South Golden Beach and Byron’s Lilli Pilli have been identified as having ‘unacceptable bushfire risks’ in the region’s new bushfire management plan, paving the way for increased prescribed burning and tree clearing in the towns.
The two locations are among seven ‘Focus Areas’ identified in the latest version of the Far North Coast Bush Fire Risk Management Plan (BFRMP), released last week for public comment.
The BFRMP is a key strategic document that identifies community assets and values that may be at risk from bushfire and identifies coordinated multi-agency objectives and associated treatment strategies to reduce the risk over a five-year period.
Targeted action
In relation to the seven key focus areas, the plan states: ‘These are areas that have been specifically identified as having an unacceptable risk and require additional, targeted treatment strategies within the five-year BFRMP’.
Being identified as a Focus Area means that South Golden Beach and Lilli Pilli are set to become the focus of strategies such as fuel reduction, ignition prevention strategies, and measures to enhance community preparedness for bush fire.
This designation could also have implications for future planning and development in the towns, as the plan will influence land use planning, development assessment, and hazard management over the next five years.
In relation to Lilli Pilli, a small community to the southwest of the Byron Bay town centre, the draft plan points to the nestling of houses into bushland, and the proliferation of narrow back streets as sources of bushfire threat.
Tourists and narrow access issues
‘Access and egress for the public and firefighting agencies in this area could be limited during a bushfire,’ the plan states. The significant transient/tourist population in the area means people could be unfamiliar with their surroundings and the community is less aware and prepared for what to do during a bushfire.
‘Bushfires have been recorded multiple times over many years and historically occur to the eastern aspect of the focus area in heath-type vegetation.
‘Fuel loads in the east are currently lower than the western aspect where fuel loads are mapped as high to very high. The fuel types to the west include wetlands with pockets of rainforest that are typically difficult to burn under prescribed conditions, presenting increased hazards on high fire danger days.’
Under the plan bushfire fuel reduction is a key strategy, including prescribed burning in strategic fire advantage zones and mechanical clearing to create and maintain asset protection zones.
Limited access and egress options have also been identified as enhancing bushfire risk in South Golden Beach.
‘There are no emergency service facilities located within the community and the nearest identified neighbourhood safe place is the Ocean Shores Country Club to the south.
‘The closest fire and rescue stations are located at Brunswick Heads and Mullumbimby, with surrounding Rural Fire Service brigade stations located at Billinudgel, Burringbar, and Mullumbimby.’
Fuel reduction and clearing to be done
The reduction of bushfire fuel loads using prescribed burning and mechanical clearing next to building infrastructure will also be a key strategy in South Golden Beach, according to the plan.
There will also be engagement with the community to raise awareness of risk and enhance resilience through community preparation.
Other areas identified as being at particular risk across the region include Wollumbin, Mt Jerusalem, Wardell, Koala Beach, and the Border Ranges.
The BFRMP is developed by the Far North Coast Bush Fire Management Committee, a group of stakeholders from the area including emergency services, land management agencies, local government, local Aboriginal land services, and local community groups.
The plan is underpinned by a risk quantification methodology based on fire behaviour modelling. The fire simulation process applies an ignition model, local historical weather, and historical fire information to determine where fires are most likely to occur in the landscape.
To view more info and/or comment on the BFRMP visit the NSW RFS website.
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