External and specialist advice

Country Fire Authority

The CFA conducted a detailed assessment to identify risk from the plantation and to recommend mitigation actions using the following approach and considerations.

• A calculation based on the Bushfire Attack Assessment standard tool (also used for
• assessing Neighbourhood Safer Places – Bushfire Places of Last Resort and Bushfire Attack Levels
• for construction).
• The vegetation is classified as “Forest” which equates to a fuel load of 35 tonnes per hectare. It is noted that the plantation is not forest, however a ‘Forest” classification was used and provided a worst-case scenario to conduct the assessment
• Noting the Pyalong Primary School buildings are over 100 metres from the plantation, this means radiant heat exposure is reduced.
• Modelling using two Fire Danger Index (FDI) scenarios; 100 FDI (Code Red) and 120 FDI
• (Code Red).
• A fuel load assessment for the reserve using a standard overall fuel hazard assessment.
• A desktop fire behaviour modelling exercise.

Assessment outcomes

• A fuel load hazard assessment rating of ‘Moderate’.
• The fire behaviour assessment indicates a ‘low likelihood’ and ‘low consequence’ from ignition in the plantation area.
• At a Fire Danger Index of 100 or more on a Code Red Day, the CFA assessment of the school site did not consider the buildings as high risk as they are well under the threshold of 10Kw/m2.

Based on the assessment, the CFA report recommends removal of ground fuels under the pines (i.e. windfall limbs and understorey plantings); and ‘uplifting’ via removal of pine tree branches up to two metres from ground level.

Conclusion

• While the plantation vegetation is not without bushfire risk, the assessments show the likelihood of fire and the level of radiant heat impacting the school on a Code Red Day is low.
• The recommended maximum radiant heat levels for sheltering in place within a building is 10 kW/m2 or less.
• Noting, that the school would not be operational or occupied on a declared Code Red day, complete removal of the plantation is not required from a bushfire risk perspective.

PowerCor

PowerCor conducted an on-site inspection to check span compliance and to identify any hazardous trees. They concluded that there was no need for tree removal works from a power asset protection or hazard reduction perspective. PowerCor has a regular inspection program.

Department of Education and Training (DET)

Summary advice includes:

• The Pyalong Primary School risk assessment conducted by DET determined the school would close on Code Red days.
• Their bushfire risk assessment is based on a range of factors. The proximity of the pine plantation is not a key consideration.