JUNE 2011 Southern Region Strategic Fire Management Plan Southern Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, June 2011 1 Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment Southern 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, 2011 ISBN: 978-0-7246-6570-9 Title: Southern Region Strategic Fire Management Plan Publisher/Place: Dept. Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment – Hobart Publication Date: June 2011 Contents Strategic Plan 2008–2010 Statement ........................................................3 1. Strategic Fire Management Planning 4. Fire Prevention 1.1 Approach ...........................................................................................................3 4.1 Context ...........................................................................................................20 1.2 Project Charter ..............................................................................................3 4.2 Objective ........................................................................................................20 1.3 Objectives .........................................................................................................4 4.3 Strategies and Actions .............................................................................20 1.4 Development of the Strategic Fire Management Plan 5. Preparedness 1.4.1 Project Outputs ............................................................................4 5.1 Context ...........................................................................................................28 1.4.2 Project Scope .................................................................................4 5.2 Objective ........................................................................................................28 1.5 Fire Management for PWS in Tasmania ...........................................6 5.3 Strategies and Actions .............................................................................28 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 ...........................................................................................................30 6.2 Objective ........................................................................................................30 2. Southern Region 6.3 Strategies and Actions .............................................................................30 2.1 Background ........................................................................................................8 2.2 Area Description ............................................................................................8 7. Recovery – Restoration 2.3 Fire History 7.1 Context ...........................................................................................................33 2.3.1 Fire Regime ...................................................................................10 7.2 Objective ........................................................................................................33 2.3.2 Fire Frequency ............................................................................10 7.3 Strategies and Actions .............................................................................33 2.3.3 Fire Cycle .......................................................................................11 8. Standards, Monitoring and Reporting 2.3.4 Fire Size ...........................................................................................11 8.1 Context ...........................................................................................................34 2.3.5 Fire Intensity .................................................................................12 8.2 Objective ........................................................................................................34 2.3.6 Fire Type ..........................................................................................12 8.3 Strategies and Actions .............................................................................34 2.4 Fire Environment 2.4.1. Climate and Weather .............................................................13 9. Resource Requirements 2.5. Values at Risk ................................................................................................15 9.1 Management of the Strategic Fire Management Plan ...........36 2.5.1 Constructed Values ..................................................................15 9.2 Implementation of the Strategic Fire Management Plan 2.5.2 Forest/Agriculture Values ......................................................15 ........................................................................................................................................36 2.5.3 Natural Values ..............................................................................15 10. Reference Documents ..............................................37 2.6 Vegetation Type ............................................................................................15 11. Glossary and Abbreviations ...........................38 3. Bushfire Risk Assessment Model 3.1 Bushfire Risk Assessment Process ....................................................16 ALL PHOTOGRAPHS BY PWS STAFF 3.2 Regional BRAM Outputs 3.2.1 Ignition Potential ........................................................................16 3.2.2 Suppression Capabilities ........................................................16 3.2.3 Values at Risk ................................................................................16 3.2.4 Fire Behaviour Potential .........................................................17 3.3 Bushfire Risk Analysis ...............................................................................17 Southern Region Strategic Fire Management Plan, June 2011 1 Lists of Appendices and Maps FIGURE 1: Risk Management Process Overview ...................................................4 MAP 1: Constructed Values .......................................................................................55 Figure 2: Map of Council Boundaries with Southern Region ......................8 Map 2: Forest/Agriculture Values ...........................................................................56 Figure 3: Map of Lend Tenure ........................................................................................9 Map 3: Natural Values ..................................................................................................57 Figure 4: Fire Size Distribution 1980–2009 ........................................................11 Map 4: Flammability ......................................................................................................58 Figure 5A: Percentage of Fire Occurrence by Cause in Southern Map 5: Fuel Group ........................................................................................................59 Region 1966–2009 .......................................................................................12 Map 6: Ignition Potential .............................................................................................60 Figure 5B: Percentage of Area Burned by Cause in Southern Region Map 7: Suppression Capability ................................................................................61 1966–2009 ........................................................................................................12 Map 8: Values at Risk ....................................................................................................62 Figure 6A: Fire Occurrence by Cause/Month by Decade in the Southern Region 1966–2009 .................................................................14 Map 9: Fire Behaviour Potential .............................................................................63 Figure 6B: Lightning-caused Fires – Area Burned by Decade ......................14 Map 10: Likelihood ...........................................................................................................64 Figure 7: Adamsfield Historic Hut ............................................................................21 Map 11: Consequence ...................................................................................................65 Figure 8: Meehan Range Trail Class 5 .....................................................................22 Map 12: Final Risk Grid ..................................................................................................66 Map 13: Mt Field National Park – Risk .................................................................67 Map 13A: Mt Field National Park – Natural Values ..........................................68 TABLE 1: Timelines of Development ........................................................................5 Map 13B: Mt Field National Park – Ignition Potential .....................................68 Table 2: Document of Authority or Direction ...................................................7 Map 14: Southwest National Park – Risk ............................................................69