RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN

AuthorisationIn accordance with Part 3 Division 4 of the Rural Fires Act 1997, this Plan has been prepared bythe Richmond Valley Bush Fire Management Committee and has been endorsed by the Membersof that Committee on behalf of the authorities they represent at the meeting of the 17 th ofJanuary, 2001.RecommendedChairman Sandra HumphrysRichmond Valley Bush Fire Management CommitteeNSW RFS Officer Boyd TownsendRichmond Valley Bush Fire Management CommitteeNSWFB Officer David SpeedRichmond Valley Bush Fire Management CommitteeSFNSW Officer Ian RobertsonRichmond Valley Bush Fire Management CommitteeNPWS Officer Damien HofmeyerRichmond Valley Bush Fire Management CommitteeApprovedOn behalf of theNSW Bush Fire Co-ordinating Committee

Amendment ListAmendmentEnteredNumber Date Signature Date

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANChapter 1Introduction1.1 BackgroundThe Rural Fires Act, 1997 requires the Bush Fire Coordinating Committee (BFCC) to establishA Bush Fire Management Committee (BFMC) in each local government area containing a ruralfire district, or fire district with a bush fire risk. One role of the BFMC is to prepare a BushFire Risk Management Plan for its area of responsibility.Bush Fire Risk is defined as the chance of a bush fire igniting, spreading and causing damage toassets of value to the community. Assets of value to the community include life, property(including buildings, stock, crops and forests) and our natural and cultural heritage.Bush Fire Risk Management involves identifying the level of risk posed by bush fires to assetsand establishing strategies to protect these assets from the adverse effects of bush fires. Thepurpose of bush fire risk management is to protect the community and its values from theadverse affects of wildfire. The outcome sought, is to achieve better integration of communitypreparedness and prevention strategies as key elements of bush fire management.This Bush Fire Risk Management Plan (BFRMP) has been prepared by the Richmond ValleyBush Fire Management Committee in accordance with the Rural Fires Act 1997. The RichmondValley Bush Fire Management Committee comprises representatives of major land managementagencies, fire fighting authorities, utility managers interest groups, and other communitystakeholders.The plan identifies the level of bush fire risk across the Richmond Valley Council area andestablishes strategies which the responsible land managers will implement to manage the bushfire risks identified.The strategies established in the bush fire risk management plan address the bush fire hazard, thevulnerability of assets to fire, the safety of the community and fire fighters, the protection of theland and environment from fire, and recognise that biodiversity can be managed through theapplication of appropriate fire regimes upon the landscape.Page 1

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN1.2 Scope of the Plan.1.2.1 AreaThe plan covers the local government area of Richmond Valley, and includes both public andprivate lands.1.2.2 PurposeThe plan is a strategic level document which:• identifies the level of bush fire risk across the Bush Fire Management Committee's area• identifies strategies which will be implemented to manage the bush fire risks identified and• identifies the land managers responsible for implementing the BFRMP.1.2.3 Period of OperationOnce approved by the Bush Fire Co-ordinating Committee this plan will have a life of five (5)years. It is anticipated that the plan will be refined within the 5 year time frame as necessary andin accordance with the provisions of section 52 of the Rural Fires Act 1997.Annual bush fire risk management programs will be developed by the responsible land managersto implement the plan.1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Plan1.3.1 AimThe aim of the Richmond Valley bush fire risk management plan is to provide for the coordinatedprevention and mitigation of bush fires for:(a)(b)the protection of life, property and the environment within the community; andthe protection, maintenance and wherever possible the enhancement of the natural andcultural values of the area through the management of appropriate fire regimes.To give effect to this aim, the committee has developed appropriate risk management objectivesand strategies.1.3.2 ObjectivesThe objectives of the Richmond Valley Bush Fire Risk Management Plan are to:• reduce the risk of bush fire damage to life, property and the environment;• ensure that the community is well informed on bush fire protection measures and preparedfor bush fire events;• ensure that public and private land owners and occupiers understand their bush firemanagement responsibilities;• minimise the risk to the safety of firefighters and the public by reducing the potential forsevere bush fires;Page 2

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN• encourage community participation in managing the bush fire risk;• develop sustainable hazard reduction work practices and fuel management burningprescriptions;• reduce the impact of bush fire on the community;• effectively manage bush fires for the protection and conservation of the natural, cultural,scenic and recreational features of the area;• to assist Councils and communities manage rural development in high fire threat areas andensure that future rural development fully address bush fire risk issues as a fundamentalplanning consideration.1.3.3 Bush Fire Risk Management StrategiesThis plan contains a number of strategies which are directed at addressing the risk to communityand environmental assets. This is generally achieved through addressing those factors whichcomprise the risk being the bush fire hazard (principally the fuel), the sources and pattern ofignitions and the vulnerability of the assets at risk.1.4 ImplementationImplementation of the BFRMP is the responsibility of the owners or occupiers (land managers)of the land on which the bush fire risk is situated. The Rural Fires Act imposes this responsibilityon both public and private land managers.Land management agencies such as the Councils, State Forests and National Parks and WildlifeService will need to develop specific programs for implementing the BFRMP strategiesapplicable to their land. In the case of private property, it is the responsibility of Council todevelop a program for communicating the BFRMP strategies to private land managers andensuring that the strategies are implemented by the land managers.Land management agencies will progressively develop fire management plans to meet their ownland management objectives whilst maintaining consistency with this bush fire risk managementplan.Land management and fire fighting agencies will need to implement the bush fire riskmanagement plan over the period of the plan (five years) with annual reporting requirementsbeing undertaken to monitor progress.The success of the plan will be monitored through the Bush Fire Management Committee annualreporting procedures to the Bush Fire Co-ordinating Committee.Page 3

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN1.5 Environmental considerationsIn exercising its functions under the Rural Fires Act, including the preparation of a bush fire riskmanagement plan, the Bush Fire Management Committee is required to have regard to theprinciples of ecological sustainable development (referred to as ESD)."3.6 (2) For the purposes of subsection (1) (a), ecologically sustainable development requires the effectiveintegration of economic and environmental considerations in decision-making processes.Ecologically sustainable development can be achieved through the implementation of thefollowing principles and programs:(a)The precautionary principle—namely, that if there are threats of serious orirreversible environmental damage, lack of full scientific certainty should notbe used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmentaldegradation.(b)Inter-generational equity—namely, that the present generation should ensurethat the health, diversity and productivity of the environment is maintained orenhanced for the benefit of future generations.(c)Conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity.(d)Improved valuation and pricing of environmental resources.”(from the NSW "Protection of the Environment Administration Act, 1991")“Loss of biodiversity represents perhaps the greatest environmental challenge facingAustralia. As one of only 12 'megadiverse' nations in the world, we have a special responsibilityto ensure the conservation and sustainability of use of our biodiversity. Unfortunately, our recordhas not been good - 20 mammal, 20 bird, and 76 plant species at least are known to have becomeextinct since European settlement.Biodiversity is essential for the maintenance of human life on earth because it supportsthe life sustaining processes that purify our water, fertilise our soils and manage our climate. Asrecognised in the National Biodiversity Strategy, an environment rich in biodiversity offers thebroadest array of options for sustainable economic activity, for nurturing human welfare and foradapting to change. The world's species provide us with food, medicine and industrial products.The conservation of biodiversity can also help avoid the enormous costs arising from thedegradation of ecosystems. CSIRO estimates that land degradation costs Australia over $1billion annually. Many people also recognise aesthetic, cultural and ethical reasons for protectingbiodiversity.”( from "Reform of Commonwealth Environment Legislation - Consultation Paper", p19,DoE, Canberra, 1998.)The Committee is also required to consider the restriction or prohibition of the use of fire orother hazard reduction activities in all or specified circumstances or places to which the planapplies.Page 4

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANChapter 2Summary of Bush Fire Risk Factors2.1 IntroductionIdentification of the level of bush fire risk within the Richmond Valley Council area involvedanalysis of the following key components:• The bush fire issues within the Richmond Valley area;• Assets with socio-economic value to the community• Assets with environmental or cultural heritage valueThis chapter briefly describes each of these components and outlines how they influence thebush fire risk.2.2 Bush Fire Issues within the Richmond Valley Council areaThis section outlines the bush fire history of the Richmond Valley Council area, and broadlyidentifies the climatic, vegetation (fuel), and ignition factors which influence the bush fireproblem in the area.2.2.1 Bush Fire HistoryRichmond Valley Council is considered generally to be an area of moderate to major fire risk,with significant fires generally occurring on a five year repeat cycle.An appointment under Section 41F of the Bush Fires Act was made in 1980 but more as ananticipatory move and another in 1994.Major bush fires occurred during 1946, 1968, 1980 and 1994. The 1946 and 1968 fires were ofsuch magnitude that with present day fire experience and knowledge, a Section 44 appointmentcertainly would have been made. It is now considered that the risk to life and property in seriousbush fires is greater now due to the increased numbers of rural residential assets distributedthrough the moderate and high hazard areas of the Richmond Valley area.2.2.2 Climate(a) GeneralThe climate in the Richmond Valley Rural Fire District is warm subtropical with a well definedsummer/autumn rainfall peak (January to March) and a dry winter and spring. The climate in thehigher altitude forested areas tends towards warm temperate. The temperature and rainfallconditions vary across the District. The rainfall can be unreliable during the normal latewinter/spring period, particularly on the lower altitude landforms.(b) Bush Fire SeasonThe start of normal fire seasons coincides with strong south west to north west winds whichoften prevail during late winter and spring (Aug/Sep). The majority of serious bush fires occurfrom this period until the onset of summer rains, which normally start from December andcontinue through to Autumn. Longer fire seasons are experienced when summer rainfall is lowerPage 5

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANthan normal, with the bush fire season extending through summer to early autumn. Serious bushfires have occurred late in the season under dry summer conditions.• Dangerous bush fire seasons are most commonly associated with two or more of thefollowing factors in combination:• Occurrence of an extended drought period• Lower than average rainfall through winter• Persistent SW to NW winds in late winter/early spring• Prolific fuel occurrence from strong growing seasons the previous summer• Spring/summer thunderstorm activity in dry yearsExtreme fire danger days are most often associated with strong west to north-westerly winds,particularly where the drought indices are low.(c) Bush Fire Hazard Reduction Burning PeriodThe summer/autumn rainfall peak (January to March) encourages growth and hence theproduction of large quantities of potentially flammable vegetation. The prevailing southwest tonorthwest winds in late winter and spring dry out the vegetation so that, if the spring rains arelate, combined with the abundance of combustible fuel create the potential for serious wildfireconditions.Management of this fuel is achievable by the use of fire provided it is undertaken undercircumstances in which its behaviour can be both predicted and controlled. The usually dry latewinter and spring requires very careful monitoring when considering controlled burning to avoidunsuitable conditions which can arise quickly as summer approaches.In most years, the heavy summer rainfall makes hazard reduction burning difficult in latesummer/autumn. Frosting and strong winds in August generally signal the start of the fireseason. Consequently prescribed burning is only achievable during a 2-3 month period. In manyyears it is not possible to burn southern slopes successfully.When conditions do not support controlled burning, other fuel management strategies such asgrazing and slashing (selective clearing may require development consent under the NativeVegetation Conservation Act 1997 if it does not form part of a exemption or exclusion) may beimplemented.2.2.3 Vegetation and Fire BehaviorThe type and arrangement of vegetation plays a major role in determining how a bush fire willbehave. Each broad vegetation type occurring in the Richmond Valley Council area are capableof supporting fires of varying severity. The main vegetation types and their bush firecharacteristics are summarised below:(a)(b)Rainforests – generally do not support bushfires except in extended drought periods.This is due to high moisture levels in the leaf litter and understorey which results inlimited ground fuel; and closed canopies that maintain a moist micro environmentpreventing the spread of fire into the rainforest environment.Moist Sclerophyll forests – These forests generally carry high fuel loads (up to 50 t/ha)but will not usually carry low intensity fire because of their moist nature. After extendedPage 6

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANLegal/Illegal burning off ignitions are mainly concentrated in rural areas, particularly in thevalleys and Ranges. Activity largely occurs from mid to late spring.Incendiarism is unfortunately an increasing trend, and is most common in the grassland andforested areas adjacent to townships. Ignition records for the area show that the incidence ofincendiarism is increased during school holidays. Increasing visitation and urban growth arethought to be the main contributing factors to increased incidence of incendiarism.Escapes from Legal hazard reduction burns occur mainly in the rural areas of the valley, as domany of the illegal burning activities. Such activity largely occurs in mid to late spring.Car dumping is a cause of ignitions in State forest areas east of the Ellangowan. This activityusually occurs through the summer months representing serious potential for major bush fires.Lightning activity in the District is mainly associated with late spring and summer thunderstormactivity, which is normally (but not always) accompanied by rainfall.Improved management of the Evans Head and Broadwater garbage depots have contributed tothe decline in the number and area of unplanned fires in the vicinity of Broadwater and EvansHead in the last ten years.2.2.5 Bush Fire HazardThe attached Bush Fire Hazard Map was produced using the a standard methodology developedby the CSIRO. The method uses vegetation classes and slope classes to estimate the relative bushfire hazard across the landscape assuming a constant Fire Danger Index (FDI) of 60 across thedistrict. To attain an FDI of 60 a combination of extreme conditions is required. Such a FDI isunlikely or very uncommon in this valley, however intense fire behaviour can be expected atlower FDI ratings which do periodically occur.2.3 Community Assets (ie those with socio-economic value)In this section, a summary of the key community assets occurring in the District is provided,asset types requiring special protection from bush fire are identified, and the pattern of landtenure is described. For the purposes of the bush fire analysis, this plan has classified thecommunity assets of the Richmond Valley Council Area into the groups outlined below.Community assets are defined as those assets which have social and economic values. Theyinclude:• life and property - human life, property, buildings and infrastructure associated withpopulated areas; and• economic assets - timber, tourist destinations and lands used for primary production.The Plan provides a summary of the key community assets occurring in the risk managementarea. Asset types requiring special protection from bush fire are identified, and the pattern ofland tenure is described. For the purposes of the bush fire analysis, this plan has classified thecommunity assets of the Richmond Valley Council area into the groups outlined below.Page 8

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN2.3.1 Key Community Assets(a)Human SettlementRichmond Valley district is a coastal district with the majority of the human settlement centredaround the towns and villages of Casino, Evans Head, Woodburn, Broadwater and Coraki. All ofthese towns and villages with the exception of Evans Head are surrounded by populations ofrural holdings and primary production. Evans Head is almost completely surrounded by theBroadwater and Bundjalung National Parks.(b)Primary ProductionThe key primary production areas surround the main towns between the coast and foothills. Themain goods produced are livestock holdings (primarily cattle), some specialty orchards, SoyBeans, sugar cane and Ti-Tree.Some of the primary production land has in recent times seen an expansion of the hobby farmeron the outskirts of the main towns. Much of the alternate lifestyle community is self sufficientfrom their own land holdings and require consideration for this purpose.(c) Timber productionA number of State Forests , along with a rapidly increasing number of private forest holdings arescattered throughout the foothills and ranges in the western and southern areas of the district.Timber production has been a major activity within the Richmond Valley LGA on both privateand public land, but has declined with the resource and increasing recognition of other values ofthe remnants.The State forests in the district are as follows:State Forest No. Area (ha) TypeBanyabba (part) 737 347.8 Southern PineBraemar 9 2008.0 Native HardwoodBungawalbin 152 3045.4 Native HardwoodCarwong 345 600.8 Native HardwoodCherry Tree 168 1634.8 Native HardwoodDevils Pulpit 16 1478.9 Native HardwoodDoubleduke 15 6473.9 Native HardwoodEden Creek (part) 1013 57.3 Southern PineEllangowan 7 1174.5 Native HardwoodGibberagee (part) 19 6596.4 Native HardwoodMount Belmore (part) 361 2046.3 Native HardwoodMount Pikapene (part) 170 1392.1 Hoop Pine/Native HardwoodMyrtle (part) 559 2601.3 Native HardwoodRoyal Camp (part) 794 230.5 Native HardwoodTabbimoble 8 2618.4 Native HardwoodWhiporie 928 3874.7 Southern Pine/Native HardwoodTotal38 181 hectaresState Forests of NSW has a commitment to supply hardwood sawlogs from these areas tosawmills in the Richmond Valley Shire at Casino and Rappville, and sawlogs, poles and veneerlogs to sawmills and processing plants in adjoining areas. There are also some small sawmillPage 9

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANoperations in the area that obtain sawlogs from State forests and private lands. Softwood timberfrom pine plantations in the Richmond Valley area is supplied to the Rappville sawmill andveneer mills in Grafton and Kyogle.Over recent years there has been a land acquisition program to establish suitable areas tosoftwood and hardwood joint venture plantations in the Richmond Valley area. Timber suppliedfrom plantations will have an increasing importance in the area, with an increasing reliance onplantations to supply sawlogs and other timber to industry.(d)TourismThe focal point for tourism in Richmond Valley district is the beach side town of Evans Head,with beach facilities and the ecotourism opportunities provided in the surrounding NationalParks and State Forests.(e)IndustryThis district is not noted for heavy industry, however, the main industries that are in the districtare the local fishing industry, the tourist industry, forest industry, Soy Bean industry, Ti-Treeindustry, Chicken industry and cattle industry.(f)Transport RoutesRichmond Valley district is an interconnecting route along the NSW coast and has both rail androad coastal transport routes passing through it. This is the Pacific Highway, Bruxner Highway,Summerland Way and main rail link between Sydney and Brisbane.The rail link and Summerland Way passes through the centre of the district in land largelydominated by primary production. This is relatively open land and historically the rail link hasnot been severed by fire hazards but has been severed by flood events. The Pacific Highwaypasses further to the east and has in the past been severed by fire and flood events.(g)Services infrastructure (electricity etc)Richmond Valley district has electricity infrastructures supported by Northpower. Most of thedistrict is reliant upon either electricity or bottled gas supplies. The electricity infrastructurecovers over 80% of the settled areas with a significant portion of the Bungawalbyn area notsupplied with mains electricity.Land line communication services is provided in the main by Telstra. Mobile telephone servicesare provided by all the major carriers with some performing better in some areas than others.Coverage throughout the would be described as fair, however many of the forested areas such asthrough Bungawalbyn, do not receive reliable coverage if any. Mobile coverage along majortransport routes is reasonable. There is good coverage on the Bruxner Highway however, thesouthern portion of the Pacific Highway and the Summerland Way is poor to non existent.The mains town water supplies are provided by Rous County Council and Casino Council.2.3.2 Assets Requiring Special ProtectionProtection of assets at risk is dealt with in detail in Chapter 4 of the Plan. A number of RuralLandsharing Communities and rural residential type developments are located in rural or bushland environments throughout the valley. These settlements have varying bush fire risk issuesthat are specifically addressed through the development of the risk management strategies inChapter 4 of the Plan.Page 10

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN2.4 Environmental/Ecological AssetsThis section provides a summary of the key ecological assets and assets with cultural and/orhistorical heritage within the Richmond Valley Council area. For the purposes of the bush fireanalysis, this plan has classified the community assets of the Richmond Valley Council Area intothe groups outlined below.Environmental / Ecological Assets include:• natural assets - features or areas such as landscapes, catchments and natural communities;and• cultural assets - areas of prehistoric or historic significance dating from Aboriginal andEuropean occupation.2.4.1 Key Environmental/Ecological Assets(a)Conservation ReservesNational Parks, Nature Reserves, Flora Reserves, Conservation Agreements and otherconservation reserves are key ecological assets and are core components of biodiversityconservation in the Richmond Valley. These reserves have been gazetted in recognition of theirlocal, regional, state and national significance.(b)Places of Aboriginal SignificancePlaces of Aboriginal significance include relics of occupation and sites of mythological orspiritual significance. These are all referred to as aboriginal sites in this plan. Aboriginal sites aregenerally irreplaceable and have varying sensitivities to fire and fire management operations.Places of Aboriginal significance are distributed across the landscape within the RichmondValley Area.Potential Areas of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Significance• within 40 metres of a stream, river, lake or lagoon• any area of undisturbed ground or bushland• landscape features, such as sandstone outcrops (greater than 1 metre square), rock shelters andoverhangs, old growth trees and sand bodies/dunal systems• any area not previously disturbed by urban development or subject to intensive grounddisturbance• declared Aboriginal places• other areas of importance to Aboriginal people, such as story places, mission sites, etc• any area identified in planning, zoning or assessment studies as being of medium or highAboriginal heritage significance.Page 11

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANPotential Areas of Low Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Significance• any area previously subject to intensive ground disturbance or urban development• areas identified in planning, zoning or assessment studies as being of low Aboriginal heritagesignificance,The vulnerability of sites depends on the type of site. Appendix 5, Vulnerability of AboriginalSites to Fire summarises Aboriginal site types and their vulnerability to fire.(c)Threatened Species, Populations, Communities and Critical HabitatSection 54 (2) of the Rural Fires Act 1997 states a draft BFRMP may restrict or prohibit the useof fire or other particular fire hazard reduction activities in all or specified circumstances orplaces to which the plan applies. A significant example of where circumstances in which theprevention of such activities are most likely to occur will be with the protection of habitat forthreatened species, populations or ecological communities. The need to undertake threatenedspecies considerations within this plan are further highlighted in sections 66 (6)(b) and 96 (2) ofthe Rural Fires Act 1997. Therefore the following information on threatened speciesconsiderations has been included in the plan.(i)Threatened FloraThe Richmond Valley Local Government Area (LGA) is known to contain flora species listed asvulnerable or endangered in the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. Some of thethreatened flora species known to occur in Richmond Valley Shire and the vegetationcommunities in which they occur are described in Appendix 3.The known and modelled distribution of fire vulnerable threatened flora was mapped andincluded in the environmental assets map used to develop this plan.Fire regimes are a major factor contributing to the current distribution of vegetation communitiesacross the landscape. The management of fire regimes play a major role in the management ofthreatened species.As more information becomes available through the National Register for the Fire Responses ofPlant Species being developed by CSIRO Division of Plant Industries (Gill and Bradstock 1992)and other fire ecology research, specific guidelines for conservation of individual flora speciescan be developed.Until then, the accumulated knowledge of the life cycles and fire responses of plant species invarious vegetation communities has allowed the development of fire frequency thresholds forvegetation communities (see 5.3.4 - Use of Appropriate Fire Regimes including Table 1 - FireFrequency Thresholds).By maintaining fire frequency within the thresholds identified for vegetation communities, thelikelihood of local extinction of flora species within vegetation communities as a result of fire isgenerally minimised. These fire frequency thresholds for vegetation communities should be usedas guide for managing fire frequency in areas of natural vegetation.Page 12

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN(ii)Threatened FaunaThe Richmond Valley Local Government Area (LGA) has a rich diversity of fauna. Fifty sevenfauna species listed as vulnerable or endangered in the Threatened Species Conservation Act1995 (TSC Act) are known to occur in the LGA. The threatened fauna species known to occur inRichmond Valley Shire and the vegetation communities in which they are likely to occur aredetailed in Appendix 4.The known and modelled distribution of fire vulnerable threatened fauna was mapped andincluded in the environmental assets map used to develop this plan.Fire can be a major factor determining fauna distribution by way of its ability to influence thedistribution of the flora (vegetation communities) on which fauna depend.Fire management activities can impact on threatened fauna either directly or indirectly.Direct impacts occur where high intensity wildfires or prescribed fires burn over broad areas inconditions that leave few unburnt areas/patches . The adverse impacts of such fires include:• Vegetative habitat structures burnt from ground to canopy resulting in high fauna mortality• Widespread and near complete removal of food sources for immediate post fire recovery• Destruction of ground habitat structures such as fallen logs• Falling of large numbers of senescent, hollow bearing habitat trees• Improved access for feral predator species, and near complete removal of refuge for speciessusceptible to predation• Burning of habitat types that may not normally be burned by lower intensity fire (eg.vegetation in gullies and on SE aspects)Indirect impacts to fauna occur where fire frequency thresholds for vegetation communities areexceeded and localised extinctions of plant species or communities occurs. The adverse impactson fauna of too frequent or infrequent burning include:• Localised extinction of plant species or communities leads to localised extinction of animalspecies or communities dependant on those plant species or communities• Improved access for feral predator species, and near complete removal of refuge for speciessusceptible to predation• Increases the opportunity for weed invasion leading to further habitat modification ordegradationWhere fire management activities are proposed in locations where Threatened Flora or Fauna areknown or likely to occur, the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 must be addressed.Where an impact on threatened flora or fauna species would occur as a result of the methodproposed for fuel reduction, alternative methods should be considered and assessed to identifythe least impacting method. Impacts can be minimised to acceptable levels by prescribingalternative locations, timing, season or intensity for burning or utilising other alternativemethods.See appendices at the end of this document for further detailed information regarding:• Threatened Flora and Fauna and their habitats within Richmond Valley Shire• Addressing the Threatened Species Conservation Act• Guidelines for minimising impact on threatened species in fire management zonesPage 13

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANiii) Threatened CommunitiesLowland rainforest on floodplains in the NSW North Coast BioRegion have been identified bythe NSW Scientific Committee as an Endangered Ecological Community. Proponents of bushfire management activities which may impact on these communities must address the specificrequirements of the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 relating to EndangeredEcological Communities.A description of the species comprising lowland floodplain rainforest is seen as Appendix 10.Copies can also be obtained from your local NPWS office or via their web site.(d)Significant Vegetation CommunitiesBush Fire Risk Management in the Richmond Valley Council area is also affected by theoperation of the following planning instruments:SEPP 14 WetlandsSEPP 26 Littoral RainforestSEPP 44 Koala habitatRegionally significant Vegetation (as listed in any relevant Regional Vegetation ManagementPlan)(e)CatchmentsThe Richmond Valley Council area encompasses the Bungawalbyn Catchment area.Fire management in catchments is critical as maintaining appropriate levels of vegetative andlitter cover within the catchment is vital for managing erosion and sedimentation and ultimatelywater quality. Bushfire has the potential to remove much of the vegetative and litter cover andlead to extreme erosion in catchments and sedimentation in water storage dams and waterways.An important objective of fire management in the District is to minimise the occurrence ofintense fires over broad areas which may produce large quantities of ash and expose soils toerosion, providing significant potential for the sedimentation/contamination of natural waterwaysand town water supplies.(f)WetlandsWetlands have been identified as having major ecological roles with values as habitat for floraand fauna. Wetlands also have major roles in catchment management including erosion control,flow control and maintaining water quality. Wetlands can be significantly degraded by extremebushfire events or by fire regimes outside the identified thresholds for the vegetation typespresent.(g)Riparian ZonesFire Management in Riparian Zones is an important factor to maintain soil and waterconservation as well as protection of flora and fauna.Page 14

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN(h)SoilsThe soils of the Richmond Valley are as varied as the landscapes in which they are located.From the unstable basalts and Walloon Coal Measures in the western areas of the catchmentlocated in the highly incised, steep topography to the fertile floodplains, many soils are at riskfrom erosion and degradation when inappropriate management activities are undertaken. Forinstance, a high intensity fire can have a devastating effect on steep lands (over 18 degrees slope)by destroying soil crusts and vegetation that stabilise soils. The occurrence of one significantrainfall event after a fire can result in hundreds of tonnes of soil loss per hectare and significantlyincrease sedimentation and stream turbidity.State Protected Land is particularly susceptible to soil erosion and degradation, thus the need forlegislative based considerations when undertaking clearing and bush fire management activitieson those lands. The Protected Lands provisions of the Native Vegetation Conservation Act 1997are focused towards preventing inappropriate activities on such land for the protection of soil andwater quality values.Therefore, before undertaking any hazard reduction activity that is likely to disturb or expose thesoil, measures must be taken to effectively mitigate against soil erosion and degradation.Page 15

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANChapter 3 - Bush Fire Risk Description3.1 IntroductionThis chapter describes the level of bush fire risk to community and ecological/environmentalassets across the Richmond Valley Council area. It also provides a brief explanation of what ismeant by the term bush fire risk, and how the level bush fire risk across the Richmond ValleyCouncil area was determined.3.2. What is Bush Fire RiskBush fire risk is defined as the chance of a bush fire igniting, spreading and causing damage toassets of value to the community.Three main factors contribute to the bush fire risk:1. The potential severity of the fire (or bush fire hazard). The bush fire hazard isinfluenced by the vegetation, slope, and weather conditions.2. How close the bush fire hazard is to an asset (or bush fire threat). The further an asset islocated from a bush fire hazard, the less likely it is to be damaged or destroyed by thebush fire.3. The capacity of an asset to cope with, and recover from the expected bush fire (orvulnerability). Different types of assets have different abilities to cope with fire.3.3 Bush Fire Risk Assessment MethodologyThe method used to identify the level of bush fire risk across the Richmond Valley Council areais outlined below. More detailed information about the methodology can be obtained fromCoordinating Committee Bush Fire Risk Management Planning Guidelines.Sources used were:••••••Satellite Imagery from Landsat late 1996, via RVC.Land Information Centre, Bathurst.DLWC Multi Attribute Data on Land UseRRSC MapInfo GIS layers 1999.Data from NPWS and SFNSW 1998Personal Communications and anecdotal evidence on Fire History and Incidence fromRFS Group Captains and past and present members of Brigades.Step 1.Identify the Bush Fire Hazard.The bush fire hazard was assessed by combining information about the type of vegetation (andhow well it burns during a bush fire), slope, and the likely weather conditions on days whenmajor bush fires are likely to start and spread rapidly.Page 16

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANStep 2.Identify the Bush Fire Threat.The bush fire threat to various community and ecological/environmental assets within theRichmond Valley Council area was assessed by estimating how close these assets were locatedto a bush fire hazard.Step 3.Identify the Bush Fire Risk.The bush fire risk to community and ecological/environmental assets was determined byassessing how well the different types of assets within the Richmond Valley Council area werelikely to withstand and recover from the level of bush fire threat expected.Based on this assessment, the bush fire risk posed to assets was placed into one of five bush firerisk classes (extreme, major, moderate, minor, or insignificant). An explanation of what each ofthese bush fire risk classes mean is included in Table 4.1.3.4 Bush Fire Risk in Richmond Valley Council AreaMaps within the appendices show the level of bush fire risk to community andenvironmental/ecological assets across the Richmond Valley Council area.A brief description of the bush fire risk to community and environmental/ecological assets acrossthe Richmond Valley Council area is provided in the following pages.Page 17

3.4.1 Bush Fire Risk DescriptionRICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN(a) Ecological Assets Risk Assessments: (Supplied by National Parks and Wildlife Service)The Richmond Valley area is well known for its high value environmental/ecological assets. Some National Park, Nature Reserve and State Forestareas are exposed to major bush fire risk, as a result of frequent fires over the last 20 years. An excessive fire regime combined with the impact offurther major fires will result in a decline in biodiversity and possible species loss. Such circumstances warrant a major bush fire risk classification interms of the environmental/ecological assets.The river valleys and bushland ranges that form a significant component of the Richmond landscape to some extent pose a bush fire hazard toadjoining urban, rural residential and agricultural areas. Notwithstanding, these areas also have values that are at risk from bush fire. Bush fires,depending on intensity, are likely to have impacts varying from short term degradation of scenic quality to longer term, and in some instancespermanent soil stability and water quality problems, and flora and fauna population declines. Assessment of the degree of risk requires considerationof the relative environmental/ecological asset value and its exposure to the bush fire threat.Asset Group Threat Asset Characteristics AffectingAbility to Cope and Recover FromFireBroadwater NP High Most fire tolerant vegetationcommunities fell within acceptablefire frequency thresholds for plantbiodiversity.Consequences of fire at FDI of 60Fire tolerant vegetation communities will be ableto cope with a single fire within the term of thisplan, however a second burning of any area willplace that area at risk of degradation if successivefire(s) within eight years.Level ofRiskModeratePriority3Littoral Rainforest or rainforestassociations will be degraded ifexposed to fire.Rainforest areas will be degraded by anyexposure to fire.Ignition of peat in SEPP 14 wetlandspossible at FDI 60.SEPP 14 Wetlands significantly degradedHabitat of Grass Owl and GroundParrotBundjalung NP High Much of the fire tolerant vegetationcommunities already close to orFires in low heath during breeding period of theseThreatened Species likely to have significantimpact on population which may require anextended period to recovery from lossesAreas of fire tolerant vegetation will exceed firefrequency threshold if exposed to fire during theMajor2Page 18

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANAsset Group Threat Asset Characteristics AffectingAbility to Cope and Recover FromFireexceeding fire frequency thresholds.Consequences of fire at FDI of 60term of this plan.Level ofRiskPriorityRainforest or rainforest associationsalready degraded as a result of firefrequencyRainforest will be further degradedHabitat of Grass Owl and GroundParrotFires in heath during breeding period of theseThreatened Species likely to have significantimpact on population which may require anextended period to recovery from lossesIgnition of peat in SEPP 14 wetlandspossible at FDI 60. SEPP 14 wetlandshave been frequently burnt in lasttwenty yearsSEPP 14 Wetlands significantly degradedBungawalbyn NPand NR, additionsto BundjalungNP, TabbimobleSwamp andHogarth RangeNR andBundjalungCrown ReserveHighFrequently burnt under previousmanagement for silviculture orgrazing.Rainforest or rainforest associationslikely to be already degraded as aresult of fire frequencySEPP 14 areas in Tabbimoble SwampNRAreas of vegetation greater than 2.5 ha likely toexceed fire frequency thresholds already.Rainforest likely to be further degradedSepp 14 degraded in Tabbimoble Swamp NRMajor2Habitat of Rufous Bettong and BushStone Curlew .Too frequent or inappropriate timing of fireslikely to have significant impact on ThreatenedSpecies populations which may require anextended period to recovery from losses. Timingand frequency of fire are critical considerations.Part MallanganeeNPMod toHighDry rainforest is a significantcomponent of this Park. Dryrainforest is poorly represented inconservation reserves. Rainforest isDamage to more than 30% of the dry rainforestpossible.Fire regime of more than 2.5 ha rainforest likelyto be exceeded.Major2Page 19

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANAsset Group Threat Asset Characteristics AffectingAbility to Cope and Recover FromFireupper slope and enclosed bysclerophyll forestsConsequences of fire at FDI of 60Further fires likely to result in decline inbiodiversity and possible species lossLevel ofRiskPriorityHogarth RangeNR (part)HighPredominantly dry sclerophyll foreston elevated ridge. Limited fire historyinformationFire frequency may exceed acceptable thresholds Moderate3Pickapene NPMod toHighRainforest up-slope from firesupportive sclerophyll forestFire regime of more than 2.5 ha rainforestcompromisedModerate3Threatened FloraSpeciesLow toHighThreatened flora species adapted to aparticular fire regimeFire regimes maintained outside the identified firefrequency thresholds for plant communities likelyto lead to localised flora species extinctions.Moderate3Threatened FaunaSpeciesLow tohighThreatened fauna species dependenton vegetation communities that haveadapted to a particular fire regime.Fire regimes maintained outside the identified firefrequency thresholds for plant communities likelyto degrade plant communities and lead tolocalised extinctions of dependent fauna speciesModerate3Threatened fauna species adapted toutilise particular habitats provided byspecific vegetation structuresDirect impacts including destruction of vegetativehabitat structures; high fauna mortality; removalof food sources; increased access for feralpredator species and near complete removal ofrefuge for species susceptible to predation.Aboriginal sites -Low tohighVarious, depending on site type - seeAppendix 5 Vulnerability ofAboriginal Sites to FireVarious, depending on site type - see Appendix 5Vulnerability of Aboriginal Sites to FireModerate 1 - 5Page 20

(b)Urban AreasRICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANThe area has a number of major urban areas that face varying degrees of bush fire risk. These areas are identified as the towns and villages on therisk map. In general terms the greatest risk to assets in the urban areas occurs at the urban/bushland interface. Most assets within the urban perimeterare not as much at risk due to the lack of direct exposure to fuels that exist in the form of rural and bushland vegetation.An extreme bush fire risk is considered to be present for assets within approximately 100m of the bush, in circumstances where developmentoccurred prior to bush fire protection mechanisms being incorporated into the development. In such a case, a bush fire burning under severeconditions may result in the loss of human life and the destruction of many houses and assets if appropriate and adequate management strategies arenot implemented. However, at this time no areas of extreme risk have been identified in the District.Some of the urban interface areas face a major risk from bush fires. These areas are also located within 100m of the bush, but have some protectionmechanisms such as housing design and perimeter roads, which lower the risk from extreme to major. Without adequate management, loss of somehouses / assets and the loss of life is possible in a bush fire burning under severe conditions.Those houses and assets located approximately 100m to 2.5km from the interface are considered to face a moderate bush fire risk, primarily fromburning embers. Some chance of localised damage is possible in a severe bush fire.(c)Agricultural AreasGenerally the agricultural assets in the area are in the lower risk classifications due to their remote proximity to the high bush fire hazard areas offorest and bushland vegetation. The exception to the rule is the high value pine, hardwood and ti-tree plantations. These assets are considered amajor risk based on the self generating hazard of the plantation that is compounded by the surrounding high bush fire hazard area. The high assetvalue of the plantation in terms of direct dollar value as well as in terms of the regional economy and employment structure is also a significantcontributing factor to the major risk classification.(d)Rural Landsharing CommunitiesThere are a number of Rural Landsharing Community developments located in the area. In terms of the key bush fire risk issues multipleoccupancies have much in common with rural residential and small holding developments. Rural Landsharing Community type settlements aregenerally located in more remote areas of bushland. The relative bush fire hazard is often high and access limited.(e)Remote Rural Residential DevelopmentPage 21

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANIn general terms the degree of bush fire risk confronting assets in a rural residential or small holdings environment is assessed in much the same wayas the urban areas. The main difference is that the risk is not restricted to the rural / bushland interface due to assets being more sparsely located overa larger area containing patches of remnant bush. This usually results in a higher concentration of asset exposure to the rural and bushland vegetationfuels.The other most significant factors to be considered in assessing the degree of bush fire risk in the rural residential and small holding areas are:• Exposed and or limited evacuation routes.• Sub-standard access routes for access to and protection of assets.• Limited fire safe refuge areas for residents and firefighters.• Poorly prepared dwellings and sub-standard developments that have not introduced or maintained bush fire protection measures.• Prevailing land use activities and the resulting fuel conditions.(f)Individual / Isolated Rural Farm OccupationsTraditional farming and occupation of rural lands represents a significant section of the community. Farming activities of various types areundertaken from the coast to the ranges. The bush fire risk to individual farms and their assets varies greatly depending on individual circumstances.The location in terms of bush fire hazard, the type of farming activities and the degree of bush fire preparedness implemented to protect assets arecontributing factors to the bush fire risk. Due to the sparsity of population and assets in the farming community the overall bush fire risk in theseareas is not a high priority in terms of bush fire risk management planning for community assets. The potential for loss of life is generally low andany impact to assets is generally isolated damage and localised to individuals or small groups. Any losses, though significant to the individual, arenegligible when considered in terms of the broader community and its economy.(g)State ForestsState Forests’ Fuel Management Plans are directed at reducing fuel loads throughout the State forests of the Richmond Valley Council area, andmaintaining fuel conditions at a level that will minimise the possibility of high-intensity wildfires. This is intended to reduce the risk of fires startingand to reduce the rate of spread, intensity, and damage done to productive stands when fires do occur. State Forests fuel management operationspromote a fire regime of low-intensity fires, mainly occurring in the cooler months of the year.State Forests’ general forest management activities and fuel management protocols are expected to decrease the risk of wildfire in the State forests ofthe Richmond Valley Council area, as well as to reduce the risk of wildfires spreading to adjoining national parks, nature reserves and privateproperty.Page 22

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANThe principle mitigative measure to reduce the risk of wildfire in regrowth areas is the post-harvesting burning of slash and woody debris to reducefuel levels. An additional mitigative measure, where this can be implemented, is the maintenance of a protective buffer of previously harvested andprescribed-burnt areas around regrowth stands.The high value softwood and hardwood joint venture plantation assets in Richmond Valley Council area, while posing a bush fire hazard, also havevalues that are at significant risk from bush fire. These plantations are particularly vulnerable to the damaging effects of bush fire, especially whenyoung. For the life of this Plan, all hardwood plantations in the Richmond Valley Council area managed by State Forests should be viewed as youngplantation; the oldest being established in 1995.Because of the high asset value of these plantations, both as capital investments and for their importance to the future regional economy andemployment, bush fires pose a moderate to major risk to these community assets.For the period of this plan it is most appropriate to classify young plantations under the “grassland” vegetation type. The associated fuelcharacteristics are consistent with those of grasses, and regular grazing will be a standard activity.The plantations are in themselves a bush fire hazard. Softwood plantations are particularly vulnerable to fire, especially those situated on elevatedlocations. Hardwood plantations are more likely to survive a wild fire, depending on species and development stage of the particular plantation.However, all plantations are particularly vulnerable to fire in their early stage.The table on the following page describes in more detail the bush fire risk description for these areas.(h)Bushland Restoration and Protection ProjectsRecent initiatives by the State and Federal Governments have resulted in many thousands of taxpayer dollars being invested in the restoration,rehabilitation and protection of areas of native vegetation. Examples include Dunecare and Landcare initiatives funded via the Natural HeritageTrust and Property Agreements funded under the Native Vegetation Conservation Act 1997. Other areas where significant funds have beenexpended are in weed removal and restoration of riparian areas. Bush fire risk to these areas will be significant, particularly in the early stages ofestablishment when seedlings and plantings are vulnerable to fire.The potential loss of areas set aside for conservation would be considered to be a loss to the community who did the work as well as anenvironmental and economic loss.State Forests of NSW – Risk AssessmentsAsset Group Threat Asset Characteristics AffectingAbility to Cope and Recover FromFireSoftwoodConsequences of fire at FDI of 60Level ofRiskHigh Asset highly flammable, species Loss of valuable economic asset Major 2Page 23Priority

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANPlantationsunlikely to survive wildfireHardwoodPlantationsHighYoung plantations are particularlyvulnerable to damage from fire – allState Forests managed plantations areyoung.Loss of valuable economic asset Major 2Native ForestsHighMajority of mature species willrecover from wildfiresThreatened flora and faunaLoss of some valuable economic assetAs per ecological considerationsModerate3Page 24

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANChapter 4 - Bush Fire Risk Management Strategies4.1 IntroductionThis chapter details:• the bush fire risk management strategies which will be put in place to manage the bush firerisk across the Richmond Valley Council area.• how the bush fire risk management priorities were determined and• the types of bush fire risk management options available.4.2 Bush Fire Risk Management PrioritiesBush fire risk management priorities have been allocated according to the bush fire risk ratings.Those areas faced with an extreme bush fire risk have been given the highest managementpriority, while those areas with an insignificant risk have the lowest management priority.The bush fire risk management priority influences:When the risk is likely to be treated - high priority areas will be addressed first;The resources allocated to the treatment - more resources will be allocated to manage the riskin high priority areas, as more work will be needed to reduce the risk; andThe range of treatment strategies required to manage the risk- a greater range ofmanagement strategies will be implemented to manage the risk in high priority areas, as morefactors contribute to the risk.4.3 Bush Fire Risk Management OptionsTable 4.1 describes the various options available to minimise the bush fire risk. It is important torecognise that, particularly for extreme and major risk areas, no single option is likely to providesufficient protection from bush fires. A range of options need to be implemented to reduce thebush fire risk to an acceptable level. For example, while hazard reduction will reduce the severityof a bush fire and therefore improve the chance of survival; houses will have an even betterchance of survival if the people living in them have taken steps to make their own house lessvulnerable to bush fire attack. Examples of the types of householder initiatives that would assistin this regard include:• Incorporate bush fire protection standards into the siting and design of the house.• Regularly clean vegetation debris from gutters.• Seal openings and recesses against ember attack.• Do not store combustibles near the house.• Establish and maintain an adequate household / bush fire protection water supply.• Develop a household bush fire plan and have available the necessary basic bush firefighting equipment.• Maintain Fuel Free and Fuel Reduced Zones around Dwellings and other assets.Page 25

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANTable 4.1Explanation of Bush Fire Risk ClassesLevel of RiskLife and PropertyVulnerability CriteriaProperty Vulnerability CriteriaEnvironmental / EcologicalVulnerability CriteriaExtremeLife Risk Only - populated areaswhere the combination of threat &vulnerability expose a communityto a significant likelihood offatalities & major injuriesNot applicable to the extreme categoryExtinction of native species.MajorLife - less likely to be fatalities ormajor injuries due to the presenceof attributes which afford someprotection.Property- Extensive & widespread lossof property. Major impact across alarge part of the community andregion. Long term external assistancerequired to recover.Irreversible damage to theenvironment.ModerateLife - loss of life or major injuryhighly unlikely. Medical/hospitaltreatment may be required.Property - Localised damage toproperty. Short term externalassistance required to recoverLong term damage to the environmentover a landscape scaleMinorLife - Minor injuries only – firstaid treatment. No major injuriesor fatalities likely.Property - short term, damage toindividual assets. No externalassistance required to recover.Short term, localised damage to theenvironmentInsignificantLife - No injuries or fatalitieslikelyProperty-Inconsequential or nodamage to property. Little or nodisruption to the community.Minor impact on the environmentPage 26

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN4.3.1 Risk Management OptionsAvoid the RiskReduce the HazardReduce IgnitionsReduceVulnerabilityResidual RiskBy deciding not to proceed with the activity likely to generate the bushfire risk. This option is relevant to future land use and developmentdecisions.Examples of risk avoidance strategies include, prohibiting certain types ofdevelopment in bush fire prone areas, and requiring adequate fireprotection zones to be established between developments and the bushfire hazard.Programs to reduce the level of fuel available to burn in a bush fire.Examples of hazard reduction strategies include hazard reductionburning, slashing or ploughing of fire breaks, or manual clearing of bushfire hazards.Programs to reduce the number of deliberate and accidental man madeignitions.Examples of ignition reduction strategies include total fire bans, arsoninvestigation programs, and issuing of permits to burn during the bushfire danger season.Programs to increase the resilience of community and environmental /ecological assets to bush fires.Examples of vulnerability reduction strategies include communityeducation programs, and building restrictions in bush fire prone areas.Bush fire risk management strategies are designed to reduce the level ofrisk; but will not eliminate the risk entirely. Some level of residual riskmay remain, which will be managed with fire response strategies such asfire suppression operations, early fire detection, and evacuation.Page 27

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN4.4 Bush Fire Risk Management StrategiesThe bush fire risks that have been identified in the Richmond Valley Council area are describedhere and strategies for their management are detailed in the following tables. It should be notedat this point that a number of environmental considerations highlighted earlier in the documentas being important from a risk management perspective have not been incorporated into thefollowing Risk Management Strategies (RMS). It is therefore suggested the following RMStables be updated to incorporate the aforementioned considerations.EXTREME (Priority Nil) N/AMAJOR RISKAREAS.MODERATE RISKAREASMINOR RISKAREASPriority One • Human Settlement – Rural LandsharingCommunities / Rural Residential Areas• Human Settlement - Village Rileys Hill &New Italy• Hardwood and Softwood Plantations• Rainforest• National Park and Nature Reserve Areas• Threatened flora and fauna• Bushland restoration and rehabilitationprojectsPriority Two • Human Settlement – The Townships andVillages of Ellangowan Rappville,Broadwater & Evans Head. RuralLandsharing Communities and RuralResidential Areas• Remote Industrial Areas• Community Infrastructure Assets• Agricultural Areas• Threatened Flora and Fauna• Lands assessed as having a high potentialfor containing habitat for fire sensitivethreatened species.• SEPP 26 Littoral Rainforest• SEPP 44 Koala Habitat Protection• NPWS & SF Tourism Sites & Facilities• National Park and Nature Reserve Areas• Native Forest State Forest• Places of Cultural SignificancePriority Three • Human Settlement – Casino, Coraki,Woodburn and Rural Residential Areas• Community Infrastructure Assets• Agricultural AreasINSIGNIFICANT Priority Four N/APage 28

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANArea: 4.4.1 Major Risk - Richmond Valley Human Settlement - Rural Landsharing Communities / Rural Residential AreasPriority: 1ManagementOptionsRisk Management StrategiesAvoid Risk • Review LEP, to control development of housing in areas where adequate fire protection zonescannot be established.• Restrict vulnerable development in areas with high bush fire hazard – eg. nursing homes,hospitals multiple occupancies, hazardous industries, rural residential areas.• Require new developments include fire protection zones within the development area boundaries,rather than making adjoining landholders (eg vacant Crown land) responsible• Encourage development that provides a break between the hazard and buildings - for example,parks, sporting fields, etc.Reduce Hazards • Where practical implement and maintain asset protection zones around the perimeter ofsettlements and rural residential areas.• Encourage the development of strategic fire advantage zones in areas where the physicalconstraints do not allow asset protection zones to be established, and/or access problems exist,and/or existing houses are not built to withstand the bush fire potential.• Authorise properly managed hazard reduction and property management burning through aReduceVulnerabilityregulated system of issuing fire permits.• Encourage Community Fireguard Groups in areas bordering on bushland to promote bush firethreat awareness and involve residents in managing the bush fire hazard on and adjoining theirproperties.• Advise and encourage landowners to implement strategies for mitigating the bush fire threat.• Maintain development and building controls and standards to increase the ability of new subdivisions and houses to withstand a bush fire attack.Responsible Land Manager/s &Authorities• Council• Council• Council• Council• Council & Private landowner/occupiers• Council & Private landowner/occupiers• Council & Rural Fire Service• Rural Fire Service• Council & Rural Fire Service• CouncilPage 29

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANManagementRisk Management StrategiesOptionsReduce Ignitions • Conduct fire investigations for significant fire occurrences and initiate remedial action orprosecution of offenders where appropriate.• Community education and awareness campaign – encourage co-operation between neighbors,land management agencies and private landowners.• Suspend / restrict fire generating activities during periods of very high to extreme fire danger.Accept Residual • Consider development of evacuation and emergency plans for residents adjoining bushland areas.Risk• Maintain adequate fire service response systems.• Develop coordinated operations plans.• Implement early detection systems on days of very high and extreme fire danger.Responsible Land Manager/s &Authorities• Rural Fire Service, State Forests,Police Service• Rural Fire Service, State ForestsNational Parks & Wildlife Service• Council / RFS / SF / NPWS• Rural Fire Service / Residents /LEMC• Rural Fire Service,NSWFB• BFMC• Rural Fire Service / SF / NPWSPage 30

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANArea: 4.4.2 Major Risk – Richmond Valley Human Settlement - Village of Riley's Hill & New ItalyPriority: 1ManagementOptionsRisk Management StrategiesAvoid Risk • Review LEP, to control development of housing in areas where adequate fire protection zonescannot be established.• Restrict vulnerable development in areas with high bush fire hazard – eg. nursing homes,hospitals schools, hazardous industries, residential estates.• Require new developments include fire protection zones within the development boundaries, ratherthan making adjoining landholders (eg vacant Crown land) responsible• Encourage development that provides a break between the hazard and buildings - for example,parks, sporting fields, etc.Reduce Hazards • Where practical implement and maintain asset protection zones around the perimeter of settlementand residential areas.• Encourage the development of strategic fire advantage zones in areas where the physicalconstraints do not allow asset protection zones to be established, and/or access problems exist,and/or existing houses are not built to withstand the bush fire potential.• Authorise properly managed hazard reduction and property management burning through aReduceVulnerabilityregulated system of issuing fire permits.• Encourage Community Fireguard Groups in areas bordering on bushland to promote bush firethreat awareness and involve residents in managing the bush fire hazard on and adjoining theirproperties.• Advise and encourage landowners to implement strategies for mitigating the bush fire threat.• Maintain development and building controls and standards to increase the ability of new subdivisions and houses to withstand a bush fire attack.Reduce Ignitions • Conduct fire investigations for significant fire occurrences and initiate remedial action orprosecution of offenders where appropriate.• Community education and awareness campaign – encourage co-operation between neighbors,land management agencies and private landowners.• Suspend / restrict fire generating activities during periods of very high to extreme fire danger.Responsible Land Manager/s &Authorities• Council• Council• Council• Counci• Council & Private landowner/occupiers• Council & Private landowner/occupiers• Council & Rural Fire Service• Rural Fire ServicePrivate land owners/occupiers• Council & Rural Fire Service• Council• Rural Fire Service, SF, NPWSPolice Service• Rural Fire Service, State ForestsNational Parks & Wildlife Service• Council, RFS, SF, NPWSPage 31

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANManagementOptionsAccept ResidualRiskRisk Management Strategies• Consider development of evacuation and emergency plans for residents adjoining bushland areas.• Maintain adequate fire service response systems.• Develop coordinated operations plans.• Implement early detection systems on days of very high and extreme fire danger.Responsible Land Manager/s &Authorities• Rural Fire Service / Residents /LEMC• Rural Fire Service, NSWFB• BFMC• RFS / SF / NPWSPage 32

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANArea: 4.4.3 Major Risk – Hardwood and Softwood PlantationsPriority: 1ManagementOptionsRisk Management StrategiesAvoid Risk • Limit plantation establishment in areas with high bush fire hazard and/or poor access.• Encourage planting of fire tolerant species where appropriate in higher risk areas that areadjacent to high hazard lands.Reduce Hazards • Establish and maintain a system of perimeter and internal fire protection trails to facilitate firemanagement.• Authorise and encourage properly managed hazard reduction burning• Establish and maintain strategic fire advantage zones adjacent to plantations whereappropriate, to assist in protection of assets:ReduceVulnerability1. in retained areas of native vegetation within plantations2. within plantation crops where possible and appropriate, by silvicultural treatment along strategicroads and boundaries; and3. on adjacent lands where possible and appropriate, with the agreement and involvement oflandowners.• Reduce grass fuels by early and regular grazing• Develop Fire Protection Plans for all new plantation areas• Maintain community education and awareness programsResponsible Land Manager/s &Authorities• SFNSW• SFNSW• SFNSW/RFS/PP Landowner• SFNSW/Council/RFS• SFNSW/ PP Landowner• SFNSW/ PP Landowner• SFNSW• SFNSW/RFSReduce Ignitions • Suspend/restrict fire generating activities during periods of high to extreme fire danger • Council/RFS/SFNSW/NPWSAccept ResidualRisk• Maintain adequate fire detection, response and suppression systems. • SFNSW/RFS/NPWSPage 33

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANArea: 4.4.4 Major Risk – RainforestPriority: 1ManagementOptionsRisk Management StrategiesResponsible Land Manager/s &AuthoritiesAvoid Risk • Not applicable • Not applicableReduce Hazards • NPWS Reserve Fire Management Plans, SFNSW Fuel Management Plans and RFSannual programs will provide for strategic fire advantage zones to reduce the extentand spread of high intensity wildfire.• Encourage the maintenance of a strategic network of fire trails outside rainforestareas to facilitate fire suppression and pro-active hazard reduction burning.• NPWS Reserve Fire management Plans, RFS annual programs, and SFNSW FuelManagement Plans will zone all rainforest as fire exclusion areasReduce Vulnerability • Continue to communicate closely with neighbouring landholders.• Encourage programs to increase community awareness regarding vulnerability ofrainforest to fire and subsequent weed invasion.Reduce Ignitions • Suspend hazard reduction burning during periods of very high to extreme firedanger.• Suspend fire generating activities and /or close access to NPWS estate on days ofTotal Fire bans and Park Fire Bans and/or in accordance with the District BushFire Operations Plan.• Increase patrols and activate fire early warning systems during Bush Fire Dangerperiods.Accept Residual Risk • Maintain cooperative detection and response systems between fire managementauthorities and neighbours.• NPWS / SFNSW / RFS / Councils /Other Land Management Agencies• NPWS / SFNSW / Other LandManagement Agencies• NPWS / SFNSW / RFS• NPWS / SFNSW• SFNSW, NPWS• RFS / NPWS / SFNSW/Council• NPWS• NPWS / SFNSW / RFS• NPWS / RFS / SFNSW/ landholdersPage 34

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANArea: 4.4.5 Major Risk – National Park & Nature Reserve areas. Incl - Bundjalung, Mallanganee, Part Mount Pickapene andBungawalbyn National Parks, Bungawalbyn, and Tabbimoble Swamp Nature Reserves and Bundjalung Crown Reserve.Priority: 1ManagementOptionsRisk Management StrategiesAvoid Risk • Not applicable • Not applicableReduce Hazards • Establish and / or maintain existing strategic fire advantages to allowmanagement of fire regimes and control wildfire.• Identify and utilise natural strategic fire advantages to allow management offire regimes and control wildfire.Reduce Vulnerability • Implement community education programs and public awareness ofenvironmental and cultural heritage values of conservation reserves.• Implement community education programs and public awareness ofrelationship between escapes from adjoining lands and fire history onconservation reserves - emphasis on escape into upslope reserves.• Implement community education programs and public awareness ofrelationship between fire regime on conservation reserves and threatenedspecies survivalReduce Ignitions • Suspend fire generating activities on days of high to extreme fire dangerweather.(eg park/forest fire bans, bans on camping/cooking fires)• Suspend prescribed burning activities when high fire danger weather ispredicted within four days by the Bureau of Meteorology• Assist downslope neighbour burns to minimise escape into upslopeconservation reserves.• Promote adoption of tactics on adjoining tenures which minimise escape ofburns into neighbouring lands - particular emphasis on escape into upslopereserves.• Promote suspension of prescribed burning activities on adjoining tenureswhen high fire danger weather is predicted.Responsible Land Manager/s &Authorities• National Parks and WildlifeService(All strategies)• National Parks and WildlifeService(All strategies)• National Parks and Wildlife Service• National Parks and Wildlife Service,Rural Fire Service• National Parks and Wildlife Service• National Parks and Wildlife Service• National Parks and Wildlife ServicePage 35

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANManagementOptionsRisk Management Strategies• Close access to management areas where arson activity is frequent (egnational parks, state forests)• Increase patrols in known high arson ignition locationsAccept Residual Risk • Develop cooperative detection and response networks and plans• Have fire suppression equipment and trained staff available for responseResponsible Land Manager/s &Authorities• National Parks and Wildlife Service,State Forests• Police, National Parks and WildlifeService, State Forests• BFMC• Rural Fire Service, National Parksand Wildlife Service, State ForestsPage 36

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN4.4.6 Area: Major Risk – Threatened Flora & FaunaPriority: 1ManagementOptionsRisk Management StrategiesResponsible Land Manager/s &AuthoritiesAvoid Risk • Not applicable • Not applicableReduce Hazards • NPWS Reserve Fire Management Plans, SFNSW Fuel Management Plans and RFSannual programs will provide for strategic fire advantage zones to reduce the extentand spread of high intensity wildfire.• Where consistent with land management objectives, burn frequencies will aim to bewithin thresholds required by the species and vegetation type, and will aim to beconsistent with recovery plan if applicable• Encourage programs re education of private landholders of these species and firerequirements, and encourage private landholders to consider potential effects onthese species when planning hazard reduction activities.Reduce Vulnerability • NPWS Reserve Fire Plans will require ongoing monitoring of selected populationsof these species (on NPWS estate) in regard to response to fire and/or absence offire or various fire regimes.Reduce Ignitions • Suspend hazard reduction burning during periods of high to extreme fire danger.• Suspend fire generating activities and /or close access to NPWS estate on days ofTotal Fire bans and Park Fire Bans and/or in accordance with the District BushFire Operations Plan.• Increase patrols and activate fire early warning systems during Bush Fire Dangerperiods.Accept Residual Risk • Trained and equipped firefighters strategically located and available within areasonable response time.• Maintain cooperative detection and response systems between fire managementauthorities and neighbors.• NPWS / SFNSW / RFS / Councils /Other Land Management Agencies• NPWS / SFNSW / Other Landmanagement Agencies• NPWS / BFMC’s / NCC• NPWS• RFS / NPWS / SFNSW• NPWS• NPWS / SFNSW / RFS• NPWS / RFS / SFNSW• NPWS,SF,RFS, park neighborsPage 37

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN4.4.7 Area: Major Risk – Bush land Restoration & Rehabilitation AreasPriority: 1ManagementOptionsRisk Management StrategiesResponsible Land Manager/s &AuthoritiesAvoid Risk • Not applicable • Not applicableReduce Hazards • Exclude fires from specific areas of fire intolerant plant communities and rainforestwhere possible.• Encourage with landowners consent strategic fire advantage zones to protectthreatened flora and fauna where possible.• Encourage the maintenance of breaks around property fence lines to limit extensionof fire in R&R areas.• Landowners in consultation and/orassistance from NPWS• All Agencies• All agenciesReduce Vulnerability • Encourage public awareness of environmental values of R&R areas.• Encourage the maintenance of appropriate firebreaks on private property.• With neighboring landowners consent, undertake management of ignitions andhazards in adjacent areas to VCA areas.Reduce Ignitions • Suspend hazard reduction burning during periods of very high to extreme firedanger.• Undertake neighbour awareness and education of landowners and neighbors on fireintolerant plant communities within R&R areas.Accept Residual Risk • Develop cooperative detection and response systems.• Trained and ready firefighters available within reasonable response time.• All Agencies (All strategies)• RFS, Council, NPWS, SF, Landowners• Landowners• NPWS, RFS, SF• NPWS, RFS, SF, landownersPage 38

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANArea: 4.4.8 Moderate Risk - Richmond Valley Human Settlement – incl- The Townships and Villages of Ellangowan Rappville, Broadwater &Evans Head. Rural Landsharing Communities and Rural Residential AreasPriority: 2ManagementOptionsRisk Management StrategiesAvoid Risk • Review LEP, to control development of housing in areas where adequate fireprotection zones cannot be established.• Restrict vulnerable development in areas with high bush fire hazard – eg. nursinghomes, hospitals schools, hazardous industries, residential estates.• Encourage development that provides a break between the hazard and buildings -for example, parks, sporting fields, etc.Reduce Hazards • Encourage the development of asset protection zones along the settlement areabushland interface.• Authorise properly managed hazard reduction and property management burningthrough a regulated system of issuing fire permits.Reduce Vulnerability • Maintain development and building controls and standards appropriate to the levelof hazard.• Implement community education programs focused on managing the hazard onprivate property.Reduce Ignitions • Suspend / restrict fire generating activities during periods of very high to extremefire danger.Accept Residual Risk • Consider developing evacuation plans for special protection assets.• Maintain cooperative detection and response networks and plans.Responsible Land Manager/s &Authorities• Council• Council• Council• Council & Private land owner/occupier• Council & Rural Fire Service• Council• Rural Fire Service• Council / RFS / SF / NPWS• Facility managers & fire services• RFS / SF / NPWS/NSWFBPage 39

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANArea: 4.4.9 Moderate Risk - Richmond Valley Remote Industrial AreasPriority: 2ManagementOptionsRisk Management StrategiesAvoid Risk • Review LEP, to control development in areas where adequate fire protection zonescannot be established.• Require new developments include fire protection zones within the developmentboundaries, rather than making adjoining landholders (eg vacant Crown land)responsible• Restrict hazardous industries in close proximity to high bush fire hazard areas.Reduce Hazards • Encourage the development of asset protection zones for assets located in high bushfire hazard areas.• Authorise properly managed hazard reduction and property management burningthrough a regulated system of issuing fire permits.Reduce Vulnerability • Encourage the development of a program of bush fire hazard inspections and bushfire mitigation works for specific assets.Reduce Ignitions • Undertake annual community awareness campaign promoting fire safety during thebush fire danger period.• Suspend / restrict fire generating activities during periods of high to extreme firedanger.Responsible Land Manager/s &Authorities• Council• Council• Council• Council, Asset owners, Rural FireService• Council, Rural Fire Service• Rural Fire Service, Asset owners• BFMC, RFS, SF, NPWS, NSWFB• Council, RFS, SF, NPWSAccept Residual Risk • Maintain cooperative detection and response networks and plans. • RFS, SF, NPWS, NSWFBPage 40

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANArea: 4.4.10 Moderate Risk - Richmond Valley Community Infrastructure AssetsPriority: 2ManagementOptionsRisk Management StrategiesAvoid Risk • Not Applicable •Responsible Land Manager/s &AuthoritiesReduce Hazards • Encourage the development of asset protection zones for assets located in high bushfire hazard areas.• Authorise properly managed hazard reduction and property management burningthrough a regulated system of issuing fire permits.Reduce Vulnerability • Encourage the development of a program of bush fire hazard inspections and bushfire mitigation works for specific assets.• Rural Fire Service, Council & Assetowners• Council & Rural Fire Service• Rural Fire Service & Asset ownersReduce Ignitions • Undertake annual community awareness campaign promoting fire safety during the • RFS, BFMC, SF, NPWS, NSWFBbush fire danger period.• Suspend / restrict fire generating activities during periods of very high to extreme fire • Council / RFS / SF / NPWSdanger.Accept Residual Risk • Maintain cooperative detection and response networks and plans. • RFS / SF / NPWS / NSWFBPage 41

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANArea: 4.4.11 Moderate Risk - Richmond Valley Agricultural AreasPriority: 2ManagementOptionsRisk Management StrategiesAvoid Risk • Not Applicable • Not ApplicableResponsible Land Manager/s &AuthoritiesReduce Hazards • Establish perimeter access trails and fuel reduction zones adjacent to agriculturalassets in close proximity to bush fire hazard areas.• Encourage the development of asset protection zones along the bushland interface• Authorise properly managed hazard reduction and property management burningthrough a regulated system of issuing fire permits.• Private landowner / occupier• Council, Asset Owners• Council & Rural Fire ServiceReduce Vulnerability • Maintain community education and awareness programs. • Rural Fire ServiceReduce Ignitions • Suspend / restrict fire generating activities during periods of high to extreme firedanger.• Council, RFS, SF, NPWSAccept Residual Risk • Maintain adequate fire detection, response and suppression systems • RFS, SF, NPWS, NSWFB, BFMCPage 42

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANArea: 4.4.12 Moderate Risk – Threatened Flora and FaunaPriority: 2ManagementOptionsRisk Management StrategiesAvoid Risk • Undertake hazard reduction activities outside of threatened species habitator modify methodology to minimise impact on threatened species or theirhabitat.Reduce Hazards • Establish and / or maintain strategic fire advantages to allow managementof fire regimes and control wildfire• Identify and utilize natural strategic fire advantages to allow management offire regimes and to control wildfire• Aim to manage fire frequency so as to achieve fire regimes in naturalvegetation communities which are consistent with the fire regime thresholdsfor those vegetation communities.Reduce Vulnerability • Implement community education programs to promote public awareness ofthreatened species values and their habitat requirements.• Implement community education programs and public awareness ofrelationship between fire regime and threatened species survivalReduce Ignitions • Close access to management areas where arson activity is frequent.• Increase patrols in known high arson ignition locations• Suspend fire generating activities on days of very high to extreme fire dangerweather.• Suspend prescribed burning activities when high fire danger weather ispredicted.Responsible Land Manager/s &Authorities• All land managers• All land managers (All strategies)• National Parks and Wildlife Service/ NCC (All strategies)• NPWS• State Forests, NPWS, RFS• Rural Fire Service, Council, all landmanagers• All land managersPage 43

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANManagementOptionsRisk Management Strategies• Promote suspension of prescribed burning activities when high fire dangerweather is predicted.• Promote adoption of tactics which minimise escape of burns intoneighbouring lands.Responsible Land Manager/s &Authorities• Rural Fire Service, NPWS, SF• Rural Fire Service, NPWS, SFAccept Residual Risk • Develop cooperative detection and response networks and plans• Maintain adequate fire detection, response and suppression systems• BFMC• Rural Fire Service, National Parksand Wildlife Service, State ForestsPage 44

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANArea: 4.4.13 Moderate Risk – Lands assessed as having a high potential for containing habitat for fire-sensitive threatened speciesPriority: 2ManagementOptionsRisk Management StrategiesAvoid Risk • Not applicable • Not applicableReduce Hazards • Encourage the maintenance of appropriate fire advantage zones on all lands• Encourage the establishment of programs to increase community awareness ofThreatened Species and encourage landholders to incorporate these requirementswhere consistent with other property objectives.Responsible Land Manager/s &Authorities• Landowners, Land ManagementAgencies, BFMC• NPWS / BFMC’s / NCCReduce Vulnerability • Promote Voluntary Conservation Agreement and Land for Wildlife Programs onappropriate landsReduce Ignitions • Suspend hazard reduction burning during periods of very high to extreme firedanger.Accept Residual Risk • Develop cooperative detection and response system, trained and ready firefightersavailable within reasonable response time.• NPWS• RFS / Landowners /NPWS / SFNSW /Other Land Management Agencies• RFS, Landowners, NPWS, SFNSWPage 45

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN4.4.14 Area: Moderate Risk – SEPP 26 Littoral RainforestPriority: 2ManagementRisk Management StrategiesOptionsAvoid Risk • Not applicable • Not applicableReduce Hazards • NPWS Reserve Fire Management Plans, SFNSW Fuel Management Plans and RFSannual programs will provide for strategic fire advantage zones to reduce the extentand spread of high intensity wildfire.• Encourage the maintenance of a strategic network of fire trails outside rainforestareas to facilitate fire suppression and pro-active hazard reduction burning.• NPWS Reserve Fire management Plans, RFS annual programs, and SFNSW FuelManagement Plans will zone all rainforest as fire exclusion areasReduce Vulnerability • Continue to communicate closely with neighboring landholders.• Encourage programs to increase community awareness regarding vulnerability ofrainforest to fire and subsequent weed invasion.Reduce Ignitions • Suspend hazard reduction burning during periods of very high to extreme firedanger.• Suspend fire generating activities and /or close access to NPWS estate on days ofTotal Fire bans and Park Fire Bans and/or in accordance with the District BushFire Operations Plan.• Increase patrols and activate fire early warning systems during Bush Fire Dangerperiods.Accept Residual Risk • Trained and equipped firefighters strategically located and available within areasonable response time.• Maintain cooperative detection and response systems between fire managementauthorities and neighbors.Responsible Land Manager/s &Authorities• NPWS / SFNSW / RFS / Councils /Other Land Management Agencies• NPWS / SFNSW / RFS• NPWS / SFNSW / RFS• NPWS / SFNSW• BFMC / SFNSW / NCC• RFS / NPWS / SFNSW• NPWS• NPWS / SFNSW / RFS• NPWS / RFS / SFNSW• NPWS, SFNSW, RFS, landholdersPage 46

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN4.4.15 Area: Moderate Risk – SEPP 44 Koala Habitat ProtectionPriority: 2ManagementOptionsRisk Management StrategiesResponsible Land Manager/s &AuthoritiesAvoid Risk • Not applicable • Not applicableReduce Hazards • NPWS Reserve Fire Management Plans, SFNSW Fuel Management Plans and RFSannual programs will provide for strategic fire advantage zones to reduce the extentand spread of high intensity wildfire.• Where consistent with land management objectives, burn frequencies will aim to bewithin thresholds required by the vegetation type.• Encourage the establishment program for the education of community and privatelandholders in identification of koala usage areas, and encourage privatelandholders to consider potential effects on koala habitat when planning hazardreduction activities.Reduce Vulnerability • Continued close communication and awareness with neighbors• Promotion of Voluntary Conservation Agreement and Land for Wildlife ProgramsReduce Ignitions • Suspend hazard reduction burning during periods of very high to extreme firedanger.• Suspend fire generating activities and /or close access to NPWS estate on days ofTotal Fire bans and Park Fire Bans and/or in accordance with the District BushFire Operations Plan.• Increase patrols and activate fire early warning systems during Bush Fire Dangerperiods.Accept Residual Risk • Trained and equipped firefighters strategically located and available within areasonable response time.• Maintain cooperative detection and response systems between fire managementauthorities and neighbors.• NPWS / SFNSW / RFS / Councils /Other Land Management Agencies• NPWS / SFNSW / RFS / Other LandManagement Agencies• NPWS / BFMC’s / NCC• NPWS / SFNSW• NPWS• RFS / NPWS / SFNSW• NPWS• NPWS / RFS / SFNSW• NPWS / RFS / SFNSW• NPWS,SFNSW,RFS, landholdersPage 47

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANArea: 4.4.16 Moderate Risk – NPWS & SF Tourism Sites & Facilities - Camping areas, picnic areas, lookouts and boardwalksPriority: 3ManagementOptionsRisk Management StrategiesAvoid Risk • Not applicable • Not applicableResponsible Land Manager/s &AuthoritiesReduce Hazards • Fire Plans will have a combination of Asset Protection and Strategic Fire AdvantageZones to protect camping / picnic areas and other facilities.• Implement annual maintenance of a strategic network of fire trails to facilitate firesuppression and hazard reduction activities.Reduce Vulnerability • Establish general community education programs to inform the community aboutBush Fire danger season requirements.Reduce Ignitions • Investigate cause and origin of each fire.• Suspend fire generating activities and / or close access to NPWS & SF estate ondays of Total Fire bans and Park Fire Bans and/or in accordance with the DistrictBush Fire Operations Plan.• Regularly patrol and check fire trails and gates to ensure they are secureAccept Residual Risk • Maintain cooperative early detection and response systems and plans between firemanagement authorities and neighbors.• NPWS, SFNSW• NPWS, SFNSW• BFMC, NPWS, RFS, SF• RFS, NPWS, Police, SFNSW• NPWS, SF• NPWS• BFMC, NPWS,SF,RFS, parkneighboursPage 48

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANArea: 4.4.17 Moderate Risk – National Park & Nature Reserve Areas – incl - Broadwater National Park and Hogarth Range Nature ReservePriority: 3ManagementOptionsRisk Management StrategiesAvoid Risk • Not applicable • Not applicableReduce Hazards • Establish and / or maintain existing strategic fire advantages to allowmanagement of fire regimes and control wildfire.• Identify and utilize natural strategic fire advantages to allow management offire regimes and control wildfire.Reduce Vulnerability • Implement community education programs and public awareness ofenvironmental and cultural heritage values of conservation reserves.• Implement community education programs and public awareness ofrelationship between escapes from adjoining lands and fire history onconservation reserves - emphasis on escape into upslope reserves.• Implement community education programs and public awareness ofrelationship between fire regime on conservation reserves and threatenedspecies survivalReduce Ignitions • Suspend fire generating activities on days of very high to extreme fire dangerweather.(eg park/forest fire bans, bans on camping/cooking fires)• Suspend prescribed burning activities when very high fire danger weather ispredicted within four days by the Bureau of Meteorology• Assist downslope neighbour burns to minimise escape into upslopeconservation reserves.• Promote adoption of tactics on adjoining tenures which minimise escape ofburns into neighbouring lands - particular emphasis on escape into upslopereserves.• Promote suspension of prescribed burning activities on adjoining tenures whenvery high fire danger weather is predicted.•Responsible Land Manager/s &Authorities• National Parks and WildlifeService(All strategies)• National Parks and WildlifeService(All strategies)• National Parks and WildlifeService(All strategies)Page 49

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANManagementOptionsRisk Management Strategies• Close access to management areas where arson activity is frequent (egnational parks, state forests)• Increase patrols in known high arson ignition locations• Maintain or increase surveillance patrols of conservation reserves duringperiods of high fire danger weatherResponsible Land Manager/s &Authorities• National Parks and WildlifeService• State Forests, NPWS, RFS• PoliceAccept Residual Risk • Develop cooperative detection and response networks and plans• Have fire suppression equipment and trained staff available for response• BFMC• Rural Fire Service, National Parksand Wildlife ServicePage 50

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANArea: 4.4.18 Moderate Risk – Native Forest State ForestsPriority: 3ManagementOptionsAvoid Risk • Not applicableRisk Management StrategiesReduce Hazards • Establish and maintain a system of perimeter and internal fire protection trails tofacilitate fire management.• Authorise and encourage properly managed hazard reduction burning.• Establish and maintain strategic fire advantage zones where appropriate, to assist inprotection of assets.• Reduce grass fuels by grazingReduce Vulnerability • Develop Fuel Management Plans for all areas• Maintain community awareness programsResponsible Land Manager/s &Authorities• SFNSW / PP Landowner• SFNSW / RFS• SFNSW• SFNSW• SFNSW• SFNSW / RFSReduce Ignitions • Suspend / restrict fire generating activities during periods of high to extreme fire • Council / RFS / SFNSW / NPWSdanger.•Accept Residual Risk • Maintain adequate fire detection, response and suppression systems • RFS / SFNSW / NPWSPage 51

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANArea: 4.4.19 Moderate – Places of Cultural Significance (May be of higher or lower priorities – Site Specific)Priority: 3ManagementOptionsRisk Management StrategiesAvoid Risk • Access NPWS site register, liase with local aboriginal community or undertakesite surveys to identify if sites present, prior to undertaking works.• Undertake hazard reduction activities outside of areas known to have firesensitive aboriginal sites or modify methodology to avoid impact on aboriginalsites.Reduce Hazards • Implement asset protection zones or strategic fire advantage zones to protectfire sensitive aboriginal sites.Reduce Vulnerability • Implement community education programs and public awareness of culturalvalues of aboriginal sites.• Implement community education programs and public awareness of potentialimpacts of fire and fire management operations on aboriginal sitesReduce Ignitions • Suspend prescribed burning activities when high fire danger weather ispredicted.• Promote adoption of tactics which minimise escape of burns into fire sensitiveaboriginal sites• Promote suspension of prescribed burning activities when high fire dangerweather is predicted.Accept Residual Risk • Develop cooperative detection and response networks and plans• Have fire suppression equipment available to respond to ignitionsResponsible Land Manager/s &Authorities• All land managers(All strategies)• All land managers• National Parks and WildlifeService• Local and Regional AboriginalLand Councils• All land managers• NPWS• Rural Fire Service• BFMC, RFS, NPWS,SF (Allstrategies)Page 52

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANArea: 4.4.20 Minor Risk - Richmond Valley Human Settlement – Casino, Coraki, Woodburn and Rural Residential AreasPriority: 4ManagementOptionsRisk Management StrategiesAvoid Risk • Control development in areas within close proximity to high bush fire hazard areas.• Require new developments include fire protection zones within the developmentboundaries, rather than making adjoining landholders (eg vacant Crown land)responsible• Encourage development that provides a break between high bush fire hazard areasand settlement areas such as parks, sporting fields, etc.Reduce Hazards • Authorise properly managed hazard reduction and property management burningthrough a regulated system of issuing fire permits.Responsible Land Manager/s &Authorities• Council (All strategies)• Council & Rural Fire ServiceReduce Vulnerability • Maintain development and building controls appropriate to the level of hazard.• Implement community education programs focused on managing the hazard onprivate property.• Council• Rural Fire ServiceReduce Ignitions • Suspend / restrict fire generating activities during periods of very high to extremefire danger.• Council / RFS / SF / NPWS, all landmanagersAccept Residual Risk • Maintain adequate fire detection, response and suppression systems. • RFS / SF / NPWSPage 53

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANArea: 4.4.21 Minor Risk - Richmond Valley Community Infrastructure AssetsPriority: 4ManagementOptionsRisk Management StrategiesAvoid Risk • Not Applicable •Responsible Land Manager/s &AuthoritiesReduce Hazards • Authorise properly managed hazard reduction and property management burningthrough a regulated system of issuing fire permits.Reduce Vulnerability • Encourage the development of a program of bush fire hazard inspections and bushfire mitigation works for specific assets.• Council, Rural Fire Service• Rural Fire Service, Asset ownersReduce Ignitions • Suspend / restrict fire generating activities during periods of high to extreme firedanger.• Council, RFS, SF, NPWSAccept Residual Risk • Maintain adequate fire detection, response and suppression systems • RFS, SF, NPWSPage 54

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANArea: 4.4.22 Minor Risk - Richmond Valley Agricultural AreasPriority: 4ManagementOptionsRisk Management StrategiesAvoid Risk • Not Applicable • Not ApplicableResponsible Land Manager/s &AuthoritiesReduce Hazards • Establish perimeter access trails and fuel reduction zones adjacent to agriculturalassets in close proximity to bush fire hazard areas.• Authorise properly managed hazard reduction and property management burningthrough a regulated system of issuing fire permits.• Private landowner / occupier• Council & Rural Fire ServiceReduce Vulnerability • Maintain community education and awareness programs. • Rural Fire ServiceReduce Ignitions • Suspend / restrict fire generating activities during periods of very high to extreme firedanger.• Council, RFS, SF, NPWS, AllLandowners/occupiers.Accept Residual Risk • Maintain adequate fire detection, response and suppression systems • RFS, SF, NPWS, NSWFB, BFMC, AllLandowners/occupiers.Page 55

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN4.5 Bush Fire Hazard Management4.5.1 IntroductionHazard reduction programs aim to reduce the severity of a bush fire, by reducing the amount offuel (vegetation) available to burn during a bush fire. This makes the bush fire easier to controland reduces the level of bush fire damage to community and environmental/ecological assets.Hazard reduction burning is the most common way to reduce the bush fire hazard, as it is themost cost effective method available. However, other methods of hazard reduction such asslashing or mowing, ploughing, grazing or hand clearing are used when appropriate.Hazard reduction must be conducted with due regard to the principles of EcologicallySustainable Development (ESD). ESD principles have been taken into account when preparingthis plan. In addition, Chapter 5 of this plan identifies how ESD principles will be taken intoaccount by the land managers who have responsibility for implementing this plan.It is important to recognise that situations may arise where the necessary objectives for life andproperty protection are in conflict with ESD objectives. Wherever possible, solutions whichachieve both life/property protection and ESD principles will be sought. However, where bothcannot be achieved, protection of life and property shall take priority.4.5.2 Bush Fire Hazard Management Zones for Richmond Valley Council AreaBased on the results of the bush fire risk analysis for Richmond Valley Council area, a series ofbush fire management zones have been identified. Bush fire management zones identify thoseareas within the Richmond Valley Council area where the bush fire risk management strategieswill focus on the management of the bush fire hazard (or fuel).The type of bush fire management zones identified in the plan are described below. Acomprehensive explanation regarding the specifications of each zone is set out in Appendix 2.Asset Protection Zone:Strategic Fire AdvantageZone:Land Management Zone:Fire Exclusion Zone:To protect human life, property and highly valued publicassets.To provide strategic areas of fire protection which willreduce the speed and intensity of bush fires, and reduce thepotential for spot fire development.To meet relevant land management objectives in areas whereAsset Protection or Strategic Fire Advantage Zones are notappropriate.To exclude fires (both bush fire and hazard reductionburning) due to the presence of fire intolerant assets such asrainforest or pine plantations.A map in the appendices shows the location of the various bush fire management zones withinthe Richmond Valley Council area.Page 56

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANChapter 5Implementation5.1 IntroductionThis chapter identifies:• who is responsible for implementing the bush fire risk management plan;• environmental assessment arrangements; and• a range of other issues which need to be considered in implementing the plan.5.2 Responsibility for Implementing the Bush Fire Risk Management Plan.Responsibility for implementation of the Bush Fire Risk Management Plan rests with the ownersor occupiers of the land (land managers) on which the bush fire risk is situated. The Rural FiresAct 1997 imposes this responsibility on both public and private land managers.In the case of private property, the Rural Fires Act 1997 also imposes an additional requirementon Local Government Councils to ensure that the owners or occupiers of private property havetaken the required steps to reduce bush fire hazards on their properties, and to take action wherethis has not occurred, through the issue of notices to remove bush fire hazards under section 66of the Rural Fires Act 1997.In many cases land managers will cooperate to implement bush fire risk management strategies.For example, hazard reduction programs to manage a bush fire problem which crosses landmanagement borders, and public education programs may involve the cooperation of a numberof land managers.The Richmond Valley Bush Fire Management Committee will monitor the progress of landmanagers in implementing the plan on an annual basis.Table 5.1 indicates the agencies responsible for implementing the Bush Fire Risk ManagementPlan on various land tenures; and identifies where more detailed information on how variousland managers will implement the strategies can be found.Page 57

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANTable 5.1 Agencies Responsible for Implementing the Bush Fire RiskManagement PlanLand Tenure Agencies Responsible Implementation ProgramDetailsCouncil Owned and ManagedLandsPrivate PropertyLand dedicated or reserved asState ForestTimber plantation propertiesmanaged by State Forests ofNSWLand dedicated or reserved asNational Park, Nature ReserveWilderness or State Recreationarea or NPWS managedCrown ReservesCouncils • Council Management PlanOwner or OccupierCouncils are responsible toensure that the BFRM plan isimplemented on private lands• Annual Bush Fire RiskManagement Program• Annual Bush Fire RiskManagement Program• Privately managed HR andAgricultural burningState Forests of NSW (SF) • SF Fire Management Plan• Annual Bush Fire RiskManagement ProgramState Forest of NSW • Plantation Fire ProtectionPlansNational Parks and WildlifeService (NPWS)Vacant Crown Lands Department of Land andWater ConservationCrown Lands Held UnderLease or License• Reserve Fire ManagementPlans - NPWS• Annual Bush Fire RiskManagement Program• Annual Bush Fire RiskManagement ProgramLessee or Licensee • Annual Bush Fire RiskManagement ProgramTravelling Stock Reserves Rural Lands Protection Board • Annual Bush Fire RiskManagement ProgramRailway Easements Rail Access Corporation • Yearly Maintenance andClearing ProgramPower Line Easements andCorridorsElectricity Authority / Ownerof the land on which theeasement is located• Yearly Maintenance andClearing Program• Annual Bush Fire RiskManagement Program5.3 Operational matters influencing implementation of programsThere are a number of issues considered by agencies when planning and implementing RiskManagement activities. The following sections in this chapter outlines the major operationalPage 58

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANmatters influencing the implementation of bush fire risk management programs, and details howthese matters are addressed by agencies in operational planning and implementation.5.3.1 Environmental AssessmentThe environmental effects of any activity is an important factor to consider and evaluate prior toand as part of the implementation of this plan.Where activities are associated with the implementation of this bush fire risk management plan,then certain environmental assessment procedures must be followed. The nature of theseenvironmental assessments will be determined on the basis of the land tenure (who owns theland) and the relevant planning instruments that operate.In general, activities of public agencies (including Richmond Valley Council) will beundertaken in accordance with internal environmental assessment procedures. These aredescribed below.(a)State Forests of NSW (State Forest Areas)State Forest of NSW has prepared Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) for the CasinoManagement Area. Both EISs include fire management activities for the operations proposed byState Forest of NSW, and propose measures to mitigate the impact of such activities.The EISs include fuel management Plans for each management area. Individual operational fuelmanagement plans are then prepared for each proposed burning operation. These includeinformation contained in the EIS, as well as site specific information concerning the environmentof the area covered by the Operational Fuel management plan(b)National Parks and Wildlife ServiceThe National Parks and Wildlife Service has implemented a protocol of graded assessment toensure that any detrimental affects associated with activities are identified and assessed.This system ensures that all activities are undertaken in accordance with relevant legislation, inparticular the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act and the Threatened SpeciesConservation Act. Environmental considerations include: cultural heritage values, pollution,effects on soil and soil movement, social, community and recreational values, natural heritagefeatures, and threatened flora and fauna.In regard to Fire management activities there are separate protocols for Reserves with adoptedFire Management Plans and for Reserves without Fire Management Plans. A Reserve FireManagement Plan is recognised as adopted when approved by the Executive Director followingincorporation of public comments.(i) Reserves without Reserve Fire PlanTabbimoble Swamp Nature ReserveBungawalbyn Nature ReserveMallanganee National Park(part)Bundjalung Crown ReserveBungawalbyn National ParkHogarth Range Nature ReserveMt Pikapene National Park(part)Page 59

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANEach proposed activity will have an Environmental Impact Assessment prepared and assessedbefore the activity is completed. Where there is no determined significant impact by the activity,the local NPWS District Manager will authorise the go ahead for the works to commence withinthe guidelines of the EIA.If a significant impact is determined to occur if the activity proceeds, the NPWS will undertake amore thorough assessment of the activity. This assessment will be determined by theConservation Division of the NPWS Region.(ii) Reserves with a Reserve Fire PlanBundjalung National Park (adopted 1995) Broadwater National Park (adopted 1999)The Reserve Fire Plans details all works for fire management that will be undertaken in thereserve over the next 5 years. An extensive Environmental Impact Assessment has already beenprepared for Broadwater National Park, exhibited and assessed for works proposed within thisreserve.Bundjalung National Park Fire Management Plan was prepared prior to this protocol and aenvironmental impact assessment will be prepared and assessed prior to the activity proceeding.(c)Richmond Valley Council Reserves and Community LandRichmond Valley Council is responsible for the care control and management of public reserves,which they own or which are vested in them as trustees under the Crown Lands Act 1987. Theseand other public lands owned or vested in Council are referred to as Community Lands.Council is required to prepare a plan of management for the community land for which it hasresponsibility. In revising these plans, Council will review its fire management requirements.Council is also responsible to undertake the environmental assessments of these communitylands prior to undertaking fire management activities including hazard reduction or fire trailconstruction.Council will therefore prepare a Review of Environmental Factors to determine the significanceof the activity on the environment, including threatened species.(d)Vacant Crown Land and Crown Reserves.Unoccupied Crown lands and Crown reserves (not administered by Councils) having a board oftrustees are administered through the Crown Lands Act 1987.The Department of Land and Water Conservation is responsible for ensuring all environmentalassessments. Having determined the acceptability of the proposal and any ameliorative measures,the task of implementing the activity to meet the objectives of this plan will be contracted to theNSW Rural Fire Service, National Parks and Wildlife Service, State Forests or NSW FireBrigades.Page 60

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN(e)NorthpowerAll power lines under the control of Northpower will be maintained by the trimming of trees, thecontrol of sucker regrowth and removal of trees where appropriate. This control of works will beongoing. Routine inspection of poles and lines is carried out in the Richmond Valley area.Environmental factors will be reviewed as required(f)Rail Services AuthorityHazard reduction will be carried out at least once annually in high risk areas. This usuallyinvolves slashing both sides of the track with a long-reach-arm flail mower. Completion of thiswork creates a fire break along the Rail Services easement. Environmental factors will bereviewed where required.(g)Private Property/Leashold Land Requiring Bush Fire Hazard Reduction Worksunder the Plan.In the case of private and leasehold lands, special approvals will not be required by land ownersidentified as requiring bush fire hazard reduction works unless the land has or is likely to havethreatened species, endangered populations, endangered communities or critical habitat.Where threatened species, endangered populations, communities or critical habitat are likely toexist (REF Appendix 3&4), the land owner/occupier may need to apply for a licence under theNational Parks and Wildlife Act, 1974 prior to undertaking that activity. Contact your localNPWS office for further information.Prior to conducting hazard reduction activities, which are not identified in this plan onprivate/leasehold land, approval may need to be obtained from the Department of Land andWater Conservation in rural areas subject to the Native Vegetation Conservation Act 1997.During the bush fire danger period, landowners and leaseholders are still required to obtainpermits (see below) prior to using fire. A document titled "Threatened Species Conservation Act,1995 and Permits Under the Rural Fires Act, 1997" is available from the Rural Fire Service. Thisdocument details the owner/occupier's responsibilities under the Threatened SpeciesConservation Act, 1995.(h)Travelling Stock Routes.Prior to conducting hazard reduction activities not identified in this plan on Travelling StockReserves the impact of the activity on the environment must be considered. The proponent musttherefore seek the authority of the Rural Lands Protection Board to allow the appropriateassessment process to be undertaken. If the activity is likely to result in a significant impactfurther assessment and approvals may need to be obtained.(i)SEPP 26 Littoral RainforestsLittoral Rainforests, which are a distinctive type of rainforest well adapted to exposure to saltladenand drying winds on the coast, are protected under the conditions of SEPP 26. The SEPPhas two components which relate to mapped or core areas of rainforest and buffer areas that aredefined as ‘land within 100 metres of the edge of a core area’. Any activity proposed for a coreor buffer area is deemed a Designated Development (this includes most bush fire managementactivities, except for the mechanical removal of leaf litter, bark or cured grasses for the purposePage 61

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANof reducing the risk of bushfire). An EIS must be undertaken before any approval/consent can begranted for such activities.(j)SEPP 14 Wetlands.SEPP 14 wetlands are found in eastern portions of the district. A map showing the location ofthese wetlands is held at the Council offices.Prior to undertaking any activities on these SEPP 14 wetlands involving the clearing, leveeconstruction, drainage or filling the wetland, an environmental impact statement is required to beprepared, exhibited and the activity agreed to by both the Council and the Director-General ofthe Department of Urban Affairs and Planning.5.3.2 Section 66 Notice to Reduce Bush Fire HazardsThe Rural Fires Act, 1997 establishes a system under which Councils may issue notices toprivate land owners and leaseholders for the purpose of removing bush fire hazards from theirland.The section 66 notice may set out the circumstances, conditions under which, places at which,manner and time within which the bush fire hazard reduction work must be completed.The Rural Fires Act, 1997 requires that where the bush fire risk management plan specificallyrequires bush fire hazard reduction work to occur on private property, Council must issue asection 66 notice if this work is not carried out by the land owner/occupier.The owner or occupier upon whom a notice has been issued, does have the opportunity to objectto the notice, under section 67 of the Rural Fires Act, 1997. Such a person must object within 7days of the notice being issued to the Council.Possible grounds for objection could include the provisions of a bush fire risk management plan,the need for the vegetation for shelter, shade, windbreak or fodder purposes, the protection ofthreatened species, populations, communities or critical habitat and the proper needs forconservation.If the owner/occupier fails to carry out the required hazard reduction work within the specifiedtime, permits a local authority to undertake the bush fire hazard reduction works Council ispermitted to undertake the bush fire hazard reduction works recover the cost of the works fromthe owner/occupier.5.3.3 Issue of Permits to BurnUnder the Rural Fires Act, 1997, a permit is required to light a fire for land clearance or bush firehazard reduction purposes during the bush fire danger period. These permits are issued by PermitIssuing Officers appointed by the Council.A permit is also required throughout the year to light a fire in the NSW Fire Brigade District, incircumstances where that fire is likely to be dangerous to any building. The officer in charge ofthe closest NSW Fire Brigades fire station issues these permits.Public authorities are not required to obtain a permit before burning.Page 62

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANThe permit system aims to ensure that the fire will be used safely, by imposing conditions on theway in which the fire is lit and maintained, and allowing permits to be suspended or cancelledwhen weather conditions are unsuitable for burning.A permit is automatically suspended when a Total Fire Ban is declared. Within the RichmondValley Council area, permits are also likely to be suspended under, but not limited to, thefollowing conditions:a) Significant fire activity is being experienced;b) Unfavourable current, or predicted weather conditions.c) Suspension or restriction of fire generating activities during periods of veryhigh to extreme fire dangerDuring the Bush Fire Danger period, all permit holders granted a permit under section 87 of theRural Fires Act, 1997, must contact the Richmond Valley Rural Fire Service Fire Control Centretwo hours prior to fire being lit on the day, or each day thereafter, a fire is to be lit.In addition, the authority responsible for issuing permits (Council or NSW Fire Brigade) mayrefuse to issue any permits because of the actual or predicted seriousness of the bush fire dangerin the area.Permits to burn will not be issued for the burning of heavy timber in moderate to major risk areaswhere it is considered that the burn out time may exceed one day. However it may be consideredon a case by case basis where clearly, a sufficient fire break exists between the proposed fire andany other flammable material.The permit issuing authority may also refuse to issue permits to burn, if the issue of a permitwould be inconsistent with this plan. Issuing a permit to burn would be inconsistent with the planin areas which have been designated as "Fire Exclusion Zones". Rainforest areas have beendesignated as fire exclusion zones.Permits may be issued for the removal by fire of vegetation, where such vegetation is identifiedas a Bush Fire hazard. State Forests and/or NPWS must be notified if they have holdings withineight km of the site of the proposed burn.Obtaining a permit to burn under the Rural Fires Act, 1997 does not exempt the permit holderfrom observing the environmental laws such as the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995,National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 and the Native Vegetation Conservation Act 1997 orobtaining any other permission required to conduct the activity (such as permission of thelicensor).5.3.4 Use of Appropriate Fire RegimesIn accordance with the principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development, and Bush FireCoordinating Committee Policy, the use of inappropriate fire regimes is to be avoided whereverpossible.A fire regime is essentially the combination of fire frequency (usually measured by the numberof years between fires – both wild and prescribed), fire intensity, and season of fire occurrence.To identify the fire regime of an area requires assessment of the above fire attributes over a longperiod of time (normally decades but in some cases centuries). For fire regime information to bePage 63

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANuseful in planning, the range of variation for each fire attribute over time needs to identified,rather than simply identifying averages (eg useful information for fire frequency is both theminimum and maximum periods between fires and the median for the period between fires).Very few areas in NSW have adequate information on fire frequency, intensity and season ofoccurrence, collected over a sufficient time period, to enable fire regimes to be determined withany accuracy. In many areas an ‘adaptive management’ approach is used by land managers suchthat the fire regimes applied are determined from a combination of the best fire history and fireecology information available.An inappropriate fire regime is considered to be one where (usually through the decisions oractions of humans) one or more of the fire attributes is occurring outside its historic range ofvariation for the area. Where such a change is allowed to continue, changes to the environmentare likely to result. Examples of this include areas where prescribed fire is applied too frequently,areas where fire occurrence is reduced (through wildfire suppression and cessation of prescribedburning) such that fires are less frequent and more intense, and areas where the season of burningis changed. In recognition of some of the problems associated with components of fire regime,high frequency fire resulting in the disruption of life cycle processes in plants and animals andloss of vegetation structure and composition’ has been listed as a KEY THREATENINGPROCESS under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. Appendix 10 details the finaldetermination and justifications for that determination.Whilst every effort has been made in this plan to select bush fire protection strategies whichachieve the dual objectives of protecting life and property, and protecting environmental values,there will inevitably be areas where both objectives cannot be achieved. In these areas, inaccordance with the Rural Fires Act 1997 and Bush Fire Coordinating Committee Policy,management priority is necessarily given to the protection of life and property.Land managers are generally responsible for ensuring that fire regimes are implemented whichoptimise land management objectives and biodiversity outcomes. Where opportunities areavailable to achieve fuel management objectives without compromising appropriate fire regimes,these will be implemented.The following guidelines have been developed to assist land managers and fire agencies inconsidering appropriate fire regimes.Table 1: Fire frequency thresholds for vegetation communities (Bradstock et al)PlantCommunityRainforestMangrovesChenopodshrublandWetSclerophyllforestDry ForestcomplexShrubland/heath complexGrassland/herbfieldcomplexNo fire acceptableNo fire acceptableNo fire acceptableThresholdDecline expected if successive fires, of any intensity, occur less than 50years apart. Decline predicted if no fire for more than 200 years.Decline expected if more than two successive fires occur at intervals of lessthan 5 years. Decline expected if there are no fires for more than 30 years.Decline expected if successive fires occur which totally scorch or consumethe tree canopy.Decline expected if more than two successive fires occur at intervals of lessthan 8 years. Decline expected if more than two successive fires occur atintervals of more than 15 years. Decline expected if no fire occurs for morethan 30 years.Decline expected if more than two successive fires occur at intervals of lessthan 5 years. Decline expected if more than two successive fires occur atintervals of more than 15 years.Page 64

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN5.3.5 Smoke ManagementPrescribed burning smoke sources are relatively isolated at any one time. Hazardousconcentrations, involving smoke from prescribed burning combining with atmosphericpollutants, occur infrequently.Smoke is a consideration when burning close to roads, settlements or tourist areas. Frequently,favourable prescribed burning conditions coincide with holiday periods. Prescribed burning willbe conducted considering the above concerns. Weather conditions will be monitored and, wherepracticable, consistent with the overall aims of the burning operation, lighting patterns willreflect the need to minimise smoke drift into smoke sensitive areas. Specific traffic controlmeasures will be put in place where there is any likelihood of hazards due to smoke on roads.Operational measures to reduce the impact of smoke during the implementation of hazardreduction burns are to be incorporated into burning prescriptions for all hazard reduction burningoperations.Areas requiring special protection from the adverse effects of smoke include the Pacific andBruxner Highways and the Summerland Way.5.3.6 Catchment Protection (Protection of Soil and Water values)Forests, heathlands, grasslands and wetlands have a vital catchment role, providing watersupplies for agricultural and domestic purposes. The vegetative cover is important in maintainingstream flow, preserving water quality and ensuring a high level of erosion control.Maintenance of full vegetation cover in and adjacent to drainage lines can be achieved byexclusion of fuel reduction burning from these areas, or by burning under mild conditions, usingthe moisture gradient from upper slope to gully. Scott and Schulze (1992) report that unburntriparian strips are effective soil and ash traps following wildfire.Operational measures to protect soil and water values during the implementation of hazardreduction burns are to be incorporated into burning prescriptions for all hazard reduction burningoperations by all land management agencies. Where native vegetation restoration, rehabilitationand protection works have been undertaken to repair riparian areas, every effort must be made toprotect those areas from hazard reduction activities unless those activities are absolutelynecessary.5.3.7 Pest and Weed ManagementMany pest species are strongly influenced by the presence of fire. Weed species may spread andout compete native species after fire events whilst vertebrate pests (such as foxes and cats) maygain an advantage during post fire periods through improved competition over native species. Incontrast, rabbits may be provided with harbouring areas through the lack of clearance by fire,effectively avoiding predation by foxes and native birds of prey.Agencies have in accordance with the Noxious Weeds Act 1993 the responsibility to manageweed species on their lands. Most Councils have weed eradication programs which are linkedinto local Landcare or bush regeneration programs.The National Parks and Wildlife Service and State Forests on NSW also have pest and weederadication programs managed through Pest Species Officers and these programs are coordinatedwith fire management programs in order to minimise weed invasion and the impact fromPage 65

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANvertebrate pest species on native wildlife. Rural Lands Protection Boards provide assistance inthe identification and extent of any vertebrate pest species as well as the extent of weed species.The details of vertebrate pest and weed species management programs will be found in Agencymanagement plans. Across the Richmond Valley Bush Council area, the following pest and weedspecies are of particular concern and require management post fire:Common NameGroundsel BushFire WeedLantanaFoxtailSpecific NameBacharis halimifoliaSenecia linearifoliusLantana camaraWodyetia bifurcata5.3.8 Hazard Reduction and the Native Vegetation Conservation Act 1997The Native Vegetation Conservation Act 1997 (NVC Act) is part of the NSW Government’sNative Vegetation Reforms and is part of a national approach to native vegetation management.The Vegetation Reforms are aimed at:• preventing inappropriate clearance of native vegetation;• sustainably managing native vegetation that remains;• preventing further economic loss from unsustainable clearing & land degradation;• encouraging revegetation and rehabilitation of land with appropriate native• vegetation; and• stream lining native vegetation management.Some land is totally excluded from the operation of the NVC Act, such as land zoned residential,SEPP 14 (Coastal Wetlands), national park and State forest. Some clearing is excluded from theNVC Act such as any clearing authorised under the Rural Fires Act 1997 or the State Emergencyand Rescue Act 1989 in relation to an emergency or under the Noxious Weeds Act 1993. Inaddition, any clearing carried out in accordance with a bush fire management plan under theRural Fires Act 1997 is excluded from the NVC Act (ie an adopted Bush Fire Risk ManagementPlan). Other clearing (including burning) may require consent under the NVC Act.The NVC Act includes special provision for State protected lands. State protected lands are areasof land that were previously identified as “protected lands” under the Soil Conservation Act1938. It includes:• land generally in excess of 18 degrees slope and mapped by Department of Land &Water Conservation (DLWC),• land within, or within 20 metres of, the bed or bank of a prescribed (listed) stream (orwatercourse),• land defined as “environmentally sensitive” and mapped by DLWC.Details of State protected land are available from the Department of Land Water Conservation.The object of identifying State protect land is to protect the vegetative cover of these areas forsoil and water quality management.Page 66

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANAppendix 8 details those bush fire hazard reduction works that are excluded from the NVC Actas part of this bush fire risk management plan. Bush fire hazard reduction works and otherclearing activities (e.g. fire trails) not covered by the exemptions may require assessment andconsent under the NVC Act before they can be undertaken.For further information on other exemptions and exclusions see the Native VegetationConservation Act, 1997 Fact Sheet No.5, Exclusions and Exemptions, available from theDepartment of Land & Water Conservation.Although an exclusion may exist in relation to clearing (including fire breaks or prescribedburning) under the NVC Act, this does not mean that these activities are exempt or excludedfrom other legislation, such as the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 and any Councilrequirements under local environmental planning instruments.5.3.9 Excluded Lands.Where Crown Lands are not National Parks estate or identified within the bush fire riskmanagement plan as excluded land, the adjoining land owner with a fenced common boundary,may enter and undertake bush fire hazard reduction works of up to 6 meters to protect that fence.Bush fire hazard reduction works include the establishment of a firebreak and appropriate hazardreduction activities having regard to environmental values.The purpose of excluded lands is to identify those areas of Crown land (including unoccupiedCrown land) where an adjoining land owner is required tro gain the approval of the landmanagement agency prior to undertaking hazard reduction works along a property boundary witha fence. Adjoining landowners should approach the relevant land management agency forapproval before entering the land. Excluded lands status does not exempt the land managementagency from its duty to prevent bush fires.Excluded lands includes all lands reserved or dedicated under the National Parks and WildlifeAct 1974 or lands acquired or vested in the National Parks and wildlife Service for reservation ordedication under that act. In addition, other Crown lands may be identified within this Bush FireRisk Management Plan as being excluded land. Where a new National Park is created within theRichmond Valley Council area, they will automatically be declared excluded lands.Within the Richmond Valley Council area, the Casino Rural Lands Protection Board managestravelling stock reserves and travelling stock routes (TSRs). These are used for a variety ofpurposes including being an important fodder source during drought, flood and after bush fires.Travelling stock routes are used to move stock between properties and provide a number ofeconomic and environmental services. These include bee keeping and important habitat forthreatened and protected native species.For the purposes of Section 80 of the Rural Fires Act 1997, the following lands are identified asbeing excluded land under this plan:a) National Parks Estateb) Travelling Stock Routesc) Crown Reservesd) State ForestsPage 67

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANe) Bushland Restoration, Rehabilitation and Protection Projects• Dune Care TBA• Landcare TBA• Rivercare TBAPage 68

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANChapter 6Monitoring6.1 IntroductionAn essential component of the Bush Fire Risk Management Planning process is the monitoringand periodic review of the plan.In monitoring and reviewing the plan, it is essential to examine and report on the performanceand success of the Plan to ensure that:• The plan is being implemented by the responsible land managers and firefightingagencies;• The plan is effective in reducing the risk of bush fires;• The Bush Fire Management Committee is being effective and ensuring coordinatedand cooperative implementation of the plan;• The Plan remains relevant over time.To measure the performance and success of the Plans implementation it will be necessary for theBush Fire Management Committees to report annually and provide data to the CoordinatingCommittee to indicate the Plan’s and Committee’s effectiveness.6.2 Monitoring and ReviewThe following system will be used to monitor the implementation and effectiveness of the BushFire Risk Management Plan.6.2.1 Implementation of the Bush Fire Risk Management Plans by Land Managers.The Richmond Valley Bush Fire Management Committee will report annually to the Bush FireCoordinating Committee on the progress made by the responsible Land Management Agenciesin implementing the Bush Fire Risk Management plan. The report will outline the progress inimplementing the bush fire risk management activities carried out by each agency. The reportwill need to identify the reasons for any shortcomings in meeting performance standards.The Richmond Valley Bush Fire Management Committee will report on the followingperformance measures:Managing the Hazard• Proportion of AssetProtection Zones inplace/proposed ( %kilometers inplace/proposed, hectarestreated/proposed.)• Proportion of StrategicFire Advantage Zonestreated/proposed (% ofhectares treated/hectaresproposed.) Area of LandManagement Zoneshectarestreated/ hectaresproposed• Area of Fire ExclusionZones treated by fires inPage 69Responsible LandManagement Agency( andNSW Rural Fire Service orNSW Fire Brigades) asrelevant.

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANFire Trail AccessSection 66 NoticesEnvironmental ReviewsAvoiding the Risk-Development Controlshectares and the reasonfor that treatment.• Total area treated inhectares.• Length of the Linearfeatures treated/proposedin kilometers.• Length maintained(kilometres).• Number of new trailsconstructed and existingtrails closed.• Length of closed trailsrehabilitated inkilometres.• Number of noticesissued.• Number of objections.• Number of appeals.• Number of Section 70actions.• Hectares treated.• Number ofEnvironmental Reviewsundertaken. (REF’s,DA’s, EIS’s, SIS’s andEIA’s.)• Number of HazardReduction Activitiesundertaken withoutcarrying outEnvironmental Reviews.• Number of LocalEnvironment Plans(LEP’s) and orDevelopment ControlPlans (DCP’s) in placewith Bush FireProtection measuresconsidered.• Number of LocalEnvironment Plans(LEP’s) and orDevelopment ControlPlans (DCP’s) in placewithout Bush FireProtection measuresconsidered.Responsible Agency orAuthorityCouncilResponsible Council, LandManagement Agency orAuthority.Responsible CouncilPage 70

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN6.2.2 Implementation of the Bush Fire Risk Management Plan by the firefightingAuthorities.The Richmond Valley Bush Fire Management Committee will report annually to the Bush FireCoordinating Committee on the progress made by firefighting authorities in implementing thebush fire risk management plan.The report will outline progress in the preparedness and response to bush fire activities.The Bush Fire Management Committees will report on the following performance measures:PermitsCommunity Education andPreparednessNumber of permits issued.Number of fires escapedfrom permit fires (%).Period of Bush Fire DangerPeriods.• Number of CommunityFireguard Groups inplace.• Number of CommunityFire Unit groups inplace.• Number of othereducation programs inplace.• Number of educationprograms that ceased.• Number of neweducation programsplanned.• Number of complaintsabout fires.• Number of localevacuation plans in placefor special protectionareas ( hospitals,schools, nursing homesor residential areas atextreme risk).• (Note: where they areavailable the evacuationplans from the local areaDISPLAN should beused as a source)NSW Rural Fire Serviceand/or NSW Fire Brigades.Responsible FirefightingAuthority.6.3 Bush Fire Risk Management Plan Effective in Reducing the CommunitiesRisk to Bushfires.Over the life of the Plan, the Richmond Valley Bush Fire Management Committee will monitorand report annually on the effectiveness of the Plan’s strategies in decreasing the level of bushfire risk to community, environmental and ecological assets. Monitoring the effectiveness ofPage 71

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANbush fire risk management activities will help judge not only whether the plan is beingimplemented but also that it is actually working.The Richmond Valley Bush Fire Management Committee will report on the followingperformance measures:Ignition ManagementNumber and percentage bytype.Variation in frequency ofhuman inducedwildfires.(HistoricalInformation)Responsible FirefightingAuthority.Fatalities and InjuriesDamage to propertyDamage To LandDamage to theEnvironmentSmoke ManagementNumber of fatalities(Community).Number of injuries( Community).Number and type ofCommunity Assetlost.(Relationship of thezoning applied to the assetshould be included)$ value lost.Number of hectares and typeof land use affected.Number of hectares withinwater supply catchmentareas affected by wildfires.Number of hectares burntoutside the bio-diversityregime/ threshold for hazardreduction and wildfires.Number of fire exclusionzones burnt as a result ofwildfires.Hectares of steep land andState Protected Lands burntby bushfire.(Where GIScapability exists)Number of hazard reductionactivities not involvingconsultations withAboriginal LandCouncils/Communities.Number of burns on no burndays.Number of complaintsregarding smoke.( Reported on a BFMCbasis)Page 72NSW Rural Fire Serviceand/or NSW Fire Brigades.Responsible FirefightingAuthority.Responsible FirefightingAuthority.Responsible FirefightingAuthority.Responsible FirefightingAuthority.

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN6.3.1 Effectiveness of Bush Fire Management Committee.For the Richmond Valley Bush Fire Management Committee to be effective it is expected tomeet on a regular basis and prepare an annual works program. To provide an indication that theRichmond Valley Bush Fire Management Committee is meeting and effective, it is to reportannually on the following matters:Planning• Operational and theBush Fire RiskManagement Plan status• An annual worksprogram with proposalsand outcomes for hazardreduction.• Operational exercisesthat are undertaken.Executive Officer of theRelevant BFMC.6.3.2 Local Issues to be MonitoredThe Coordinating Committee is required to monitor the effectiveness of the Bush Fire RiskManagement Plans implemented throughout the State, and as a result the BFMC needs to supplydata/information relevant to the implementation of the BFRM Plan.Committee Meetings• Number of Committeemeeting held(Committee and Sub-Committee)• Attendance of membersat the meetingsExecutive Officer of theRelevant BFMC.The Richmond Valley Bush Fire Management Committee has identified a number ofdeficiencies in the collection and collation of data/ information during the preparation of theBFRMP. These matters will need to be rectified and/or implemented over the next 5 number ofyears.The issues to be rectified/implemented include:• Mapping of fire events• Systems for recording the types of fires (ignitions)• Development of Geographical Information Systems (GIS)• Mapping of strategic fire advantage zones6.4 Review of the Bush Fire Risk Management PlanThe bush fire risk management plan will be reviewed every five(5) years by the RichmondValley Bush Fire Management Committee. The review will incorporate the results of thePage 73

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANmonitoring program, and allow any changes in the risk environment to be rectified in themanagement strategies contained in the plan.Following the five-(5) yearly review of the plan by the Richmond Valley Bush Fire ManagementCommittee, the Plan will be placed on public exhibition, before being approved by the Bush FireCoordinating Committee. The Committee may also decide to review the Plan at a more frequentinterval if significant changes occur within the area which need to be addressed in the Bush FireRisk Management Plan.Page 74

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANAppendix 1Explanation of Bush Fire Risk ClassesLevel of RiskLife and PropertyVulnerability CriteriaProperty Vulnerability CriteriaEnvironmental / EcologicalVulnerability CriteriaExtremeLife Risk Only - populated areaswhere the combination of threat &vulnerability expose a communityto a significant likelihood offatalities & major injuriesNot applicable to the extreme categoryExtinction of native species.MajorLife - less likely to be fatalities ormajor injuries due to the presenceof attributes which afford someprotection.Property- Extensive & widespread lossof property. Major impact across alarge part of the community andregion. Long term external assistancerequired to recover.Irreversible damage to theenvironment.ModerateLife - loss of life or major injuryhighly unlikely. Medical/hospitaltreatment may be required.Property - Localised damage toproperty. Short term externalassistance required to recoverLong term damage to the environmentover a landscape scaleMinorLife - Minor injuries only - firstaid treatment. No major injuriesor fatalities likely.Property - short term, damage toindividual assets. No externalassistance required to recover.Short term, localised damage to theenvironmentInsignificantLife - No injuries or fatalitieslikelyProperty-Inconsequential or nodamage to property. Little or nodisruption to the community.Minor impact on the environmentPage 75

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANAppendix 2(a) – Explanation of Bush Fire Management ZonesZone Application Biodiversity ConsiderationsAssetProtectionStrategicFireAdvantage• To provide Fuel Free Zones (FFZ) andFuel Reduced Zones (FRZ) aroundassets or groups of assets which areadjacent to bush fire hazard areas.• Whilst Asset Protection Zones are mostcommonly applied in residentialdevelopments, they also haveapplication for many other asset types.• Note: The application of AssetProtection zones alone may not providesufficient protection levels, particularlyif the other essential elements of bushfire protection are inadequate - forexample if buildings are not adequatelyconstructed, and/or access to the area toarea does not meet the requiredstandard, or the asset(s) being protectedis easily combustible.Applications for Strategic Fire AdvantageZones include:• To provide fuel reduced areas whichenable the protection of assets byfirefighters when Asset Protection Zonesare not in place• To complement Asset Protection Zoneswhere these do not provide adequateprotection.• To provide fuel reduced zones in areas ofhigh ignition potential (eg along roads,rail lines, power lines etc) to slow thedevelopment of fires, reduce their spread,and provide for safe suppression.• To provide strategically located fuelreduced zones (eg across known firepaths) to reduce the potential for fires tobecome campaign fires and to provideadvantageous areas for fire suppression.• To provide strategically located fuelreduced areas to reduce the vulnerabilityof assets which are susceptible to fire.• In APZ’s impact will generally behigh as very low fuel levels arerequired to be effective.• APZ’s are small in area andestablished in areas of moderate andhigh threat. These zones are located toachieve the appropriate level of assetprotection whilst minimising the areato be treated, thus assisting tominimise environmental impact.• In habitats where threatened floraspecies are known or likely to occur,the requirements of the ThreatenedSpecies Conservation Act must beaddressed.• Aim is to burn sufficiently frequentlyto reduce fuel accumulations whilstburning at long enough intervals toensure the continued survival ofvegetation communities.• Burning the entirity to achieve desiredfuel loads may still exceed the firefrequency thresholds for somevegetation communities and animpact on threatened flora species, ifpresent, can be expected. In thiscircumstance effective fuel reductionwith minimised impact on threatenedflora may be achieved throughcyclical burning of alternatingsections of the zone to create a mosaicof hazard reduced areas within it.• Indirect impact on fauna can beminimised by utilising the approachof cyclical burning of alternatingsections of the Strategic FireAdvantage Zones to create a mosaicof hazard reduced areas which fall asclose as possible to the acceptable firefrequency threshold for the vegetationcommunities present.• Direct impact on threatened fauna canbe minimised by applyingprescriptions to burns which minimisethe direct impacts eg:Page 76

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANZone Application Biodiversity Considerations1. Minimise intensity so as to target finefuels and not to consume largerdiametre habitat structures such ashollow logs and habitat trees.2. Minimise intensity also to minimisescorch height and minimise impact onarboreal fauna1. Undertake burning outside of criticallife cycle periods of threatenedspecies eg flowering, nesting, feedingor breeding periodsLandManagementFireExclusion• Bush Fire Hazard areas where AssetProtection or Strategic Fire AdvantageZones are not appropriate.• Fire management in this zone is asrequired to meet the relevant landmanagement objectives (eg- ecologicalburns, post log burns, silviculturalburns).• Areas of fire intolerant assets for whichit is appropriate to exclude fire (egrainforest,fire intolerant vegetationcommunities, fire sensitivecultural/historic heritage sites, pineplantation, commercial crops.• In natural vegetation communities firemanagement should aim to maintainfire regimes within the identifiedthresholds for vegetation communities• All rainforest communities are fireintolerant and fire must be excludedfrom rainforest and rainforestmarginsPage 77

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANAppendix 2(b)The Zoning System for Hazard Management PlanningZone Purpose Suppression Objective(s) Fine Fuel Limit Zone Width1AssetProtection2Strategic FireAdvantage3LandManagementTo protect human life,property and highly valuedpublic assets and valuesTo provide strategic areas offire protection advantagewhich will reduce the speedand intensity of bush fires,and reduce the potential forspot fire developmentTo meet relevant landmanagement objectives inareas where Asset Protectionor Strategic Fire AdvantageZones are not appropriate• To enable the safe use of DirectAttack suppression strategies withinthe zone• To minimise wildfire impacts onundefended property/assets• To enable the safe use of ParallelAttack suppression strategies withinthe zone• To enable the safe use of IndirectAttack (back burning) in high tovery high fire weather conditionswithin the zone• To prevent crown fire developmentwithin the zone• To minimise spot fire ignitionpotential from the zoneAs per the land management and fire protectionobjectives of the responsible land managementagencyIn accordance withguidance detailed inPlanning for BushFire ProtectionCalculate appropriatelevels from McArthurfire behaviour tables –as a guide:* 8 – 15 tonnes perhectare* 60 – 80% areacoverageAs appropriate toachieve landmanagement/fireprotection objectives4Fire Exclusion To exclude bush fires N/A N/AIn accordance with guidancedetailed in Planning forBush Fire Protection 1Zone width dependant upon:• Topography• Aspect• Spottingpropensity• Location ofadjacentfirebreaksVariableVariable dependant on sizeof fire sensitive arearequiring protectionNote:The width, maximum fuel level objectives and the percentage of area to be treated within each zone, will be set by the BFMC afterconsideration of the hazard, asset vulnerability and physical constraints of the land.1 Planning for Bush Fire Protection requires aspect to be taken into account when determining the dimensions of the Fire Protection Zone.Page 78

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANAppendix 3 Some of the Threatened Flora in Richmond Valley Area and the Habitats they OccupyRichmond Valley Council AreaThreatened Flora SpeciesScientific name Common name pasture tallgrassHabitats occupied by Threatened Flora Speciesshortheathtallheathgrassyw-landgrassyforestswampsclerodrysclerowetscleror-forestnotesAldrovanda vesiculosa Waterwheel Plant shallow freshwaterAustromyrtusx subtropicalfragrantissimaClematis fawcettii x drierDesmodiumacanthocladumThorny Peax margins of rf andriparian areasEucalyptus glaucina Slaty Red Gum x x on moist soilsEucalyptus tetrapleuraxmod. fertility soilsin lower areasGeijera paniculata Axe-Breakerx dry and subtropicalGrevillea masonii xHibbertia marginataxon sandstoneMelaleuca tamariscinassp irbyanaOldenlandia galioidesOwenia cepiodora Bog Onionx dry and subtropicalPhaius australis?x x x x swampy areasProstanthera palustrisRutidosis heterogama?x disturbed roadsidesPage 79

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANAppendix 4 Threatened Fauna Occurring in Richmond Valley and the Habitats they OccupyThreatened Fauna (Terrestrial)Occurring in the RichmondValley Council AreaScientific name Common name pastureHabitats occupied by Threatened Terrestrial Fauna Speciestallgrassshortheathtallheathgrassyw-landgrassyforestswampsclerodrysclerowetscleror-forestnotesAepyprymnusrufescensAmaurornisolivaceusAnseranassemipalmataAssadarlingtoniCacophisharriettaeCalyptorhynchus banksiiRufousBettongX X X X strongly associated with dry sclerophyllforest particularly those dominated byspotted gumBush-hen X X X Prefers dense understorey incl.Lantana thicketsMagpie Goose XPouched Frog X higher elevationsWhite-crownedSnakeRed-tailedBlack-CockatooCalyptorhynchu Glossy Blackslathami CockatooChalinolobusdwyeriCoeranoscincus reticulatusCoracina Barredlineata Cuckoo-shrikeCyclopsitta Double-eyeddiophthalma Fig-ParrotDasyornis Easternbrachypterus BristlebirdDasyurus Tiger QuollmaculatusX X X XX X X XX X X X Allocasuarina ssp is an indicator oflikely habitatLarge Pied Bat habitat requirements notknown/recorded from Big Scrub FloraReserveXXX X X Fruiting trees incl isolated fig treesX X XX X X X sorghum tussock understorey adjacentto RF refugeX X X X X X X XPage 80

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANThreatened Fauna (Terrestrial)Occurring in the RichmondValley Council AreaScientific name Common name pastureHabitats occupied by Threatened Terrestrial Fauna Speciestallgrassshortheathtallheathgrassyw-landgrassyforestswampsclerodrysclerowetscleror-forestnotesEphippiorhynch Black-necked Xus asiaticus StorkErythrotriorchis Red Goshawk X X X X X X X X X coastal and sub-coastal regions; tallradiatustrees within 1km of water are criticalFalcohypoleucosGrey Falcon X X X X X generally an inland sp few records, nilin last 15 yrsFalsistrellus GreatX X Xtasmaniensis PipistrelleGrus rubicunda Brolga X X X XHoplocephalus Stephen'sX X Xstephensii Banded SnakeIrediparra Comb-crestedrafts of floating vegetationgallinacea JacanaIxobrychusflavicollisBlack Bittern X X X X tree lined watercourses in and adj toforestsKerivoula Golden-tippedX X X habitat requirements not well studiedpapuensis BatLitoria Green ThighedX X X Xbrevipalmata FrogMacropusparmaParma Wallaby X X X X ecotones between open and closedforest are favouredMenura alberti Albert'sX XLyrebirdMiniopterus Little BentwingX X X X X dense understorey preferredaustralisBatMiniopterus Common BentwingX X X X X XschreibersiiBatMixophyesX XfleayiMixophyesiteratusGiant BarredFrogX XPage 81

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANThreatened Fauna (Terrestrial)Occurring in the RichmondValley Council AreaScientific name Common name pastureHabitats occupied by Threatened Terrestrial Fauna Speciestallgrassshortheathtallheathgrassyw-landgrassyforestswampsclerodrysclerowetscleror-forestnotesMonarcha White-earedX Xleucotis MonarchMormopterus Eastern LittleX X X X little known about habitat requirementsnorfolkensis Mastiff-batMyotisadversusLarge-footedMouse-earedX X X X riparian and coastal forests form low tomid elevationBatNinox Barking Owl X X XconnivensNinox strenua Powerful OwlX X X X X XNyctimene QueenslandX X X X X X X Xrobinsoni Tube-nosedBatNyctophilus ?X X XbifaxPachycephala Olive WhistlerX X higher elevationsolivaceaPandionhaliaetusOsprey X X nests in large trees, sometimes inforest, often dead and isolatedPetaurus Yellow-belliedX X X XaustralisPetaurusnorfolcensisPhascogaletapoatafaPhascolarctoscinereusPhilorialoveridgeiPlanigalemaculataGliderSquirrel Glider X X X X usually prefers dry forest however in NNSW is found in some wet forestbordering rainforestBrush-tailedPhascogaleKoalaLoveridge'sFrogCommonPlanigaleX X X X X X X X prefers dry sclerophyll forest andwoodlandX X XX X X X X X X X XX X mid to high altitudePage 82

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANThreatened Fauna (Terrestrial)Occurring in the RichmondValley Council AreaScientific name Common name pastureHabitats occupied by Threatened Terrestrial Fauna Speciestallgrassshortheathtallheathgrassyw-landgrassyforestswampsclerodrysclerowetscleror-forestnotesPodargusocellatusMarbledFrogmouthPotoroustridactylusLong-nosedPotorooPteropus alecto Black FlyingfoxPteropus Grey-headedpoliocephalus Flying-foxPtilinopus Wompoo FruitmagnificusDovePtilinopus Rose-crownedregina Fruit-DovePtilinopus Superb FruitsuperbusDoveSaccolaimus Yellow-belliedflaviventris Sheathtail-batScoteanax Greater BroadnosedrueppelliiBatSyconycteris Queenslandaustralis Blossom BatThylogale Red-leggedstigmatica PademelonTurnix Black-breastedmelanogaster Button-quailX X prefers dry forest however in N NSW isfound in some wet forest borderingrainforestX X X X X X X often associated with gullies and forestecotonesX X X X X X XX X X X X X XX X X X X XX X X X X XX X X coastal fringe dwellerX X ecotones between open and closedforest are favouredX X favours the edge of the forest: typicallyat elevations of 200 - 700m; densecanopy and ground cover are criticalTyto capensis Eastern Grass X X X Xlongimenbris OwlTyto Masked OwlX X X X X XnovaehollandiaeTyto Sooty Owl X X XtenebricosaPage 83XXXXXX

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANAppendix 5 Vulnerability of Aboriginal Sites to FireSite Type Wildfire Low Intensity PrescribedBurnSlashing/Mowing Dozer Lines GrazingOpen SiteScarred Tree• post fire soil erosion may causeartefact movement and damagearchaeological deposits• depending on intensity may causetree death, erode tree stability ordamage scar• fire may also lead to decline in treehealth and promote rot• may destroy dead trees• probably low impact except ifdamaged by vehicle traffic• low impact if site is protected fromfire using buffer zone• if not protected, may underminetree health• may destroy dead trees• high impact if struck by vehicles• moderate to highimpact if driven over• high impact if struckby slasher or vehicle• high impact • low impact if stockpressure is limited anderosion prevented• as above • low impact but mayneed to prevent stockrubbing or chewingtreeCarved Tree • as above • as above • as above • as above • as above• high intensity fire may causespalling of sandstone and damage• low impact if protected using bufferzone• moderate to highimpact if driven over• as above • high impact if hardhooved stock trampleEngravingengraving• high impact if driven oversite• post-fire soil erosion may causebuild up of soil on site which canlead to chemical weathering• high intensity fire may causespalling of sandstone and damage• as above • as above • as above • as aboveAxe Grinding Groovegrooves• post-fire soil erosion may causebuild up of soil on site which canlead to chemical weatheringRock Art SiteShelter with DepositMission• high intensity burn may damageshelter surface and cause loss of art• smoke blackening will obscure ordamage art motifs• removal of protective vegetation atshelter entrance may promote laterweathering• post fire-soil erosion may lead toartefact movement and damage toarchaeological deposits• fire may destroy or damage historicstructures and features such asfencing• low impact, especially if protectedby buffer zone• if not protected may still lead tosmoke damage and removal ofprotective vegetation• low to no impact ifprotective vegetationis not damaged• high impact if vehicleenters shelter• as above • high if stock entershelter and rub art orerode deposit• otherwise low impact• low impact • as above • as above • as above• potential high impact as structuresand features may still be damagedor destroyed• high impact struck byslasher or vehicle• moderate if drivenover• as above • potentially low exceptwhere stock causeerosion or damagestructuresPage 84

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANSite Type Wildfire Low Intensity PrescribedBurnBora RingStory Place/Landscape FeatureMiddenBurialQuarryStone Arrangement• may remove protective vegetationand promote post-fire soil erosion• may damage the ability ofculturally significant vegetation (eg:food and medicine plants) topropogate• may cause post-fire erosion andlandform modification• may remove protective vegetationand promote post-fire erosion• may promote post-fire erosionwhich can expose remains,especially in sandy soils• low impact except where post-fireerosion causes artefact movementor danages archaeological deposits• may cause spalling of stones in anarrangement• post fire soil erosion may lead todisplacement of stones• low impact• high impact if driven over• low impact if erosion is unlikely orvegetation modification slight• low impact if food or medicineplants are not prevented frompropogating• high impact if there are culturalreasons for protecting site from fire• potential high impact if driven over• low impact if protected with buffer• low impact generally if post-firesoil erosion is not caused• high impact if driven over• may be offensive to local people• high impact if it damages gravefeatures such as headstones• high impact if driven over• low impact if doesn’t cause postfireerosion or damage headstonesor other grave featuresSlashing/Mowing Dozer Lines Grazing• potentially high impactif driven over• may be offensive tolocal people• potentially low butwould need to bediscussed with localpeople• moderate to highimpact if driven over• possible high impactfrom vehicles whereburial is exposed orclose to surface• may be offensive tolocal people• may damage gravefeatures• low impact except if driven over • high impact if drivenover• low impact if post-fire erosion isnot promoted• high impact if driven over• high impact if drivenoverHigh impact • high impact if stockpressure is high andcauses erosionHigh impact • potentially low butmay be objected to oncultural grounds• high impact if causeserosion or altervegetation (eg:damage food plants)High impact • potentially low unlessstock cause erosion• may be objected to oncultural groundsHigh impact • would be objected tofor cultural reasons• may cause erosionHigh Impact • potentially low unlessstock cause soilerosionHigh impact • high impact if stockmove stones, causeerosion or altervegetation (eg:damage food plants)Page 85

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANAppendix 6 - ReferencesBradstock RA, Keith DA and Auld (1995). “Fire and Conservation: Imperatives andConstraints on managing diversity” in Conserving Biodiversity: Threats and Solutions. EdsRA Bradstock, TD Auld, DA Kieth, RT Kingsford, D.Lunney and DP Siversten. SurreyBeatty and Sons: Chipping Norton.Department of Bush Fires Services, (1991) Planning for Bushfire Protection – A Guide forLand Use Planners, Fire Authorities, Developers and Home Owners Discussion Document.Gill, A.M. & Bradstock, R.A. (1992) A National Register for the Fire Responses of PlantSpecies Cunninghamia: 2, 653-660Hairsine P., Zierholz C. and Booker F. (1995) Run-off and Soil Erosion in BushlandFollowing the Sydney Bush Fires. P. Hairsine, CSIRO Division of Soils, Canberra; C.Zierholz, CSIRO Division of Water Resources, Canberra; F. Booker, University ofCalifornia, Berkeley, USA. In Australian Journal of Soil and Water Conservation Vol. 8,No. 4, November 1995.Keith, D.A., (1996). Fire driven extinction of plan populations: a synthesis of theory andreview of evidence from Australian vegetation. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of NSW116:37-187.National Environmental Protection Council (1997) ‘Draft National EnvironmentProtection Measure: Ambient Air Quality [and Impact Statement], Commonwealth ofAustralia.Scott, D.F. and Schulze, R.E. 1992 The hydrological effects of a wildfire in a eucalypt afforestedcatchment. South African Forestry Journal 160: 67-74.Walker, 1989. Diversity and stability in ecosystem conservation. In Conservation for theTwenty-first Century, edited by D. Western, M. Pearl. Oxford University Press, New York.Williams, J.E., Gill, A.M., 1995. Forest Issues 1: The impact of fire regimes on native forests ineastern New South Wales, Environmental Heritage Monograph Series No. 2, NSW NationalParks & Wildlife Service.Page 86

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANAppendix 7 - GlossaryAPZBFRMPESDFRZFFZRVCLGASEPPSFAZRFSSFNPWSNSWFBNCCTSCAsset Protection ZoneBush Fire Risk Management PlanEcologically Sustainable DevelopmentFuel Reduced ZoneFuel Free ZoneRichmond Valley CouncilLocal Government AreaState Environmental Planning PolicyStrategic Fire Advantage ZoneNSW Rural Fire ServiceState Forests of NSWNational Parks and Wildlife ServiceNSW Fire BrigadesNature Conservation CouncilThreatened Species Conservation Act“ Wetland” includes any shallow body of water (such as a marsh, billabong, swamp orsedgeland) that is:(a) inundated cyclically, intermittently or permanently with water, and(b) vegetated with wetland plant communities. (Native Vegetation Conservation Act, 1997)“river” includes any stream of water, whether perennial or intermittent, flowing channel, or ina natural channel artificially improved, or in an artificial channel which has changed the courseof the stream of water and affluent, confluent, branch or other stream into or from which theriver flows and, in the case of a river running to the sea or into any coastal bay or inlet or intocoastal lake, includes the estuary of such river and arm or branch of the same and any part of theriver influenced by tidal waters. (Rivers and Foreshores Improvement Act 1948).Page 87

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANAPPENDIX 8– Exclusions under the NVC Act 1997ZoneAssetProtectionStrategic FireAdvantageLandManagementFire ExclusionExclusions under the NVC Act1) Construction and maintenance of fire breaks up to 100metres wide in relation to habitable structures and forother community assets identified in this Plan inaccordance with Planning for Bushfire Protection.2) Maintenance of existing fire trails 1 identified within thisPlan.1) Maintenance of existing fire breaks 2 ,2) Maintenance of existing fire trails 1 identified within thisPlan.3) Construction of a new fire trail 1 identified within this Planexcept within State protected land.4) Bush fire hazard reduction works to reduce available fuellevels to within “6”-“8” tonnes/ha with a coverage ofbetween 60-80%, except:a) within or within 20 metres of a watercourse 3 ; and/orb) within a rainforest.1) Maintenance of existing fire breaks 2 ,2) Maintenance of existing fire trails 1 identified within thisPlan3) All bush fire hazard reduction works consistent withappropriate fire thresholds identified within this Planexcept:a) within or within 20 metres of a watercourse 3 ; and/orb) within a rainforest.3) Fire management activities consistent with a Crown landFire Management Plan approved by DLWC.4) Construction of new firebreaks (up to 6 metres wide)along property boundaries, except:a) where the vegetation is native and contiguous withnative vegetation on an adjoining property 4 , and/orb) within State protected land.1) Maintenance of existing fire breaks 2 (by slash/tritter),2) Maintenance of existing fire trails 1 identified within thisPlan.1 fire trail construction is based upon a 4 metres carriageway with a 1 metreslashed/trittered edge on each side of the carriageway with an additional allowance forpassing bays, (3 metres wide by 20 metres long) not less than 200 metres apart.2 existing fire breaks is land that has been previously cleared for bushfire hazardreduction and contains regrowth less than 10 years old, to a maximum of 20 metreswidth in the Eastern Division, and 30 metres width on Western Division leasehold landexcept where mallee species predominate where a up to 100 metres width may bemaintained.3 watercourse includes a ‘wetland’ as defined under the NVC Act and a ‘river’ as definedunder the Rivers and Foreshores Improvement Act, 1948 (see Glossary)4 other exemption or exclusions from the NVC Act may apply in this situation.Page 88

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANAppendix 9 Endangered Ecological Community – Final DeterminationThreatened Species Conservation Act 1995NSW Scientific CommitteeFinal DeterminationThe Scientific Committee, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act, has made a Final Determinationto list the Lowland Rainforest on Floodplain in the New South Wales North Coast bioregion as an EndangeredEcological Community on Part 3 of Schedule 1 of the Act. Listing of ecological communities is provided for by Part2 of the Act.The Scientific Committee has found that:1. Lowland Rainforest, in an undisturbed state, is a closed canopy forest characterised by its high speciesrichness and structural complexity. In disturbed stands the canopy continuity may be broken, or the canopymay be smothered by exotic vines.2. Lowland Rainforest on floodplains covers less than 1000 hectares in NSW and remaining stands are smalland isolated. Stands occur in the New South Wales North Coast bioregion.3. Historically, the major cause of loss of rainforest on floodplains was clearing for agriculture.4. Subsequent to clearing the disturbed and exposed edges of remnant stands were vulnerable to invasion byexotic plant species; nearly all surviving remnants are subject to this threat.5. The effects of clearing, fragmentation and isolation on the functional ecology of the remnant stands has beenlittle studied, but impacts on plant regeneration (including pollination and seed dispersal) are likely. Many ofthe tree and shrub species are obligate outbreeders so that disruption to pollinator systems could have longterm, deleterious consequences.6. Other threats, although not all are experienced at all sites, include fire, grazing, rubbish dumping, clearingfor competing land uses (including clearing of understorey for recreational facilities ) and dissection byvehicular and foot tracks.7. Although very few sites have been subject to detailed fauna survey, it is known that some sites possess anextremely rich insect fauna (documented in the case of Lansdowne Reserve by Williams GA (1993) HiddenRainforests: subtropical rainforests and their invertebrate biodiversity. UNSW Press/Australian Museum,Sydney.) It is probable that other sites have comparable invertebrate diversity.8. Although every stand of rainforest is unique in terms of biota, the similarity in structure and the presence ofa core assemblage of species permit the definition of lowland floodplain rainforest as a distinct ecologicalcommunity. This list of plants has been compiled to include species which are characteristic of NSWrainforest communities which occur on floodplains, although not all species occur in every stand, andindividual species may be found in other communities. These include all or part of ten of Floyd’sSuballiances shown in Point 10.Aphananthe philippinensisArchontophoenix cunninghamianaAustromyrtus bidwilliiCeratopetalum apetalumCyathea cooperiDysoxylum molissimumElaeocarpus obovatusFicus coronataFicus obliquaFicus watkinsianaFlindersia xanthoxylaHeritiera trifoliataLivistona australisPiper novae-hollandiaePothos longipesSloanea australisStreblus brunonianusSyzygium francisiiTristaniopsis laurinaAraucaria cunninghamiiArthropteris spp.Castanospermum australeCryptocarya obovataDendrocnide excelsaElaeocarpus grandisElatostemna reticulatumFicus macrophyllaFicus superba var. henneanaFlindersia schottianaGrevillea robustaLinospadix monostachyusMicrosorum scandensPollia crispataRandia chartaceaSloanea woollsiiSyzygium australeToona ciliataWaterhousea floribundaPage 89

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN9. The total species assemblage is much larger with many species restricted to one or a few sites, or presentonly in very low abundance. Not all the characteristic species are present at every site.10. For particular purposes it may be appropriate to recognise categories within the lowland floodplainrainforest. The most widely used classification of rainforest types in NSW is that of Floyd, A.G. (1990)Australian Rainforests in New South Wales. Surrey Beatty and Sons, Chipping Norton. In this classificationthe major rainforest Suballiance within the nominated community is Suballiance 3: Cryptocarya obovata -Dendrocnide excelsa - Ficus spp - Araucaria. Elements of of Suballiance 1:Heritiera trifoliata, Suballiance2: Toona - Flindersia, Suballiance 4: Elaeocarpus grandis, Suballiance 5: Castanospermum - Dysoxylummollissimum, Suballiance 6: Archontophoenix - Livistona, Suballiance 23: Ficus-Streblus-Dendrocnide-Cassine, Suballiance 24: Castanospermum - Grevillea robusta, Suballiance 25: Streblus - Austromyrtus,Suballiance 26: Waterhousea floribunda - Tristaniopsis laurina and Suballiance 33:Ceratopetalum/Schizomeria - Heritiera/Sloanea also occur. These alliances are not restricted to lowlandfloodplains.11. In any individual stand more than one Suballiance may be represented, and separation of Suballiances may,in some instances, be difficult as complex intergradations occur.12. The following vertebrate species occur in, but are not restricted to, lowland rainforest on floodplains.BirdsAiluroedus crassirostrisAlectura lathamiColluricincla megarhynchaPtilinopus magnificusSericornis citreogularisTregellasia capitoMammalsDasyurus maculatusKerivoula papuensisNyctimene robinsoniPotorous tridactylusPteropus spp.Syconycteris australisThylogale stigmaticaThylogale thetisReptilesGreen CatbirdBrush TurkeyLittle Shrike-thrushWompoo Fruit DoveYellow-throated ScrubwrenPale Yellow RobinSpotted-tailed QuollGolden-tipped BatEastern Tube-nosed BatLong-nosed PotorooFlying-foxesEastern Blossom BatRed-legged PademelonRed-necked PademelonHypsilurus spinipesSouthern Angle-headed DragonSaiphos equalisThree-toed Skink13. A number of stands of the Community are found within the formal conservation reserves in the NationalParks and Wildlife Service estate listed below, however the size of individual stands is small (only a fewhectares). These stands are only a small proportion of the total distribution of the Community.Andrew Johnston Big Scrub Nature ReserveBoatharbour Nature ReserveBrunswick Heads Nature ReserveCoocumbac Island Nature ReserveCoramba Nature ReserveHortons Creek Nature ReserveMoore Park Nature ReserveStotts Island Nature ReserveSusan Island Nature Reserve14. The small and fragmented nature of these sites places them, as with stands outside NPWS estate, at risk ofloss of integrity from weed invasion and other disturbances.15. In the light of 2,3,4,5,6 and 14 the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that Lowland Rainforest onFloodplain within the New South Wales North Coast bioregion is likely to become extinct in nature in NewSouth Wales unless the circumstances and factors threatening its survival or evolutionary development ceaseto operate.Proposed Gazettal date: 13/8/99Exhibition period: 13/8/99 – 17/9/99Page 90

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANAppendix 10 - Key Threatening Process – Final DeterminationThreatened Species Conservation Act 1995NSW Scientific CommitteeFinal DeterminationThe Scientific Committee, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act, has made aFinal Determination to support a proposal to list ‘High frequency fire resulting in the disruptionof life cycle processes in plants and animals and loss of vegetation structure and composition’ asa KEY THREATENING PROCESS on Schedule 3 of the Act. Listing of Key ThreateningProcesses is provided for by Part 2 of the Act.The Scientific Committee has found that:9. Plants and animals have a range of mechanisms to survive individual fires. The long-termsurvival of plants and animals over repeated fires is dependent upon two key features: i)the ability of species to maintain life cycle processes; and, ii) the maintenance ofvegetation structure over time as habitat for animal species. Where fires occur very closetogether in time (high frequency fire) both these key features can be disrupted.10. High frequency fire is defined as two or more successive fires close enough together intime to interfere with or limit the ability of plants or animals to recruit new individualsinto a population, or for plants to build-up a seedbank sufficient in size to maintain thepopulation through the next fire. Sustained high frequency fire will consequently lead toa loss of plant species, a reduction in vegetation structure and a corresponding loss ofanimal species. While most communities are likely to have some tolerance to two fires ata high frequency (one short inter-fire interval), what must be avoided is a sustainedsequence of such closely spaced fires. Other components of the fire regime (e.g.,infrequent fire) may also be a threat in some circumstances, but this determination dealsspecifically with high frequency fire.11. The threat of high frequency fire will occur in all fire-prone habitats in New SouthWales, although the likelihood of occurrence of high frequency fire is currently greatestin coastal and tableland habitats and in urban areas. No one time limit can be used as anacceptable time between fires for the maintenance of biodiversity across the State of NewSouth Wales; i.e., it is not possible to say all fire intervals should be greater than say 5years across New South Wales. This is because in different parts of the State the timingof critical life history processes will be different. The specific frequency of fire that willbe detrimental to a species or community will vary from place to place, depending uponthe survival mechanisms that the species or community exhibit, and local conditions. Thenumber of fires over any set time period that will constitute a detrimental high firefrequency will therefore be location and community specific.12. High frequency fire and inappropriate fire regimes (which largely equates to too high afire frequency) have been identified as threats to a number of species and communitieslisted on Schedule 1 or 2 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act, including:Ecological CommunitiesBen Halls Gap National Park Sphagnum Moss Cool Temperate RainforestDuffys ForestPage 91

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANEastern Suburbs Banksia ScrubKurnell Dune ForestO’Hares Creek Shale ForestPittwater Spotted Gum ForestOther listed endangered ecological communities, including Cumberland Plain Woodland,Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest, Blue Gum High Forest, Elderslie Banksia ScrubForest, Genowlan Point Allocasuarina nana heathland, Sydney Coastal River-flat Forest,Shale/Sandstone Transition Forest and Cooks River Clay Plain Scrub Forest are all likelyto suffer a loss of species if subject to repeated high frequency fires, based on currentknowledge of the response of species to fire in the Sydney Region.PlantsAcacia bynoeana Acacia courtii Acacia macnuttianaAcacia pubifolia Acacia ruppii Acrophyllum australeAlmaleea cambagei Apatophyllum constablei Asterolasia elegansBoronia granitica Boronia repandra Calitris oblongaCynanchum elegans Darwinia bifloraElaeocarpuswilliamsianusEpacris hamiltonii Eucalyptus nicholii Grevillea banyabbaGrevillea beadleana Grevillea caleyi Grevillea mollisGrevillea rivularisGrevillea scortechinii ssp.sarmentosaGrevillea shiressiiHaloragodendron lucasii Homaranthus lunatus Lasiopetalum joyceaeLeptospermumthompsoniiMelichrus hirsutusPhaius australisPhaius tancarvilliaePhebalium glandulosum ssp. PhebaliumeglandulosumlachnaeoidesPimelea spicata Pterostylis gibbosa Pultenaea sp. OlindaStyphelia perileuca Swainsona plagiotropis Velleia perfoliataZieria involucrataBirdsCalyptorhynchus lathami (GlossyBlack-Cockatoo)Leipoa ocellata (Mallee Fowl)MammalsAepyprymnus rufescens (RufousBettong)Dasyurus viverrinus (Eastern Quoll)Macropus dorsalis (Black-stripedWallaby)Ningaui yvonneae (Southern Ningaui)Potorous tridactylus (Long-nosedPotoroo)Dasyornis brachypterus (EasternBristlebird)Pezoporus wallicus (Ground Parrot)Dasyurus maculatus (Spotted-tailedQuoll)Isoodon obesulus (Southern BrownBandicoot)Macropus parma (Parma Wallaby)Petaurus norfolcensis (Squirrel Glider)Potorous longipes (Long-footedPotoroo)5. A number of plant species now considered to be nationally rare (Briggs & Leigh 1996 –Rare or Threatened Australian Plants, CSIRO, Canberra) have been identified as beingPage 92

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANthreatened by high fire frequency. For these species, which have restricted distributions,losses of additional sites are likely to lead to the species becoming threatened. Suchspecies include:Acacia brunioides ssp.graniticaAcacia latisepala Babingtonia odontocalyxBoronia serrulata Darwinia diminuta Darwinia glaucophyllaDarwinia procera Dodonaea hirsuta Eucalyptus burgessianaEucalyptus rupicola Eucalyptus luehmanniana Grevillea longifoliaHakea macrorrhyncha Melaleuca deanii Phebalium ambiensPhilotheca myoporoidesssp. epilosa6. Populations of certain common plant and animal species could become threatened byhigh frequency fire. Some examples of mammals include:Acrobates pygmaeus (Feathertail Glider)Antechinus swainsonii (DuskyAntechinus)Isoodon macrourus (Northern BrownBandicoot)Pseudocheirus peregrinus (CommonRingtail Possum)Pseudomys novaehollandiae (NewHolland Mouse)Antechinus flavipes (Yellow-footedAntechinus)Cercartetus nanus (Eastern PygmyPossum)Perameles nasuta (Long-nosedBandicoot)Petaurus breviceps (Sugar Glider)7. Listing of ‘High frequency fire resulting in the disruption of life cycle processes in plantsand animals and loss of vegetation structure and composition’ will be of significantconservation value as it will trigger consideration of this key threatening process in theenvironmental assessment process. Development of a threat abatement plan in NewSouth Wales for the threat of high fire frequency is both desirable and achievable. Such aplan would allow the incorporation of conservation guidelines with respect to highfrequency fire, where known, to be incorporated into fire plans of management and riskplans as well as the development of monitoring programs to assist in identifyingdetrimental high fire frequencies.8. In view of 4, 5 and 6 above the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that ‘Highfrequency fire resulting in the disruption of life cycle processes in plants and animals andloss of vegetation structure and composition’ adversely affects two or more threatenedspecies or ecological communities and it could cause species that are not threatened tobecome threatened.Page 93

RICHMOND VALLEY BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANAppendix 11 - MapsBushfire Hazard MapEcological & Environmental Risk MapCommunity Assets Risk MapBush Fire Management ZonesPage 94

Eden CreekS.F.RICHMOND VALLEYBUSHFIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSHFIREHAZARD MAPSummerland WayKyogleCouncilCasinoBruxner HwyN.R.Casino - Coraki RdBruxner HwyLismoreCouncil0 5kilometres10MallanganeeN.P.Cherry TreeS.F.HogarthRangeN.R.Summerland WayCorakiBallinaCouncilMt PikapeneS.F.RoyalCampS.F.Royal CampS.F.BraemarS.F.EllangowanBroadwaterMt PikapeneN.P.CarwongS.F.BraemarS.F.BungawalbinS.F.BungawalbinN. P.BroadwaterN.P.Mt BelmoreS.F.Mt BelmoreS.F.RappvilleEllangowanS.F.BungawalbinN. P.WoodburnCopmanhurstCouncil" 1HwyEvans HeadNew ItalyPacificMyrtleS.F.BungawalbinN.R.RELATIVE HAZARDSMyrtleS.F.DoubledukeS.F.Tabbimoble SwampN.R.HIGHTabbimobleS.F.BundjalungN.P.MEDIUMLOWWhiporieWhiporieS.F.GibberageeS.F.Devils PulpitS.F.BundjalungN.P.Devils PulpitS.F.GibberageeS.F.BanyabbaS.F.Maclean CouncilProduced byRichmond Valley Council 2000.

KyogleCouncilEden CreekS.F.Summerland WayRICHMOND VALLEYBUSHFIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEECOLOGICAL&ENVIRONMENTALRISK MAPCasinoBruxner HwyN.R.Casino - Coraki RdBruxner HwyLismoreCouncil0 5 10MallanganeeN.P.Cherry TreeS.F.HogarthRangeN.R.Summerland WayCorakiBallinaCouncilkilometresMt PikapeneS.F.RoyalCampS.F.Royal CampS.F.BraemarS.F.EllangowanBroadwaterMt PikapeneN.P.CarwongS.F.BraemarS.F.BungawalbinS.F.BungawalbinN. P.BroadwaterN.P.Mt BelmoreS.F.Mt BelmoreS.F.RappvilleEllangowanS.F.BungawalbinN. P.WoodburnCopmanhurstCouncil" 1HwyEvans HeadRISK TOECOLOGICAL &ENVIRONMENTAL ASSETSMyrtleS.F.MyrtleS.F.BungawalbinN.R.DoubledukeS.F.New ItalyTabbimoble SwampN.R.PacificN /AEXTREMETabbimobleS.F.MAJORBundjalungN.P.MODERATEWhiporieS.F.GibberageeS.F.Devils PulpitS.F.BundjalungN.P.Devils PulpitS.F.MINORWhiporieN /AINSIGNIFICANTGibberageeS.F.BanyabbaS.F.Maclean CouncilProduced byRichmond Valley Council 2000.

Eden CreekS.F.RICHMOND VALLEYBUSHFIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEECOMMUNITYRISK MAPSummerland WayKyogleCouncilN.R.Bruxner HwyCasinoCasino - Coraki RdBruxner HwyLismoreCouncil05 10kilometresMallanganeeN.P.Cherry TreeS.F.HogarthRangeN.R.BallinaCouncilSummerland WayCorakiMt PikapeneS.F.RoyalCampS.F.Royal CampS.F.BraemarS.F.EllangowanBroadwaterMt PikapeneN.P.CarwongS.F.BraemarS.F.BungawalbinS.F.BungawalbinN. P.BroadwaterN.P.Mt BelmoreS.F.Mt BelmoreS.F.RappvilleEllangowanS.F.BungawalbinN. P.WoodburnRISK TOCOMMUNITYASSETSCopmanhurstCouncilMyrtleS.F.BungawalbinN.R.DoubledukeS.F.New ItalyTabbimoble SwampN.R.PacificHwy" 1Evans HeadMyrtleS.F.N /AEXTREMETabbimobleS.F.MAJORBundjalungN.P.MODERATEWhiporieS.F.GibberageeS.F.Devils PulpitS.F.BundjalungN.P.Devils PulpitS.F.MINORWhiporieN /AINSIGNIFICANTBanyabbaS.F.GibberageeS.F.Maclean CouncilProduced byRichmond Valley Council 2000.

Eden CreekS.F.RICHMOND VALLEYBUSHFIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEBUSHFIREMANAGEMENT ZONESSummerland WayKyogleCouncilN.R.Bruxner HwyCasinoBruxner HwyLismoreCouncil0 5kilometres10Casino - Coraki RdMallanganeeN.P.Cherry TreeS.F.HogarthRangeN.R.BallinaCouncilSummerland WayCorakiMt PikapeneS.F.RoyalCampS.F.Royal CampS.F.BraemarS.F.EllangowanBroadwaterMt PikapeneN.P.CarwongS.F.BraemarS.F.BungawalbinS.F.BungawalbinN. P.BroadwaterN.P.Mt BelmoreS.F.Mt BelmoreS.F.RappvilleEllangowanS.F.BungawalbinN. P.WoodburnBUSHFIRE MANAGEMENT ZONES1. STRATEGIC FIRE ADVANTAGE ZONENew ItalyPacific" 1HwyEvans Head2. LAND MANAGEMENT ZONESMyrtleS.F.BungawalbinN.R.STATE FORESTNATIONAL PARKSCopmanhurstCouncilMyrtleS.F.DoubledukeS.F.TabbimobleS.F.Tabbimoble SwampN.R.OTHER3. ASSET PROTECTION ZONE4. FIRE EXCLUSION ZONEWhiporieWhiporieS.F.GibberageeS.F.Devils PulpitS.F.BundjalungN.P.Devils PulpitS.F.BundjalungN.P.RAINFORESTGibberageeS.F.S.E.P.P. 14 & 7(a) - WETLANDSBanyabbaS.F.Maclean CouncilProduced byRichmond Valley Council 2000.