suppression activities may be undertaken from outside a structure in accordance with the policies in the NPWS FMM, in 2/01/1985 Yarrawonga Road Vegetation Map Legend order to protect a built asset. 22 Warmatta Road 22 Lagoon Road Broad Visitor . The reserve may be closed to the public during periods of extreme fire danger or during wildfire suppression operations. Vegetation Management . 2/01/1981 Vegetation Biodiversity Thresholds Fire Behaviour Areas of the reserve may be closed for prescribed burning operations. Type . Class WARNINGS Beware of overhead powerlines, . Reserve prone to flooding and only some trails will be trafficable after flood events or rainfall. An interval between fire events less than These vegetation communities will generally Link Rd 10 years and greater than 35 years not carry fire unless there are high ephemeral Paddys Beach Rd should be avoided. River Red Gums will fuel loads, which generally occur after 2/01/1981 Fence Rd Fence Road only tolerate low intensity fires. Individual flooding events. In favourable years the River Stock Route Road Cross Rd trees may survive canopy scorch if they Red Gum forests can be scattered with 2m Bushfire Risk Management Strategies urray River Red are not under stress and are in older age high reed beds, which can result in isolated M Riv Forested er Gum & Box classes. Younger trees will not survive areas of very high to extreme fire behaviour. Sandy Beach Trail Wetlands Forests moderate to high intensity fires. Two fires In years of high ephemeral fuels, landscape occurring in the same area in a period of fires are possible as fire potential will be very River Trail

Whitlock Road less than 20 years apart may reduce the high to extreme, characterised by spotting 6020 6020 extent of River Red Gum Forests. Fire from River Red Gum communities and fast 12/03/2006 Mulwala-barooga Road should be avoided where Chenopod moving fires in other communities. Red Gum North Road species occur. trees commonly form candles. Rush – Sedge In periods of high ephemeral fuel loads the Middle Road

An interval between fire events less than Boundary Road Freshwater – Common wetlands pose a risk of extreme fire Blue Hole Road 10 years and greater than 35 years Yarrawonga Road Hinches Beach Road wetlands Reed intensities, hot – fast moving fires and rapid should be avoided. Wetlands change in direction associated with wind. River Road An interval between fire events less than Ruwolts Road The Cypress Pine Woodlands generally occur Semi arid 15 years should be avoided. There is no Cypress Pine / on Sandhill areas and the potential rate of Woodlands maximum interval between fire events Casuarina spread would be low due to low overall fuel (Shrubby specified for this vegetation type as there Woodland hazard. Fire runs are likely to slow down when subformation) was insufficient data to give definite entering this vegetation. Sandhill Rd intervals.

Mixed Yellow High intensity fast moving fire once grasses 18 Rd Loop 18 Box An interval between fire events less have cured. Fire behaviour is dominated by Grassy Woodlands than 8 years and greater than 40 years winds, both speed and direction. Even in very Woodlands with Cypress should be avoided. low fuel, grass fires can erratic and fast Pine moving. In ephemeral years intensity will be higher and in drought years minimal growth Cultivated will result in moderate fire behaviour but Non-native Pasture and / N/A potentially still fast moving depending on vegetation or Cropping weather conditions at the time. Potential Boomanoomana spotting from trees. Precinct Water Water Bodies N/A Mulwala Mulwala Wildfires are generally attributed to humans, either from escaped campfires, discarded cigarettes or Precinct Fire matches or deliberate ignitions. A number of fires can be attributed to lightning strikes. Most wildfires (of Fire Management Zones Precinct those that have been documented – only 7) in the last 31 years were less than 3 Ha with two large fires History The objective of APZs is the protection of 16 16 in 1985 and 2006 that were greater than 90 Ha in extent. human life and property. This will have Asset Ephemeral fuel conditions occur after consecutive years of effective rainfall and significant flooding precedence over guidelines for the Protection Ephemeral events. This in turn leads to the growth and build up of fine surface fuels such as grasses and herbs, management of biodiversity. Maintain Boomanoomana NPWS Estate Zones Conditions which can create a continuous fuel load across all of the above vegetation communities. As a result Overall Fuel Hazard at Moderate or Precinct expect higher fire intensity. below. River Drought During drought conditions and when vegetation communities are visibly stressed or experiencing dieback The objective of LMZs is to conserve Conditions no prescribed burning will be permitted and wildfire areas will be minimised. Land biodiversity and protect cultural and Powerlines Management historic heritage. Zones Manage fire consistent with fire Gate thresholds. Scale 1:75,000 Contact Information Fire Fire should be avoided wherever possible Fire History Exclusion from these areas as they will cause 0 1 2 km Agency Position / Location Phone Wildfire Duty Officer (8am-10pm) 02 6332 6350 Zone detrimental damage to the environment. National Parks Regional Office – 200 Yambil St. Griffith 02 6966 8100 14 BFCC Policy No. 2/2007 14 & Wildlife Service Fire Trails Murray Area Office 03 5483 9100 Communications Information Fire Control Centre Fire Season Information Cat 1, Essential Southern Border Team NSW Rural 02 6051 1511 Location and 25 Airport Drive, Suppression Strategies Service Channel . The critical wildfire season generally occurs from Fire Service Season Typical Conditions Indicative Suppression Strategies Comments Cat 7, Essential Corowa Office 02 6033 4550 . October/November to March/April. Direct NPWS Repeater 30 Stony Hill Mulwala Fire Station 03 5744 1967 . Current Fire Danger Rating (FDR) of Very . Dry lightning storms frequently occur and typical fire Cat 7, Important NSW Fire Brigades Initial attacks should be to try to extinguish or to contain . Tocumwal Fire Station 03 5874 2406 High or Greater, RFS UHF 05 All Brigades to the smallest possible area. Wildfires weather conditions are winds from the west to the north, . Short and medium range forecasts suggest . Tuppal Rd & Roads and Trails State Forests – Duty Mobile 0408 675 211 Just prior to or conditions typical to a FDR of Very High or P039 high day time temperatures and low humidity Emergency Services 000 during the critical Indirect RFS Pine Lodge Rd Greater, . Particular care is required following periods of Winter rain Sealed Road - Two Lanes fire season Develop a suppression plan using existing and/or SES 13 2500 . A risk to life and/or property exists in the short via Finley potential containment lines. If possible take into and after periods of negative Southern Oscillation Indices. – medium term, . Stony Hill via Mulwala 03 5743 8099 account biodiversity requirements but never to the Unsealed Road - Two Lanes Police Station (not open 24 hrs) . A broad area risk to biodiversity exists. RFS Berrigan P036 Tocumwal 03 5874 9399 detriment of life and property. N Berrigan . Prescribed burning should generally be undertaken during Albury 02 6023 9299 Unsealed Road - One Lane Police - Local Area Command Direct RFS Corowa & P031 . Prescribed late Autumn, Winter or early Spring 12

000m. Deniliquin 03 5881 9437 . FDR of High or below, Evaluate the biodiversity thresholds and use direct Greater Hume P072 . Site Management (see guideline tables)

12 Burning Care should be taken to ensure a low intensity burn over Tocumwal 03 5874 2166 . Short – medium term forecast indicate a attack methods to extinguish if required. .

Outside of the 60 continuing FDR of High or below UHF - CB 30 Barooga most of the area treated. Hospital Cobram () 03 5871 1888 critical fire . No risk to life or property exists in the short- Indirect State Forests VHF 225 . Stony Hill Threatened Fauna Yarrawonga (Victoria) 03 5743 8111 season medium term, Develop a fire suppression plan to the maximum (Repeater) 223 . Council 03 5888 5100 . Council Only small area risk to biodiversity exists. allowable perimeter based on Biodiversity thresholds. Council 02 6033 8999 394000m.E 96 98 400 02 04 06