Kelcey Tier Fire Management Plan 266.74 Kb - Devonport City Council

Devonport City Council 

Fire Management Plan 

Kelcey Tier Greenbelt 

August 2005 

Kelcey Tier is named after Stephen Kelcey who took up a property of about 250 

hectares in the 1850s and built a tidal powered flour mill near Figure of Eight Creek 

near the Mersey estuary. Kelcey’s original property was to the south west of the 

Greenbelt and included what is now Wrenswood Drive. 

Prepared By 

AVK Environmental Management 

Renaissance Forestry 

and

CONTENTS 

1. The Planning Background 4 

1.1 Rationale for the plan 4 

1.2 Relevant legislation and planning instruments 4 

1.3 National standards and guidelines 8 

1.4 Local government planning instruments 9 

1.5 Existing management plans 9 

2. The Bushfire Setting 9 

2.1 Fire management policy for Kelcey Tier Greenbelt 9 

2.2 Fire management objectives for Kelcey Tier Greenbelt 9 

2.3 Site description 10 

2.3.1 Location 10 

2.3.2 Topography 10 

2.3.3 Drainage 10 

2.3.4 Geology and soils 10 

2.3.5 Land use planning zones 10 

2.4 Bushfire issues 12 

2.5 Uses of the Greenbelt 12 

2.6 Fire climate and weather 13 

2.7 Bushfire history 13 

2.7.1 Fires in the period to 1993 13 

2.7.2 Recent wildfires 14 

2.7.3 The wildfire of November 2004 14 

2.7.4 Implications for fire management planning 15 

2.7.5 Problems envisaged 15 

2.8 Access 15 

2.8.1 Easements 16 

2.9 Water Supply 16 

2.10 Current hazard levels 17 

2.11 Built assets in and near the plan area 17 

3 Natural Heritage 18 

3.1 Conservation of Biodiversity 18 

3.2 Flora 19 

3.3 Fauna 19 

3.4 Weeds 22 

4 Risk assessment 26 

5 Fire management 31 

5.1 Responsibilities 31 

5.2 Existing fire management arrangements 31 

5.2.1 Detection 31 

5.2.2 Suppression 31 

5.2.3 Fuel management 31 

5.2.4 Fire breaks and defendable spaces 31 

5.2.5 Access for fire management 31 

5.2.6 Post fire recovery 32 

5.3 Stakeholder and community concerns 32

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6 Plan implementation 36 

6.1 Community education, awareness and involvement 36 

6.2 Management burning programme 36 

6.3 Fire management units 37 

7 Recommendations 43 

8 References 51 

Appendix: Procedure for risk assessment 52 

TABLES 

1 Causes of vegetation fires in and near Kelcey Tier Greenbelt 14 

2 Built assets potentially at risk in and near Kelcey Tier Greenbelt 17 

3 Descriptions and fire management requirements of plant communities in Kelcey Tier 21 

Greenbelt 

4 Conservation significance of native vegetation communities in Kelcey Tier Greenbelt 22 

5 Preferred fire management activities for fauna of conservation value 23 

6 Response to fire by introduced plant species known, or considered likely to occur in 24 


7 Recommended treatments for target weeds 25 

8 Bushfire risk assessments for assets in and near Kelcey Tier Greenbelt 27 

9 Condition and maintenance of fire trails 33 

10 Proposed burning regimes 38 

11 Fire management units and burning proposals 39 

12 Summary of proposed management actions 45 

FIGURES 

1 Location 11 

Other figures are at the end of this document 

2 a,b,c & d Recent fires 

3 Access and water points 

4 Assets in and adjoining Kelcey Tier Greenbelt 

5 Plant communities 

6 Major weed infestations 

7 Fire Management Units 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 

The authors wish to acknowledge the helpful comments and insights provided by the steering 

committee, particularly Peter Sims, Neville Bingham, Paul Hill (TFS) and staff members of the 

Devonport City Council, including John Molnar, Environment Planner and Phil Murray, Bushland 

Coordinator.

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1. The Planning Background 

The area covered by this plan comprises forested land managed by the Devonport City 

Council (DCC) that lies on ridge that runs north-south, about 4.5 km south of the city, an area 

of about 160 hectares. Kelcey Tier forms a prominent forested backdrop to the city and so 

has scenic values as well as recreational, cultural, heritage and conservation values. The 

forests also have a role in protecting erodible soils, especially on steeper slopes. 

The area covered by this plan is restricted to land managed by DCC, but some consideration is 

given to assets on adjacent land. Where the context is land managed by DCC, it is referred to 

as “the Greenbelt”, where the context includes nearby land; it is referred to as “the Greater 

Tier”. 

There are residential properties near the northern and eastern boundaries of the Greenbelt, 

including the suburbs of Stony Rise and Spreyton, and rural residential properties to the 

southeast. Some residents (especially those in Wrenswood Drive, which is to the south-east) 

have expressed concern about their fire safety as they lie in the path of a fire burning under 

severe fire weather conditions. 

Adjacent land uses include: rural residential to the west, north-west, south and south-west, 

reserved residential areas to the north and north-east. Areas around the Williams reservoir 

and the Mersey Vale Lawn Cemetery are classified as “public purposes” and the area to the 

south-west is classified as “rural”, as is the area around the communications tower. 

1.1 Rationale for the plan 

For some time, concern has been expressed about the lack of a fire management plan for 

Kelcey Tier Greenbelt, including references in the Kelcey Tier Greenbelt Landscape 

Management Plan (1992) and Barrington Fire Management Area: Fire Protection Plan 

(2003). In the latter document, the Greenbelt was placed first in a list of areas of major bush 

fire concern in the Barrington Fire Management Area. 

The purpose of this plan is to provide a framework and set of actions to implement Council’s 

fire management policy for land managed by Council at the Kelcey Tier Greenbelt. It also 

considers the fire risk to and from property along the boundaries of the Greenbelt. 

The incidence of wildfires in the Greenbelt has not been excessive in recent years, with 8 fires 

attended by the Tasmania Fire Service (TFS) between 1993 and 2003. However a severe fire 

in the Greenbelt can pose a significant threat to life and property down wind of the Greenbelt. 

DCC and those concerned should adopt an attitude of “when the fire comes …” rather than “if 

the fire comes…”. 

This plan covers a period of 15 years, with revisions to be made after 5 and 10 years. An 

annual review, after the end of the fire danger period is also recommended. 

1.2 Relevant legislation and planning instruments 

Relevant legislation and planning instruments include the following. 

Commonwealth legislation: 

Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act, 1999 

Crown Lands Act, 1976

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State legislation and policy statements: 

National Parks and Wildlife Act 1970 

National Parks and Wildlife Regulations, 1971 

Aboriginal Relics Act, 1975 

Fire Service Act, 1979 

Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act, 1993 

Tasmanian Threatened Species protection Act, 1995 

Weed Management Act, 1999 

Land Use Planning and Approvals Act, 1993 

Forest Practices Act 1985 

State Policy on Water Quality Management, 1997 

Draft State Policy on Air Quality, 2002. 

DCC has a general legal responsibility to take all reasonable steps to minimise the risk of fires 

that originate on the Greenbelt causing personal injury, damage to adjoining property, or 

damage to items of natural or heritage value protected by government legislation. DCC also 

has specific responsibilities under various Acts of Parliament for fire management, fire hazard 

abatement, and the conservation and management of native flora and fauna. 

Fire Service Act, 1979 

The main responsibilities of DCC and surrounding landowners/occupiers under the Fire 

Service Act, 1979, are: 

• to take all reasonable precautions to prevent any fire lit on their property from 

spreading onto neighbouring land (Section 63) 

• to take diligent steps to extinguish or control any unauthorised fire on their property 

during a fire permit period, and to report that fire to the TFS, or the Police (Section 

64). 

As well as the obligations that apply to all landowners/occupiers, DCC has a number of 

specific powers and obligations under this Act. These are: 

• to nominate a representative to sit on the local Special Fire Area Committee 

(Section 55) 

• to “cause the formation in its municipal area of such fire breaks as it considers 

necessary or desirable to arrest the spread, or to facilitate the suppression of, fires” 

(Section 56) 

• to contribute towards the operating costs of fire brigades (Sections 79 to 95). 

It should also be noted that Section 49 of the Act authorises officers of the TFS to enter and 

inspect land for any fire hazard. Where a fire hazard is detected, the Act further empowers 

the State Fire Commission or an authorised officer: 

“by notice in writing given to the council of the municipal area in which that land is 

situated, require that local council to deal with the fire danger, within such reasonable 

period of not less than 30 days as is specified in the notice, as if that fire danger were a 

nuisance under the Local Government Act, 1993.” 

Clause 18 (2) of the Fire Service (Miscellaneous) Regulations 1996 states that holders of 

permits under section 66 of the Fire Service Act: 

“must, before lighting a fire in the open air that he or she is authorised by the permit to light 

during a fire permit period, give notice orally or in writing of the intention to light such a fire”

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to “the owner or occupier of any land adjoining, whether separated by a road or watercourse 

or not, the land on which the fire is to be lit.” 

Local Government Act, 1993 

Section 93 of the Local Government Act allows councils to impose a service rate on rateable 

land for the purpose of providing fire protection. 

Section 200 of the Act requires a council to issue a hazard abatement notice whenever it is 

satisfied there is, or is likely to be, a fire risk on any privately owned land. If the person 

served with an abatement notice fails to comply with the notice within the specified time, the 

council is empowered under Section 201 of the Act to carry out the action specified in the 

notice, and recover the cost from the owner or occupier of the land. 

Threatened Species Protection Act, 1995 

The Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 (TSPA) provides for “the protection and 

management of threatened native flora and fauna, and to enable and promote the conservation 

of native flora and fauna”. Section 5 of the Act requires that: 

“A person who performs a function, or exercises a power, in the administration of a 

public authority must in so doing have regard to the objectives specified in Schedule 1 for 

the conservation and management of native flora and fauna”. 

Schedule 1 lists the objectives of the resource management and planning system of Tasmania, 

and the threatened species protection system established by the Act. These objectives include 

the principles of ‘sustainable development’. The intent of this Act makes protection of 

threatened species a major objective of any Greenbelt fire management plan in the State. 

Section 51 (a) of the TSPA states that: 

“A person must not knowingly, without a permit - take, trade in, keep or process any listed flora or 

fauna”. The TSPA defines ‘take’ as including: “kill, injure, catch, damage, destroy and collect”. 

DCC may therefore be required to obtain a permit from the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife 

Service to carry out prescribed burning that may affect any of the species listed in the Act. 

Land Use Planning and Approvals Act, 1993 

DCC has a responsibility under this Act to produce planning schemes, and other legal 

planning documents to guide the development of the city. Although fire protection is not 

specifically mentioned in this Act, Section 20 (1c & 2f) gives Council the power to define 

areas of bushfire hazard within the city, and implement the development planning and 

approval procedures in the Land Use Planning Review Panel’s Planning Note No. 11 - 

Bushfire Hazard Minimisation Planning (1997). Therefore DCC can impose development 

controls as part of the approval process, such as requiring edge treatments and access around 

boundaries, where property lines are close to a forest boundary. 

Local Government (Building & Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1993 

Under Section 55 of this Act, Council has the power to attach “any terms and conditions it 

considers appropriate” to a building approval. This could include provisions relating to fire 

protection. Section 56 gives Council the power to impose “any restrictions, limitations or 

conditions it considers appropriate” on developments. 

Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act, 1994 

The objectives of this Act as stated in Schedule 1 include: 

“3(c) to regulate, reduce or eliminate the discharge of pollutants and hazardous 

substances to air , land or water consistent with maintaining environmental quality” 

Section 96C of this Act allows State Parliament to make environment protection policies for 

the purpose of furthering any of the objectives of the Act. Policies that affect fire

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management activities include the draft State Air Quality Policy and the State Water Quality 

Management Policy. 

Draft State Policy on Air Quality, 2002 

Clause 23 of the draft State Policy on Air Quality covers “planned burning” which includes 

low intensity burning for fuel reduction and ecological management, but does not include 

backburning to control wildfires. Clause 23 of the draft policy states that: 

“(2) Persons or organisations involved in the conduct of planned burning or in the 

preparation of management guidelines for such operations must take account of the health 

and amenity impacts of smoke pollution on individuals and the community. 

(3) Best practice environmental management should be employed by those persons 

undertaking planned burning to minimise the effects of smoke pollution on individuals 

and the community. This includes, but is not limited to, compliance with the State Fire 

Management Council Guidelines. 

(4) Where practicable, agencies, companies or organisations undertaking burning on a 

regular basis or on a large scale should: 

(a) adopt efficient and effective air quality monitoring programmes; 

(b) adopt a uniform approach to recording and assessing complaints; 

(c) focus upon minimising the impact of smoke on the community in terms of health, 

amenity and safety; 

(d) encourage the planning and execution of planned burning in a way that 

minimises the generation of smoke and improves the management of the effects of 

smoke; and 

(e) require a responsible person involved in planned burning for land management to 

be competent in relevant burning procedures.” 

The State Fire Management Council’s guidelines for low intensity prescribed burning advise 

that: 

The effects of smoke from planned fires should be considered when preparing burning 

plans, taking account of the probable wind direction. Where practicable, smoke mitigation 

strategies should be used including: prescribing favourable wind direction; ensuring that 

fuels are dry; limiting the size of the burning area; limiting the number of areas lit at the 

same time within the same airshed; allowing time for areas to burn out prior to evening 

inversions, particularly late in autumn ; avoiding planned fires coinciding with public 

events; avoiding week-ends 1 and Public holidays; providing information to the public.” 

State Water Quality Management Policy 1997 

One of the objectives of the State Water Quality Management Policy is to: 

“6.1(b) ensure that diffuse source and point source pollution does not prejudice the 

achievement of water quality objectives and that pollutants discharged to waterways are 

reduced as far as is reasonable and practical by the use of best practice environmental 

management” 

Clause 31.4 of the policy under the section dealing with diffuse sources of pollution states 

that: 

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However, volunteers are less likely to be available during week ends.

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“Codes of practice or guidelines required by this Policy in respect of specific activities 

with the potential to impact on stream-side land should pay specific attention to defining 

appropriate stream-side buffer strips and acceptable management practices within these 

strips. Strategies and incentives, including economic instruments, to encourage the 

retention and/or improved management of streamside vegetation should be investigated.” 

In relation to the construction and maintenance of fire trails, Clause 35.1 of the policy states 

that: 

“35.1 Road construction and maintenance operations will be carried out in accordance 

with the guidelines or codes of practice developed pursuant to clause 31.3 of this Policy, 

or employ other measures consistent with best practice environmental management, to 

prevent erosion and the pollution of streams and waterways by runoff from sites of road 

construction and maintenance.” 

Aboriginal Relics Act, 1975 

Section 9 (1) of the Act provides for the protection of sites with Aboriginal relics: 

9(1) Except in accordance with the terms of a permit granted by the Director, no person - 

(a) shall destroy, damage, disfigure, conceal, uncover, expose, excavate, or otherwise 

interfere with a protected object; 

(b) shall carry out an act likely to endanger a protected object; or 

(c) shall destroy, damage, or deface, or otherwise interfere with any fencing or notice 

erected, or any other work carried out, in or in respect of a protected site in pursuance of 

this Act. 

(2) Except in accordance with the terms of a permit granted by the Minister on the 

recommendation of the Director, no person shall remove a protected object from a 

protected site.” 

A permit will therefore be required for any fire management works that may affect Aboriginal 

relics in the Greenbelt. 

Weed Management Act, 1999 

Section 15 of the Act allows for the preparation of draft weed management plans for declared 

weeds. Because fire management needs to consider weed management, planned prescribed 

burning will need to consider management plans for declared weeds in Tasmania. 

1.3 National standards and guidelines 

The following documents prepared by Standards Australia deal with bushfire protection 

issues at a national level: 

Australian Standard 3959 - 1999, Construction of Buildings in Bushfire Prone Areas 

Standards Australia Handbook 36 - 1993, Building in Bushfire Prone Areas 

Standards Australia 2419 - Fire Hydrant Installations Part 1: System Design, 

Installation and Commissioning AS 2419 – 1994.. 

Australian Standard 3959 is referenced in the Building Code of Australia and provides 

construction techniques to improve the resistance of buildings to bushfire attack by windblown 

burning debris, radiant heat and direct flame contact. Standards Australia Handbook 

36 (Ramsay and Dawkins, 1993) provides general advice on siting, landscaping, design and

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construction of buildings in bushfire prone areas. These are also covered in the TFS 

publication Planning Conditions and Guidelines for Subdivisions in Bushfire Prone Areas 2 It 

is noted that land near the Greenbelt that is zoned as “rural residential” is in a fire prone area. 

1.4 Local government planning instruments 

Development in the Greenbelt is administered under the Devonport and Environs Planning 

Scheme, 1984. It is noted that DCC is currently reviewing its planning processes (2005). 

1.5 Existing management plans 

The Kelcey Tier Greenbelt Landscape Management Plan was prepared by Jerry deGryse Pty 

Ltd in 1992, with financial help from the Save the Bush grants scheme. This plan covered a 

much larger area (1750 ha) than this fire management plan, since it included adjacent 

privately owned land, some of which is forested. 

The purpose of the landscape management plan was “to identify the physical, natural and 

cultural values of the greater Kelcey Tier area and the Kelcey Tier Greenbelt and to develop a 

plan to protect and/or actively manage the area to conserve its values for present and future 

generations of residents of Devonport and the north of Tasmania”. Its preparation included 

extensive consultation with members of the public, reviewed physical, biological and cultural 

resources and drew up management guidelines and a brief action plan. This plan 

recommended that a fire management plan be prepared for Kelcey Tier. 

The Landscape Management Plan has provided most of the background information for this 

fire management plan. 

2. The Bushfire Setting 

2.1 Fire management policy for Kelcey Tier Greenbelt 

The Greenbelt is a scenically important area of forested land that also has recreational and 

conservation values. DCC’s intention is to actively manage the Greenbelt so that its values 

are available to present and future generations of residents of Devonport and Northern 

Tasmania. 

Council is aware that fires in the Greenbelt are a potential threat to life and assets within and 

near the Greenbelt, as well as to its scenic, conservation and recreational values. Council 

therefore intends to implement appropriate fire management measures within the Greenbelt, 

and to work co-operatively with surrounding property owners and the general community to 

reduce the fire risk to life and property. 

2.2 Fire management objectives for Kelcey Tier Greenbelt 

The following objectives are proposed for fire management at Kelcey Tier Greenbelt: 

1. Protect life and property (both on and near the Greenbelt); 

2. Conserve other values including environmental and recreational (both on and near the 

Greenbelt); 

3. Facilitate participative fire management with nearby residents and the Devonport 

community. 

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This document is currently being revised (May 2004).

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2.3 Site description 

2.3.1 Location 

The Greenbelt is to the south of Stony Rise Road, about 4.5 km to the south of Devonport 

city. The Mersey Vale Lawn Cemetery is near the north-east corner of the Greenbelt, and 

Spreyton Racecourse is near the south-east corner. (See Figure 1, page 11.) 

2.3.2 Topography 

Topographically, the Greenbelt is in hilly to mountainous country and rises quite sharply from 

near Stony Rise, 50 metres above sea level in the north, to about 205 metres at the highest 

point. This represents an increase in altitude of about 155 metres over a distance of about one 

kilometre. Slopes vary from about eight degrees to about twenty degrees and are generally 

steeper near the summit and on the western side, and gentler on the eastern side. 

2.3.3 Drainage 

There are three main drainage lines: Horsehead Creek in the east, near Durkins Road, 

Powells Creek which rises near the south west corner of the Greenbelt and runs in a northwesterly 

direction to Don River, and an un-named creek which runs into a dam near the north 

west corner of the study area, near Tugrah Road. A lesser creek line runs from the Williams 

reservoir at the northern boundary in an easterly direction. 

2.3.4 Geology and soils 

According to De Gryse (1992), which quoted the geological map prepared by KF Burns in 

1963, the dominant rock types in the Greenbelt are dolerite or dolerite talus with mudstones in 

the east and south-east, alluvium in the north-east corner and sands in the south-west. 

According to Burns, dolerite rocks that have intruded the mudstones occupy the summit of the 

Tier, and talus derived from the dolerite occupies the slopes below the summit. 

The soils derived from dolerite or dolerite talus are clayey and moderately resistant to erosive 

rains and surface flows, except on steep slopes, while the soils derived from mudstones are 

more erodible and more prone to erosion (Sharples, 1992). 

2.3.5 Land use planning zones 

The planning zones near the Greenbelt are fairly complex: the Greenbelt itself mainly 

occupies public open space zone, with the area around Williams Reservoir and the lawn 

cemetery being in the public purposes zone. Land to the west and northwest, and to the south 

of Durkins Road (including Wrenswood Drive) is classified as “rural residential”, while land 

around the summit and to the south west is classified as “rural”. Land to the north of the 

Greenbelt is mainly “closed residential”, whilst over to the north east there are some “ 

reserved residential”. (See: Devonport City Council eMap “Kelcey Tier Planning Zones”.) 

Development in the rural residential zone can be expected to proceed rapidly with the risk that 

planning may not recognise the need to have the interface between new subdivisions and the 

Greenbelt managed to reduce the risk of fires spreading into the Greenbelt. This situation 

calls for careful planning and construction of the proposed fire trail along the north western 

boundary of the Greenbelt. At the time that this plan was being prepared, Council was 

awaiting a proposal for the subdivision of the land at the NW boundary of the Greenbelt. 

Consequently the capital works for a new fire trail here have been deferred, but meanwhile 

Council has committed funds to upgrade some trails. (This area was burnt in the 2004 

bushfire, which reduced the threat to the Greenbelt.)

This page reserved for fig 1 location 

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2.4 Bushfire issues 

Kelcey Tier Greenbelt is managed mainly for its landscape and conservation values. It is a 

highly visual scenic backdrop to the City of Devonport, which is considered to be an 

important contribution to tourism. The Greenbelt has value in conserving vegetation, some of 

which is under threat from land clearing operations, it also provides recreation opportunities 

for Devonport residents and visitors, and provides a setting for nearby residences. 

On a day of severe fire weather, it is possible that a fire entering the Greater Tier (from the 

west) could burn most of the Greenbelt and spread to the north east. 

Major bushfire management issues are: 

• Protection of properties near the Greenbelt which are in a fire prone area 

• Need to protect scenic values 

• Conservation of vegetation types and habitat for wildlife 

• Potential impacts on nearby rural residential development 

• Poor access to the north-west part of the plan area 

• Need for ongoing maintenance of existing fire trails, construction of two new fire 

trails and the possible closure of some minor trails and entrances 

• Limited water for fire suppression and management burning 

• Protection of Aboriginal cultural heritage sites 

• Protection of recreation opportunities (eg bush walking, mountain bike riding, horse 

riding). 

Land is currently being developed for housing between Tugrah Road and the Greenbelt, and 

also along Stony Rise Road. These developments need to be provided with appropriate 

defendable spaces outside the Greenbelt, which requires lots bordering the Greenbelt to have 

sufficient depth to allow a defendable space to be managed on the lot by the owner, rather 

than within the Greenbelt (by Council). 

2.5 Uses of the Greenbelt 

Current uses of the Greenbelt that affect its fire management include: scenic settings 

(considered an important contribution to tourism) nature conservation, and recreation. 

Cultural heritage values comprise several known Aboriginal heritage sites, but there are no 

known European heritage sites in the Greenbelt. The forest cover also protects soils on the 

steeper slopes. There is potential for the Greenbelt to be used for education by school groups, 

etc and for the summit to be promoted as a tourist destination. DCC has promoted the 

Greenbelt as a recreational asset by listing the “Allison Track Nature Walk” in its Walks in 

Devonport leaflet and the recreational use of other tracks connecting Durkins and Tugrah 

Roads. 

In earlier times, the Greenbelt contained the route by which settlers travelled to the southwest, 

probably along aboriginal tracks.

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A number of residential subdivisions are under development near the north-western boundary 

of the Greenbelt (ie, the direction from which the most dangerous fires are likely to threaten 

the Greenbelt). These will introduce a new threat from accidental ignitions or even malicious 

lighting. Council’s planning regulations should ensure that bushfire protection measures can 

be maintained entirely within the residential development. These could then be augmented by 

fire protection measures between the development and the main part of the Greenbelt, on land 

managed by DCC. Protection measures for new developments in Tasmania are set out in the 

document Planning Conditions and Guidelines for Subdivisions in Bushfire Prone Areas 

(TFS, 1995). 

There are also housing developments on the other side of the Greenbelt, ie, on the side that 

could be under threat from fires starting in the Greenbelt, particularly at the fringes of 

Spreyton and rural residential properties along Wrenswood Drive (these also pose a possible 

threat to the south-eastern “tongue” of land managed by DCC and thence to Spreyton). 

However the dwellings on Wrenswood Drive are generally more than 100 metres from the 

land managed by DCC. There are several other scattered properties near the boundaries of the 

Greenbelt also. In all cases, DCC should encourage the establishment/maintenance of 

defendable spaces around dwellings that are accessible to TFS tankers. 

2.6 Fire climate and weather 

The mean annual rainfall at the Greenbelt probably exceeds 1000 mm: records were kept at 

nearby Quoiba from 1947 to 1990 where the mean annual rainfall was 982 mm, but the 

rainfall at the Greenbelt can be expected to be higher due to orographic effects. The 

vegetation types found on the Greenbelt reflect the relatively high rainfall. 

In summer the strong south-westerly and westerly winds that often precede cold fronts can 

contain dry air. This combination of strong winds and low humidity creates the ideal 

meteorological conditions for the spread of major wildfires. If a high pressure system is 

blocked in the Tasman Sea, strong hot northerly winds can persist for several days and be 

followed by a “blow-up” day when large fires cannot be controlled. 

Potentially bad bushfire conditions can be expected from time to time in northern Tasmania 

when dry winters and springs are followed by summers where fuels are very dry. Under these 

conditions, fires can be expected to move quickly under strong westerly winds, and then move 

on a broad front when the subsequent south-westerly wind change arrives. A fire starting at 

the western end of the Greenbelt under these conditions could run the whole length of the 

Greenbelt as well as threatening properties on its eastern side. However recent unseasonal 

weather patterns including strong easterlies illustrate that there is potential for a wildfire from 

other wind directions than usually predicted. 

2.7 Bushfire history 

2.7.1 Fires in the period to 1993 

There have been several large fires in the last 100 years or so, for instance the northern part of 

the Greater Tier appears to have been burnt in a bushfire in about 1907 (based on a 

photograph taken in 1908 (de Gryse, 1992). Another wildfire, said to cover 180 ha burnt 

much of the tier and Greenbelt in January 1982, as well as two earlier fires near the Greenbelt 

in the period 1976-9 (Neville Bingham pers comm.) while a fire in 1998 burnt an area of 7 ha. 

Since 1979 there have only been sporadic wild fires (eg, near the lizard lookout), and some

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prescribed burns, and some areas of the Greenbelt (lower eastern slopes) may not have been 

burnt for over 100 years. (The locations of fires in the period to 1993 are shown in figures 2a 

and 2b.) 

The TFS carried out a programme of fuel reduction burning in the Greenbelt until the early 

1990s, and constructed the present network of trails to facilitate this programme. In the 

period 1980 to 1993 approximately 65% of the Greenbelt was burnt for hazard reduction. The 

location of the fuel reduction burns carried out during the 1980s is shown in Figure 2a. There 

has been no hazard reduction burning within the Greenbelt over the last 10 years, mainly due 

to confusion over fire management objectives in the Greenbelt management plan (de Gryse, 

1992). 

2.7.2 Recent wildfires 

Information on the recent incidence of fires in and close to the Greenbelt was obtained from 

TFS records, supplemented by field observations in February 2004. The location of these 

fires is shown in Figure 2c. (Note that the data supplied by the TFS is for a 100 m grid square 

and therefore the locations may not be precise.) 

The data supplied by the TFS were used to analyse the causes of fires inside the Greenbelt 

from 1993 to 2003. Fires close to the boundary that had the potential to spread into the 

Greenbelt were also included. As well as vegetation fires, the records for vehicle fires were 

examined to determine if car dumping is an important cause of wildfires in the Greenbelt. 

TFS records show that eight vegetation fires were attended in the Greenbelt, and another 

seven close to its boundaries, between 1993 and 2003. There was one vehicle fire along 

Durkins Road within the Greenbelt. Causes of these vegetation fires are given in Table 1. 

Table 1: Causes of vegetation fires in and near Kelcey Tier Greenbelt 

Cause Number Percent 

Escape from burning off 1 7 

Re-ignition of previous fire 2 13 

Malicious/suspicious 3 20 

Unknown 9 60 

Total 15 100 

It is likely that most, if not all, of the fires for which the cause was listed as “unknown” have a 

human cause. The TFS records indicate that all the fires within the Greenbelt over the last 10 

years were less than 1 ha in extent, however, some of the recently burnt areas in the Greenbelt 

observed during fieldwork for this plan were greater than 1 ha, and could not be readily linked 

to a TFS record. Larger fires of 2 ha and 4 ha occurred in contiguous bushland to the east and 

west respectively, however it is not known if these fires burnt into the Greenbelt. 

2.7.3 The wildfire of November 2004 

This was an “early season” fire that started from burning waste vegetation on the side of 

Tugrah Road near the NW part of the Greenbelt (according to the TFS, the cause was

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“inadequate control of open fire”). The fire crossed the road and there were delays in 

reporting the fire when the person responsible was perceived to be controlling the fire. The 

total area burnt was about 70 ha of which 47 ha were within the Greenbelt. 

Overall the impact was considered to relatively minor with only about a 20% canopy scorch 

which did not affected scenic values greatly. This fire illustrates the need for careful 

assessment of forecasts of wind speed and direction, and whether the forecasts are accurate, 

and for care to be exercised by those using fire even when permits are not required. The area 

burnt is shown on Figure 7. 

2.7.4 Implications for fire management planning 

Lack of hazard reduction burning over the last 10 years has allowed fuel loads to build up 

over most of the Greenbelt to the point where it would probably not be possible to control a 

major wildfire and damage to surrounding property could result. Re-introduction of a 

strategic fuel reduction burning program, along with maintenance and improvement of the fire 

trail system is considered that best way to reduce this risk. 

2.7.5 Problems envisaged 

Previous experience (N. Bingham and Paul Hill, pers comms) has shown the need for the 

following to be taken into consideration when planning for fire events: 

• there are likely to be problems with traffic on Durkins Road (and Wrenswood Drive), 

largely due to spectators; 

• responsibility for mopping up may have to be partly or wholly assumed by DCC 

because volunteers may not be readily available; 

• access to the Greenbelt through locked gates will need to be readily available to TFS 

crews; 

• additional water tankers (eg, DCC plant) would be highly advantageous; 

• evacuation policies need to be formulated, eg, the TFS and Tasmanian Police suggest 

that able bodied and well prepared adults should stay to protect property, others should 

leave early in an orderly way; 

• security and safety during fire suppression and hazard reduction burns needs to be 

ensured by closing the Greenbelt and/or directing traffic. 

2.8 Access 

Access to the Greenbelt is from Tugrah Road, Stony Rise Road, Durkins Road, from a trail 

leading off Wrenswood Drive, and from the new rural residential development that can be 

reached from Tugrah Road (see Figure 3). Currently, there are 14 vehicle access points to the 

Greenbelt. 

The nearest TFS stations are Devonport Fire Station, Victoria Parade, about 6 km from the 

Greenbelt and Melrose Volunteer Brigade about 10 km from the Greenbelt. 

Vehicle access within the Greenbelt is by a network of fire trails, most of which were 

constructed to facilitate fuel reduction burning or logging operations on the western side of

16 

the tier. In addition, two powerline easements with their associated access trails run through 

the Greenbelt. Most trails are in reasonable condition but some are narrow or becoming 

overgrown, which greatly restricts access for heavy tankers. All of the fire trails are interlinked, 

ie, there are no dead ends (provided that there is access in an emergency through 

locked gates or bollards). 

The network also serves to divide the Greenbelt into blocks for fire management purposes. 

DCC has promoted the Greenbelt as a recreational asset by listing the “Allison Track Nature 

Walk” in its Walks in Devonport leaflet. The track starts at the former quarry on Durkins 

Road and leads to the peak and lookout where there is a large sculpture of a lizard. There is a 

small car park at the start of the track at the Durkins Road entrance, but vehicular access to 

the track is restricted by a locked bollard. 

Access to most of the tracks in the Greenbelt is controlled by locked gates, cables or chains, 

however there are some unlocked gates, and some fire trails can also be reached from 

adjoining private property. Because unauthorised vehicular access to the Greenbelt appears to 

be increasing, a number of new gates are recommended. Their proposed locations are shown 

in Figure 3. Unauthorised trailbike riding and “wood hooking (theft of wood)” should be 

controlled as both can lead to other illegal activities including fire lighting or accidental fires. 

Generally, the fire trail network and access points are considered adequate for fire 

management purposes, but there is no easy links between the fire trails in the more recently 

acquired western portion of the Greenbelt, and the northern and eastern portions. It is 

recommended that a new fire trail be constructed along the western boundary of the Greenbelt 

to link the fire trails in the south west with the powerline easement at or near the north west 

corner of the Greenbelt, a distance of about a kilometre. This would have strategic 

importance for fire suppression as well as improving access. 

Also, new trail, or foot track from near the summit to the trail starting near the Allison Track 

car park would improve access and facilitate burns and fire suppression operations. 

Any of the trails shown on Figure 3 that are not designated as fire trails, and are not required 

for any other purpose, should be closed and rehabilitated. 

2.8.1 Easements 

There are two powerline easements that cross the Greenbelt. The 110 kV power line managed 

by Transend runs along the NE boundary, in a north-south direction. A second easement, 

managed by Aurora, runs in an east-west direction near the northern border of the Greenbelt. 

Access tracks along the easements should be maintained in a condition trafficable by TFS 

heavy tankers. 

2.9 Water Supply 

Water for fire fighting is not available within the Greenbelt. Currently, all water would need 

to come from fire plugs located along roads on the northern and eastern sides of the 

Greenbelt, or from dams in surrounding rural areas. Hydrants along Wrenswood Drive are

17 

known to have poor pressure and would be of limited value during a major fire 3 . Residents 

should augment these hydrants with static water supplies and petrol or diesel powered pumps. 

Williams Reservoir on the northern boundary of the Greenbelt cannot be used for fire fighting 

as it is used to store drinking water. 

There is a medium sized dam near the northwest corner of the Greenbelt, and a number of 

small dams in the farmland around the communications tower at the top of the tier. However 

these are relatively low lying and there is a risk of vehicles getting bogged close to the dams 

so that portable pumps would be required to take water from these dams, or that a hard stand 

area be established on the side of the dam to allow tankers to access the water. (See Figure 3.) 

Two possible sites for new waterholes/dams have been identified along fire trails within the 

Greenbelt however, the existing nearby water supply points are preferred by the TFS. The 

TFS expects to bring water from outside the Greenbelt for fire suppression and management 

burning, requiring tankers to be available. 

2.10 Current hazard levels 

Except for the area burnt in November 2004, fuel levels in the Greenbelt are generally high, 

and beyond the point where direct attacks on a fire front (head fire) can be expected to 

succeed on days when the high fire danger is above “moderate”. The area burnt in 1998 is 

approaching the same condition. 

2.11 Built assets in and near the plan area 

Built assets in and near the plan area are listed in Table 2, and a detailed risk assessment is 

given in Table 8. Locations of power lines and the transmitter tower are shown on Figure 4. 

Table 2: Built assets and values potentially at risk in and near Kelcey Tier Greenbelt 

Asset Location Remarks 

Group of houses Tugrah Road NW of and generally more than 100 m from 

edge of plan area 

Group of houses Fringes of Spreyton Generally over 100 m from edge of plan area 

Buildings Near racecourse On DCC land 

House 

Near SW corner of Greenbelt 

House Durkins Road Currently well maintained 

House Reached from Durkins Rd There is forest between house and the edge of 

the Greenbelt 

Group of rural residential 

properties 

House 

North end of Wrenswood Dr 

Near edge of Greenbelt, west of 

tower 

Reached from Tugrah Road 

Houses mostly more than 100 m from edge of 

Greenbelt, includes a house reached from 

Durkins Road 

Access to Greenbelt recommended (gate) 

New rural residential 

Defendable spaces required on properties 

development 

Williams Reservoir Partly in plan area, at NW Not at great risk from bushfires; managed by 

Cradle Coast Water. The woven plastic/ 

fabric cover is vulnerable to ember attack* 

22 kV Electricity power 

line (E-W) 

Operated by Aurora 

Easement and fire trail need to be maintained 

in present or better condition 

3 

The current water supply at Wrenswood Drive, including fire plugs, is a private concern administered and 

maintained by local residents and not by DCC.

18 

Asset Location Remarks 

110kV Electricity power 

line (N-S) 

Operated by Transend 

Easement and fire trail need to be maintained 

in present or better condition 

Spur line on Durkins Rd Operated by Aurora Maintain easement as at present 

Communications Tower End of Durkins Road In cleared area, low risk to structure but power 

lines at moderate risk (Nb, vital 

communications facility) 

Scenic values Particularly on the N facing slope Would deteriorate with repeated burning 

Conservation values Throughout the plan area Vulnerable to too frequent burns 

Recreation values Generally along trails Reductions due to fire will be short- lived 

except in the case of the more severe fires (eg, 

falling trees/branches subsequent to the fire) 

Aboriginal heritage Scattered sites Not at risk from fire, but could be damaged by 

earth moving equipment, etc 

* The cover for the reservoir is vulnerable to “ember attack” and would be expensive to 

replace. Care is required to avoid damage during burning off. 

. 

3 Natural Heritage 

3.1 Conservation of Biodiversity 

Fire plays an important role in maintaining biodiversity in Australian ecosystems. Changes in 

the fire regime (season, frequency, extent and intensity of fires) can cause progressive 

changes in plant communities. Both too frequent fire and long-term exclusion of fire have 

both been shown to lead to progressive changes in plant structure, and to a reduction in 

biodiversity. Failure to use fire properly as a management tool can therefore be considered a 

threat to natural habitats in the Greenbelt. 

Too-frequent burning of native forests is also known to reduce species diversity and make 

burnt areas more liable to invasion by weeds. A high fire frequency (less than 5 years) will 

usually favour grasses in the understorey at the expense of shrubs, and severely restrict the reestablishment 

of canopy species. 

The Greenbelt supports a rather varied flora reflecting the physical environments, mostly 

dominated by Eucalyptus obliqua (browntop stringybark), which is mostly even-aged as a 

result of previous logging. It has been reported that sites with accumulated forest litter 

support a larger and more diverse invertebrate fauna than sites where fire has reduced the 

litter (Mesibov, 1991). If a wide range of invertebrate species is to be maintained within the 

Greenbelt, it is important that patches of the different habitats in the Greenbelt remain 

unburnt. These sites provide essential refuge from which recolonisation can occur. The 

optimal timing of fire for invertebrates in dry forest habitats maintained by relatively frequent 

burning is not known with certainty, although it has been suggested that late spring burning is 

likely to have the least adverse impact in dry sclerophyll forests. 

The dry forest plant communities in the Greenbelt are considered to be dependent on fire to 

maintain their structure and floristics in the long term. Periodic burning will help to maintain 

diversity in the understorey, and allow fire dependent species to germinate and become 

established. However, there is a need to minimise damage to some habitat elements (such as 

dead trees, old logs and stumps) during these burns, and to ensure that the retention of unburnt 

patches of each forest type adequate so that they can act as refuge for recolonisation of burnt

19 

areas. Prescriptions for fire management burns in the Greenbelt should include the retention 

of dead trees, logs, and stumps as outcomes. 

Currently there is some uncertainty regarding the optimal season for burning dry forests, 

grassy woodlands and grasslands. In fact, it is likely that they benefit from a varied fire 

regime. The season of burning specified in this plan has therefore been deliberately varied, 

except where there has been a specific need, such as avoiding the flowering time of a 

threatened species. 

3.2 Flora 

193 plant species were recorded during a botanical survey of the Greenbelt in 1991 

(Gilfedder, 1991). These included three species that are endemic to Tasmania and 42 

introduced species. The distribution of fire sensitive communities is shown in Figure 4. 

Using the TASVEG mapping units, seven vegetation communities occur in the Greenbelt (see 

Figure 5 for their locations and Table 3 for details of their fire management requirements): 

Wet sclerophyll forest 

• Eucalyptus obliqua wet forest 

• Eucalyptus viminalis wet forest 

• Eucalyptus obliqua shrubby forest 

Dry/damp sclerophyll forest 

• Eucalyptus obliqua dry forest 

• E obliqua/E. amagdylina damp sclerophyll forest 

Grassy dry sclerophyll forests/woodland 

• Grassy E obliqua woodland 

• Grassy E viminalis woodland wet forest 

The conservation status of these vegetation communities is given in Table 4. 

Much of the forest in the Greenbelt has an upper storey that is represented by a single age 

group, with fewer older trees (that would have hollows for tree-dwelling species, etc) than 

would be expected in undisturbed forests. This reflects previous land management practices 

such as clear felling and suggests that the few older (“habitat”) trees are potentially very 

important. 

No plant species of conservation significance have yet been recorded from the Greenbelt itself 

(ie, land managed by DCC) however there is a notable population of mature Callistemon 

pallidus (bottle brush) on private land south of Durkins Road. These plants are very old and 

form a prominent cover and they have been included in the National Trust of Tasmania’s 

register of significant trees. Wildfire is likely to kill the existing plants although the species 

would regenerate from seed. C. pallidus is not listed as a species of conservation 

significance, but is inadequately reserved in Tasmania, therefore the long term exclusion of 

fire from this site (particularly repeated fires) should be encouraged. 

3.3 Fauna 

The results of a short mammal study by Driessen (1991) is included in the Landscape 

Management Plan for Kelcey Tier (de Gryse, 1991). Twelve native mammals had been 

recorded in the Greater Tier, with a further 15 species likely to occur there. Introduced

20 

species included the rabbit and the black rat. Cats and dogs could also have an adverse 

impact on native wildlife. Of the native species, the Eastern Barred Bandicoot and the 

Spotted Tail Quoll are listed as vulnerable. 

A list of 52 bird species that have been observed in, or are likely to occur in, the Greater Tier 

was given to de Gryse (1991) by Peter Sims. This list included two species of conservation 

significance, the Swift Parrot and the Masked Owl (endangered), and four introduced species. 

Foraging areas for the Swift Parrot are shown on Figure 4. At the “walk and talk” it was said 

that 67 species have been recorded. 

The native terrestrial invertebrate populations in the Greater Tier were reported by Mesibov 

(in de Gryse, 1991) to be degraded “by timber harvesting, frequent burning, clearing, 

mechanical removal of understorey, weed invasion, etc”. He considered it unlikely that these 

populations would recover. This assertion should be confirmed. 

No known surveys of amphibians and reptiles have been carried out. 

The preferred fire management activities for fauna of conservation value that have been 

reported or are expected to occur in the Greenbelt are listed in Table 5.

21 

Table 3: Descriptions and fire management requirements of plant communities in 


Tasveg mapping units * 

Fire impacts and fire management aims 

Wet sclerophyll forest 

OT - Eucalyptus obliqua 

wet forest 

VW – Eucalyptus 

viminalis wet forest 

OV – Eucalyptus ovata 

shrubby forest 

(Also to include area of 

dry E. obliqua with 

dense Melaleuca 

ericifolia – O(m) 

Generally eucalypts in wet forest only regenerate successfully following fire. 

Frequent extensive fires can eliminate fire sensitive species and those that rely on seed to 

regenerate after fire. 

Extended intervals between fires will eventually create a forest with single age class. 

Repeated intensive fires reduce life expectancy of trees and remove old growth elements. 

Absence of fire for a period exceeding the life expectancy of any eucalypt could result in 

the local disappearance of that species. (This is most unlikely at the Greenbelt given the 

relatively frequent incidence of fire.) 

Natural fire frequency for this forest type is considered to be every 25-100 years, therefore 

fuel reduction burns should not be undertaken too frequently. 

Fires every 100-400 years can maintain wet forest. 

Exclude fire for the duration of the plan. 

Dry / Damp sclerophyll forest 

O - Eucalyptus obliqua 

dry forest 

DSC – E. obliqua / E. 

amygdalina damp 

sclerophyll forest 

Fire controls the establishment of a dense shrubby understorey, which can exclude light 

from the ground layer. 

Frequent fires can encourage a dense bracken layer, which can suppress other ground 

layer vegetation. 

Some of the area occupied by these communities are fire induced and would support wet 

forest given an extended absence of fire. 

Burn at 15- 25 year fire intervals, with representative patches excluded (to monitor 

fire effects). 


Eov - Grassy E. ovata 

woodland 

Ew – Grassy E. 

viminalis woodland 

Infrequently burnt sites can develop a dense, shrubby understorey. 

Frequent fires (< 5 years) can inhibit tree regeneration and eliminate the shrubby 

component 

Extended absence from fire can result in build up of fuel eventually causing hot and 

damaging burns. 

At the Greenbelt, these habitats are restricted to hill crests on thin soils, where the effects 

of periodic drought have effectively reduced biomass through scattered deaths of trees and 

shrubs. Maintaining a varied fire regime between these habitats would ensure the range of 

habitats is maintained. An area south of Durkins Road could be protected from fire as it is 

bounded by the road and by cleared land to the west. 

A temporal and spatial mosaic burning pattern would mitigate the effects of a devastating 

wildfire. 

Optimal fire frequency is 5-20 years. 

Exclude fire from bushland south of Durkins Road to provide controls to monitor the 

effects of fire. 

* TASVEG 2004

22 

Table 4: Conservation significance of native vegetation communities in Kelcey Tier 

Greenbelt 

Tasveg community classification 1 State conservation / 

reservation status 2 

E. obliqua wet forest – OT Non priority 

well reserved 

E. obliqua dry forest – O Non priority 

well reserved 

Damp sclerophyll forest – DSC 

E. ovata shrubby forest – OV 

E. ovata woodland – Eo 

Non priority 

well reserved 

Endangered 

inadequately reserved 

E. viminalis wet forest - VW Endangered 


E. viminalis grassy woodland – Ew Non priority 


Regional conservation 

status 3 

Non priority 


Non priority 

well reserved 

Non priority 


Endangered 


Endangered 


Rare 


1 – TASVEG 2002 2 – CARSAG 2002, 3 – CARSAG 2003 

3.4 Weeds 

Fourteen introduced plant species (weeds) have been recorded in the Greenbelt. Four of these 

are declared weeds under the Weed Management Act, 1999, and others can be considered 

environmental weeds due to their ability to invade native vegetation communities and 

displace indigenous species. These are listed in Table 6 where priority weeds are identified in 

bold; major weed infestations in the Greenbelt are shown in Figure 6 . 

Management burning, some other fire management activities, such as construction and 

maintenance of fire trails, and bulldozing fire breaks during fire suppression, can provide 

opportunities for weeds to establish on bare ground and so colonise bushland. 

On the other hand, fire can help manage to weed infestations: applying herbicide to regrowth 

following a fire when it is easy to see, can be the best way to control some species, and 

adopting a fire regime that stimulates germination of seed but kills the regrowth before it is 

able to flower can sometimes control other species. Recommended treatments for target 

weeds are given in Table 7.

23 

TABLE 5: Preferred fire management activities for fauna of conservation value at Kelcey Tier Greenbelt 

Species 

Eastern Barred 

Bandicoot 

Perameles gunnii 

Spotted-tailed 

Quoll 

Dasyurus 

maculatus 

Swift Parrot 

Lathamus discolor 

Masked Owl 

Tyto 

novaehollandiae 

Conservation 

status 

VULNERABLE 2 

VULNERABLE 2 

rare 1 

ENDANGERED 2 

endangered 1 

endangered 1 

Habitat and preferred fire management 

Grasslands (both native and introduced) and grassy woodlands. Dense cover of regrowth is likely to be 

unsuitable habitat. 

Mosaic burning will ensure open habitats are maintained and help mitigate devastating wildfires. 

Wet and closed forest. Maintenance of old growth habitat is likely to benefit this species. 

Exclusion of fire from wet forest will maintain favoured habitat. 

It is known to nest in Eucalyptus obliqua on crest of knoll in south of Greenbelt. Also known to utilise the 

Eucalyptus ovata as a foraging resource. May also be nesting in these trees near Durkins Rd. 

Protection of known nest sites from wildfire to maintain habitat values. 

Avoid spring burning in areas of E. ovata to ensure that nectar resource is not adversely affected. 

Management should aim to avoid crown damage to larger trees 

This species requires large hollows for suitable nesting. 

Too-frequent fires leads to loss of large hollow bearing trees, although occasional fires can help in the 

creation of hollows. 

Although not known to nest in the Greenbelt there are known nesting sites near Spreyton. Habitat 

is limited to areas of mature trees with larger hollows. The long term maturation of forest in the 

Greenbelt will encourage the establishment of potential nesting sites. 

1 Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995. 2 Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 

1999.

24 

Table 6: Response to fire by introduced plant species known, or considered likely to occur, in Kelcey Greenbelt. 

Species Plant killed Re-sprouts 

from rootstock 3 

Re-sprouts 

from epicormic buds 

Germinates 

from seed 

Comments 

Briza maxima (Quaking Grass) X X 

Briza minor (Shivery Grass) X X Seeds may be viable for 40+years 

Cirsium sp. (Thistles) X 

Cotoneaster spp. X 

Cortaderia selloana (Pampas Grass) 2 X 

Dactylis glomerata (Cocks foot) X 

Erica lusitanica (Spanish Heath) 2 X X X Resprouts if fire does not kill plant 

Genista monspessulana (Canary Broom) 2 X X 

Holcus lanatus (Yorkshire fog grass) X 

Pinus radiata (Monterey Pine) X X 

Rosa rubiginosa (Briar) X 

Rubus fruticosus (Blackberry) 1 2 X 

Senecio jacobaea (Ragwort)) X X 

Ulex europaeus (Gorse) 1 2 X X X Seeds may be viable for 40+years 

1 WONS = Weed of National Significance – National Weed Strategy 1999; 

2 Declared Weed – Tasmanian Weed Management Act 1999

25 

Table 7: Recommended treatments for target weeds 

Target weeds Before burning After burning Comments 

Cotoneaster spp. 

(Cotoneaster) 

Cortaderia selloana 

(Pampas Grass) 

Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora 

(Montbretia) 

Erica lusitanica 

(Spanish Heath) 

Genista monspessulana 

(Canary Broom) 

Pinus radiata 

(Monterey Pine) 

Poacea 

(Various grasses ) 

Rosa rubiginosa 

(Briar Rose) 

Rubus fruticosus 

(Blackberry) 

Ulex europaeus 

(Gorse) 

Spot 

Spray 

Cut Stump & 

Poison 

Drill & 

Poison 

Hand 

Pull 

Spot 

Spray 

Cut Stump & 

Poison 

Drill & 

Poison 

X X X X Preferable to have cut timber lying on 

ground for fuel 

X X X 

X X 

X X X 

X X X X Leave cut material on ground to burn; 

avoid moving seed bearing material 

X X X 

X X Seasonality will be crucial 

X X X X 

X X 

X X X X Leave cut material on ground to burn; 

avoid moving seed bearing material 

Hand 

Pull

26 

4 Risk assessment 

The bushfire risk to the assets within and adjoining the Greenbelt has been assessed using a 

procedure developed from the principles in Australian Standard 4360 – 1999 Risk 

Management. This procedure combines recognised risk factors to rank the level of fire risk in 

order to prioritise reduction measures. 

Although there is insufficient data available from fire occurrences to assess the likelihood of a 

high intensity fire starting in the Greenbelt, there is enough fine fuel to sustain a high intensity 

fire on days of high, very high or extreme fire danger. Therefore, for the purpose of this 

assessment, it is assumed that an intense fire will occur at some time, and the likelihood of 

ignition is taken as constant in the analysis. The analysis is only for fires burning within the 

Greenbelt, or approaching an adjoining asset from the Greenbelt. (Where there are several 

possible fire approaches, the approach with the highest threat is used.) 

The purpose of this assessment is to rank the risk to various assets so that risk reduction 

works can be prioritised. The analysis is based on three main factors: 

1. fire threat in terms of fuel loads and fire approach 

2. vulnerability of the asset to damage 

3. potential consequences of a fire damaging or destroying the asset. 

The analysis was carried out by assigning a relative score to each of the factors in Table 8, 

and multiplying the scores to determine a relative level of risk. Scores are weighted where it 

is considered that the factor would have a major influence on fire risk. Multiplying the scores 

means that assets not at risk from fire have a value of zero. 

The scores allow the level of risk to be placed in the broad risk categories of minimal, low, 

medium and high. These risk categories have the following general meanings and nominal 

values: 

0 Unlikely to be at risk of damage from bushfires 

1 to 250 Exposed to low levels of burning ember attack, 

possible spot fires and/or asset is of low value 

251 to 2000 Asset likely to be affected by a high intensity fire 

front but has features that will reduce the 

intensity of the fire attack, or provide some 

protection from fires 

2001 to 11664 Asset likely to be affected by a high intensity fire 

front, but with few, if any, features that would 

reduce the severity of the fire attack 

A detailed explanation of the risk assessment process is given in the appendix, and the risks to 

which the various assets in Table 2 are exposed have been assessed accordingly. This served 

to rank the assets at risk (not necessarily to quantify them scientifically) as in Table 8. 

Based on this risk assessment ranking, the built assets in and surrounding the Greenbelt do not 

have very high risks. Houses that are down wind of forests are generally ranked higher than 

other houses (nb, it was assumed that all houses have some combustible elements). The 

ranking suggests that priority should be given to improving the level of fire protection for: 

• Future dwellings adjoining the Greenbelt in the new subdivision off Tugrah Road; 

• Dwellings at the south end of Harris Road adjoining bushland; 

• The dwelling at the western end of Durkins Road.

27 

Table 8: Bushfire risk assessments for assets in and near Kelcey Tier Greenbelt 

Asset at risk 

Dwellings adjoining the 

Greenbelt along Tugrah 

Road 

Future dwellings 

adjoining the Greenbelt 

in the new subdivision 

off Tugrah road 

Dwellings at the end of 

Williams Reservoir 

Road 

Dwellings along the 

southern side of Stony 

Rise Road adjoining 

bushland contiguous 

with the Greenbelt. 

Dwellings at the 

southern end of Harris 

Road adjoining bushland 

contiguous with the 

Greenbelt. 

Dwellings adjoining the 

Greenbelt along 

Racecourse Road. 

Risk analysis 

A B C D E F G Risk 

level* 

Comments 

Proposed risk mitigation measures 

5 2 3 2 1 1 6 360 Maintain a minimum 20 m wide Building Protection 

Zone between dwellings and bushland in the 

Greenbelt. 

Issue Hazard Abatement Notices as required to 

ensure that adequate Building Protection Zones are 

maintained on private property. 

5 3 3 2 2 2 6 2160 If dwellings are constructed too close to the 

Greenbelt boundary, a portion of the 

Building Protection Zone will have to be 

maintained in the Greenbelt: DCC should 

ensure that this does not happen. 

Maintain a minimum 25 m Building Protection Zone 

between buildings and bushland. 

Burn adjoining bushland in the Greenbelt, as required 

to maintain a fuel modified buffer zone. 

Provide a fire trail along the perimeter, preferably 

within the subdivision. 


Zone and 15 m Fuel Modified Buffer Zone between 

the dwellings and bushland in the Greenbelt. 




5 3 3 2 1 1 6 360 Dwellings separated from bushland by a 

strip of grassland. 

Maintain a minimum 25 m wide Building Protection 












5 1 3 2 1 2 6 360 Dwellings separated from bushland by 

Racecourse Road which provides an 

adequate defendable space. 



maintained on private property.

28 

Asset at risk 

Buildings in the 

Spreyton Racecourse 

and Dog Pound. 

Dwelling at 

43 Durkins Road 

Dwellings along the 

eastern side of 

Wrenswood Drive 

Dwellings on the 

western side of 

Wrenswood Drive 

Dwelling at 

65 Durkins Road 

Dwelling at the western 

end of Durkins Road 

Risk analysis 


level* 

Comments 



Zone around the buildings. 

5 2 3 2 1 2 6 720 There is sufficient room to maintain an 

adequate defendable space on the lot. 

5 3 1 2 2 2 6 720 Some dwellings already have adequate 

defendable spaces. 

There is sufficient room to maintain an 

adequate defendable space on the lots. 

5 1 3 2 2 2 6 720 Some dwellings already have adequate 

defendable spaces. 

There is sufficient room to maintain an 

adequate defendable space on the lots. 

5 2 3 2 2 2 6 1440 There is sufficient room to maintain an 

adequate defendable space on the lot. 

























5 3 3 2 2 2 6 2160 Dwelling close to the Greenbelt boundary. Maintain the area between Fire Trail KT7 and the 

Greenbelt boundary adjacent to the dwelling as a 

Building Protection Zone. 



maintained on private property.

29 

Asset at risk 

Telstra Transmitter at 

the top of Kelcey Tier 

Risk analysis 


level* 

Comments 

5 3 3 2 2 2 4 1440 Tower and buildings are in a fenced 

compound. Buildings are of brick and 

steel. Main risk is to exposed cables and 

the power supply. Nb a very important 

regional communications facility! 



Zone between the building and the surrounding 

bushland. 

Transend 110kV high 

voltage electricity transmission 

line on the 

eastern side of the 

Greenbelt. 

Aurora 22 kV voltage 

electricity trans-mission 

line on the northern side 

of the Greenbelt. 

Aurora electricity 

transmission line along 

Durkins Road as far as 

Wrenswood Dr. 

5 1 3 0 2 1 4 0 Lines supported on steel stanchions. Risk 

of fires starting along the line if cleared 

easement is not regularly maintained. 

Lines are a potential threat during fire 

control and hazard reduction operations. 

5 2 3 3 3 1 4 1080 Line supported on treated wooden poles 4 . 

Risk of fires starting along the line if 

cleared easement is not regularly 

maintained. Lines are a potential threat 

during fire control and hazard reduction 

operations. 

5 3 3 3 3 1 4 1620 Insulated bundled cable supported on 

wooden poles. No cleared easement, line 

runs along the side of Durkins Road. 

Aboriginal heritage sites 5 2 3 0 3 3 6 0 Sites are not likely to be directly affected 

by fire but may be damaged by fire 

management activities. 

Maintain the cleared easement along the power lines. 

Maintain the cleared easement along the power lines. 

Maintain a 1 m wide cleared area at the base of each 

pole. 

Maintain a 1 m wide cleared area at the base of each 

pole. 

Ensure that fire management activities do not damage 

known sites of Aboriginal heritage. 

Key: A: vegetation type; B: slope; C: direction; D: combustibility; E: defendable space; F: accessibility; G: special threat to life/property; 

(please see Appendix for a full explanation). 

4 

Copper-chrome-arsenic treated poles are likely to smoulder and fall if not extinguished.

30 

Other comments on the rankings are: 

• The fire risks to the scenic values are not included in the table because the factors used 

to rank built assets are inappropriate for natural assets. Another set of risk factors 

would reflect the high risks that they face: a series of widespread intense fires could 

affect scenic values, at least until natural recovery diminishes the visual effect. 

• Aboriginal heritage sites are generally not at risk from bushfires, but could be badly 

damaged by mechanical equipment (bulldozers and graders, etc). 

• There are no recreational structures in the Greenbelt apart from the fire trails and 

walking tracks and the lizard sculpture; these would not be damaged by fire. 

However, some of the values of the Greenbelt that attract visitors, such as the flora and 

fauna and visual appearances would take some time to recover after a major fire. 

There could also be risks to Greenbelt users from weakened trees and branches 

following more intense fires. 

• Wooden signs, including a “peace pole”, are now being erected at some places in the 

Greenbelt; care should be taken to erect these in places where the vegetation has been 

cleared (eg, about 1 metre wide clearance for simple post structures). Timber treated 

with copper-chrome-arsenic solutions should be avoided as these smoulder and can 

leave toxic ash. 

• The risk to electricity lines depends largely on access: where the maintenance tracks 

are badly eroded, it may be too dangerous for large fire trucks to negotiate them 

during a bushfire, these access trails need to be maintained accordingly. 

• Williams reservoir is ranked as having “minimal” risk due its main construction 

material (unlined concrete) and because it is not close to dwellings, however it is noted 

that the cover is a woven material (fabric/plastic).

31 

5 Fire management 

5.1 Responsibilities 

The Tasmanian Fire Service is the agency responsible for suppressing wildfires within the 

Greenbelt. Management of the Greenbelt is the responsibility of the DCC. Council has a 

responsibility under the Tasmania Fire Service Act (1993) to prevent the spread of wildfires 

occurring in the Greenbelt to adjoining property. Council has also supported the formation of 

the Friends of Kelcey Tier. 

The maintenance of assets associated with power and communications within the Greenbelt is 

the responsibility of Transend, Aurora and Telstra. 

5.2 Existing fire management arrangements 

5.2.1 Detection 

The Greenbelt is highly visible from surrounding rural and urban areas, so dangerous fires in 

the area are generally likely to be reported promptly by the public. 

5.2.2 Suppression 

Fire suppression is the responsibility of the TFS, which has a response time of less than 15 

minutes from Devonport and about 20 minutes from Melrose. 

5.2.3 Fuel management 

Fuel management in the Greenbelt and nearby has mostly been by burning, but has not been 

carried out for about 10 years. (Until about 1990 this was carried out by staff of the Melrose 

Volunteer Fire Station.) Apart from the area that was burnt in November 2004, fuel loads 

have now increased to the point where it is advisable to implement a programme of strategic 

hazard reduction. DCC is responsible for hazard reduction within the Greenbelt and currently 

has the resources to maintain defendable spaces by mechanical means (eg, slashing), but not 

for burning. To carry out a program of management burns itself, Council would need to 

acquire at least two slip on water tanks with pumps, hoses and other fire fighting equipment, 

as well as suitably trained personnel. Alternatively arrangements could be made with the TFS 

to assist DCC with the burning programme. 

5.2.4 Fire breaks and defendable spaces 

Fire breaks, and in some cases, defendable spaces are maintained by DCC (by slashing or 

mowing). Existing slashed areas are shown on Figure 3 as “slashed fire break”. 

In one case, a defendable space to protect assets within or adjoining the Greenbelt is 

recommended, and is shown in Figure 7. Otherwise, the maintenance of defendable spaces is 

the responsibility of individual landowners, especially for assets adjacent to the Greenbelt. 

A fire assembly and truck turning area has been identified at the intersection of fire trails KT2 

and KT3 (see Figure 3) and the former quarry sites near the entrance to the Allison Track off 

Durkins Road could also be used for this purpose. 

5.2.5 Access for fire management 

Access within the Greenbelt is mostly adequate for fire suppression using light and heavy 

vehicles and will be improved if two additional trails are constructed, as shown in Figure 3. 

Details of the fire trail network are given in Table 9, including their condition in Autumn 

2004. (Nb, the trail accessibility code in this table describes the suitability of the fire trail if 

properly maintained, not necessarily its condition at the time of inspection.) Periodic 

inspections and maintenance as necessary should take place well before the fire danger period

32 

(ie, by early September is recommended) as well as mid way through the season and 

following strong winds, such as the “mini-tornado” of 7 July 2004. 

5.2.6 Post fire recovery 

To ensure public safety in areas affected by wildfire, minimise the risk of damage to assets 

and to ensure areas affected by wildfire recover as quickly as possible, DCC should : 

• close all affected fire trails and walking tracks to the public immediately following a 

wildfire until they are inspected for safety hazards and declared safe. This should 

include any damaged trees or branches considered likely to fall on the track or trail. . 

(Note that after a severe fire, trees will shed limbs etc for a period of two years or 

more.) 

• rehabilitate control lines built as part of the fire suppression activities, paying 

particular attention to controlling subsequent surface water flows. 

• approximately two months after the fire, inspected the burnt area to plan measures to 

control regenerating or invading weeds. 

• inspect all signs, infrastructure and facilities and arrange repairs as required. 

5.3 Stakeholder and community concerns 

Twenty nine members of the public attended a ‘walk and talk’ meeting held on Saturday 

morning, 31 January 2004, four written submissions were also received. 

Issues that were raised included: 

• the fire management plan should generally include areas extending up to 100 m 

beyond the Greenbelt boundary as this is the area that is generally considered to be in 

most danger from ember as a result of wildfire; 

• the 1992 management plan recommended that the larger core areas of the Greenbelt 

not be burnt, but that strategic burning should be carried out along the perimeter of the 

Greenbelt and around adjacent houses once every five years (this differs from a 

perception that the 1992 Plan recommended no hazard reduction burning); 

• the general absence of fire management practices within the Greenbelt since the 1992 

management plan was written; 

• encouragement of community members to participate in fire suppression training, 

including joining volunteer brigades; 

• a need for a collaborative approach to fire management, whereby adjoining residents 

• should manage a building protection zone (20 m wide) on their own properties, 

similarly, residents should consider installing water tanks (minimum of 10,000 litres) 

that are accessible to the TFS on their properties;

33 

Table 9: Condition and maintenance of fire trails 5 

FIRE TRAIL CODE CLASSIFICATION LOCATION AND CONDITION AT MARCH 2004 ACTION REQUIRED 

Ref. No. 

KT1 1w/alt/H High Trail runs from the car park on Durkins Road to Tugrah Road. Some 

sections of the trail are narrow which could restrict access by heavy 

Remove rock from the side of the trail to allow access by 

heavy tankers. 

tankers. Steep section of the trail near the “lizard” has a rock on the 

side of a sharp bend which would prevent access by heavy tankers. 

KT2 1w/alt/H High Trail Runs from the rear of the Mersey Vale Lawn Cemetery along a 

Transend and then an Aurora power line easement to Tugrah Road. 

Trail runs through private property as well as the reserve. Trail is in 

Repair rough eroded sections of the trail. 

Liaise with Transend, Aurora and private landowners to 

ensure on-going maintenance of the trail. 

poor condition but trafficable, except for the link from the cemetery to Re-open the access to the trail from the rear of the 

the Transend easement which has been blocked to prevent unauthorised cemetery and provide a suitable gate to prevent 

access. There has also been an attempt to block the trail at the junction unauthorised access. Alternatively, provide access to the 

of the Transend and Aurora easements with a pile of dirt, however this power line easement from Stony Rise Road through the 

can be bypassed. 

private property to the north of the cemetery. 

KT3 1w/alt/H High Runs from Durkins Road near the junction with Wrenswood Drive to 

Williams Reservoir Road and Stony Rise Road. Trail is blocked near 

the entrance from Durkins Road. Trail condition is variable with some 

sections at the northern end of the trail in excellent condition and some 

at the southern end rough, overgrown and blocked by fallen branches. 

KT4 1w/alt/H High Trail runs from Durkins Road to the Aurora power line easement. Trail 

is in poor condition, with a rough surface and overgrown sections, but 

is trafficable. 

Re-open the access from Durkins Road and provide a 

suitable gate to control unauthorised access. 

Repair or replace the piped creek crossing near Durkins 

Road to ensure it can support heavy tankers. 


Clear encroaching vegetation and fallen branches off the 

trail, as required to ensure it is trafficable by heavy tankers. 


Clear encroaching vegetation off the trail, as required, to 

ensure it is trafficable by heavy tankers. 

KT5 1w/alt/H High Trail links KT1 to KT3. Trail is trafficable but is becoming eroded. Repair eroded sections of the trail and install suitable 

drainage to prevent water running down the trail. 

KT6 1w/alt/H High Trail runs along the western boundary of the reserve. Trail surface is 

in good condition but is becoming overgrown. Residential 

development to the west of the Greenbelt could affect access to this 

trail. Part of the trail is on private property. 

Provide link from the northern end of this trail to KT2 

along the western boundary of the Greenbelt. 

Clear encroaching vegetation off the trail, as required to 


Negotiate with landowners to ensure that access from the 

southern end of the trail to Tugrah Road is maintained. 

Install a suitable gate to control unauthorised access to the 

trail. 

5 *The trail accessibility code describes the suitability of the fire trail if properly maintained, not necessarily its condition at the time of inspection.

34 

FIRE TRAIL CODE CLASSIFICATION LOCATION AND CONDITION AT MARCH 2004 ACTION REQUIRED 

Ref. No. 

KT7 1w/alt/H High Trail runs from KT6 to the end of Wrenswood Drive. Approximately 

half the trail is on private property. Together with KT6 this trail 

provides a link from Wrenswood Drive to Tugrah Drive. Trail is 

Improve surface on rough sections of the trail. 



trafficable, but rough and overgrown. Trail can be accessed from Negotiate with landowners to ensure that the portion of the 

Durkins Road through private property and a new gate. 

trail on private property is maintained, and there is 

emergency access to Wrenswood Drive. 

KT8 1w/alt/H High Trail runs along the Transend easement south of Durkins Road. Trail Periodic inspection and maintenance as required . 

is in reasonable condition. Steep creek crossing may be difficult for 

heavy tankers, but this can be bypassed by using side trails that connect 

to Racecourse Road. 

KT9 1w/alt/L Medium Runs in a loop from Durkins Road to KT8 along the rear of properties 

along Wrenswood Drive. Trail is overgrown and blocked by fallen 

branches. Steep section is badly eroded. 

Clear encroaching vegetation and fallen timber off the trail. 

Repair eroded section and provide suitable drainage. 

Provide a suitable gate at the Durkins Road entrance to the 

trail to control unauthorised access. 

KT10 1w/alt/H Medium Trail runs from KT3 to KT4 parallel to Durkins Road. Trail is 

trafficable but becoming overgrown. A short spur provides access to 

Durkins Road. 



Access from Durkins Road could be closed if the access at 

the end of KT3 is re-opened. 

KT11 1w/alt/H Medium Trail runs from KT3 to KT4. Trail is in good condition. Periodic inspection and maintenance as required. 

KT12 1w/alt/H Medium Trail runs from KT5 to KT2. Trail is in good condition. Periodic inspection and maintenance as required. 

KT13 1w/alt/H Medium Trail runs from KT7 along the southern boundary of Council property 

and connects along other trails to Tugrah Road. Trail provides an 

alternative access to KT7 but is entirely on private property. Trail is in 

reasonable condition but becoming overgrown. 

KT14 1w/alt/L Low Runs along the Transend easement north of Durkins Road. Trail is 

accessible from the rear of the cemetery and is in poor condition. 

KT15 1w/alt/H Low Runs along the eastern side of the Williams Reservoir fence. Trail is in 

good condition except for the section at the south-east corner of the 

reservoir which is rough and eroded. 



Negotiate with landowners to ensure that the trail is 

maintained. 

Clear trail as required for fire management or fire 

suppression activities. 

Periodic inspection and maintenance as required . 

Trail accessibility code: 

• trail width: 1w - single lane, 2w - double lane 

• trail access: alt - alternative access, dead - dead end 

• fire service tanker type: L - light tanker only, H - light and heavy 4WD tankers. 

Trail classification and maintenance priority: 

high priority: major through routes and fire control lines 

medium priority: important access and escape routes and minor fire control lines 

low priority: minor access routes and boundaries of fire management units.

35 

• the need for ongoing community engagement through: 

o provision of the draft plan on Council’s web page, 

o notification through mail outs, and 

o provision of a map illustrating the boundaries of the Greenbelt. 

• there was general agreement among the participants that understorey fuel loads within 

the Greenbelt are high (generally at least 20 tonnes per hectare throughout the 

Greenbelt), and that these high fuel levels were generally the greatest concern for the 

adjacent residents; 

• many residents expressed the critical need to manage the Greenbelt so as to reduce fire 

hazards but also to retain the natural and recreational values of the Greenbelt; 

• residents considered it desirable to have significant forest areas on private property 

near the Greenbelt (an area owned by Council) included in the fire management plan; 

• concern for the future of the road reserves off Tugrah Road within the Greenbelt, and 

whether the plan will recommend that these be cleared and maintained as access roads. 

• the last major fire through the area was in February 1998 and approached from the 

NE; although considerable winds also come from westerly directions, since 1979 there 

have only been sporadic wildfires and prescribed burns, in the Greenbelt. 

• some areas of the Greenbelt (lower eastern slopes) may not have been burnt for over 

100 years; 

• mains water supply in Wrenswood Drive is a limiting factor in fire suppression, both 

the limited spatial availability (few fire plugs and/or hydrants along the road) and 

limited mains pressure, with multiple users 6 ; 

• the Wrenswood Drive water users group is beginning to address supply issues, and 

should be included in the fire management planning process; 

• water supply points must be addressed by the plan, including enlargement of existing 

dams (particularly the frog pond in the paddock on top of the hill near the car park), 

provision of new dams and/or tanks within Greenbelt, tank provision by residents and 

the potential use of the nearby Williams Reservoir; 

• the need for fire trails within the Greenbelt to allow access for fire management 

activities, including the provision of GPS (global positioning system) coordinates to 

the TFS to help their decision making; 

• where walking trails are used as fire control lines, an unburnt buffer of 2 to 3 m in 

width should be left for amenity; 

• Wrenswood Drive and Tugrah Road do not have an alternative emergency exit as 

vehicle access to these sites goes through the Greenbelt, any fire may cut off these 

access roads, the current project should recommend the land use planning system and 

the local fire planning area committee address this need through statutory processes 7 ; 

6 

7 

It is noted that DCC is not responsible for water supplies here as it was developed by a private company. 

It is understood hat new development proposals will enable alternative emergency egress to be provided.

36 

• a mosaic pattern of burnt and unburnt patches is required to provide refugia for flora 

and fauna to re-colonise burnt areas; 

• the safety of horses is an essential component of any evacuation plan, since there are 

horses kept in some of the paddocks toward the top of the Greenbelt and in the higher 

western slopes of the Greater Tier; 

• physical infrastructure within the Greenbelt includes telecommunications facilities 

(fibre-optic cable, transmitters) Aurora and Transend transmission lines and the 

Williams Reservoir; 

• the Greenbelt contains Aboriginal artefacts and associated heritage that should be 

addressed in the fire management planning process (the Greenbelt was part of a transit 

corridor inland from the coastal areas); 

• local observations suggest that over 67 species of birds occur in the Greenbelt, including the 

endangered Swift Parrot. 

6 Plan implementation 

To ensure wider understanding and awareness of the fire management arrangements outlined 

within this plan, Council is to ensure that TFS units likely to attend wildfires within the area, 

are familiar with the plan and its contents and that both are registered on the TFS 

communication system. TFS should also have the GPS coordinates of trails and other 

prominent features. 

6.1 Community education, awareness and involvement 

To ensure the successful implementation of this fire management plan, it will be necessary to 

inform key sectors of the community about fire management issues in the Greenbelt. This 

should include nearby residents and those with special interests in the Greenbelt (eg, 

orienteering clubs, school groups) or those whose activities can positively or negatively, 

affect assets in the Greenbelt (eg, Friends of Kelcey Tier Network – a member of the 

Landcare Association). 

6.2 Management burning programme 

Management burns have been scheduled within five 3-year periods as shown in Table 11. To 

allow for flexibility in budgeting and planning, the burns can take place at any suitable time 

during the specified 3-year period. If a wildfire burns more than half of a unit, the whole of 

the unit should be considered to have been burnt and the schedule adjusted accordingly. In 

order to create a mosaic of native bushland with different fire histories, adjoining units should 

generally not be burnt in the same 3-year period. 

The fire management units scheduled for burning should be inspected some months prior to 

the proposed burn to check that the scheduling and burning prescriptions are still appropriate, 

and to determine if there are weeds present that require treatment prior to burning. Where 

separate treatment of cut weeds is required, it should be carried out at least three months in 

advance of the burn to allow treated weeds to desiccate. 

The regimes (intervals between successive burns) in Table 10 should generally be followed 

during the period of this plan. These regimes may have to be modified to protect built assets.

37 

6.3 Fire management units 

In order to implement the prescribed burning component of this fire management plan, the 

Greenbelt has been divided into a number of fire management units (see Figure 7). These 

units allow for implementation of the most appropriate methods for managing fire hazard 

whilst ensuring the maintenance of biodiversity. In some cases it is recommended that fire be 

avoided for the duration of the plan. Existing roads, tracks and suitable natural features have 

been used for fire management unit boundaries. Use of these existing fire control lines will 

reduce the amount of preparation required prior to burning. 

In general, the following areas should be excluded from prescribed burning: 

• wet gully vegetation 

• Eucalyptus ovata and E. obliqua forest with a dense Melaleuca ericifolia understorey 

• mature Callistemon pallidus scrub. 

The fire management units and burning proposals are given in Table 11. The optimal season 

for low intensity burning is autumn or winter 8 . However, early spring burning is not 

necessarily unsuitable and can be implemented if the opportunity for autumn burns has been 

missed. It will generally not be possible to achieve uniform fire intensity and flame height 

during a burn due to variations in topography and fuel loads, however flame height should be 

kept below 1.5 m wherever possible to minimise canopy scorch. 

A summary of the management burning programme for the fire management units in Table 11 

is as follows: 

1 st period (2004-2006) E, S, V 

2 nd period (2007-9) C, O, T 

3 rd period (2010-12) D, I, N, P, R 

4 th period (2013-2015) J, S 

5 th period (2016-2018 A, G, K, M 

Burn when fuel exceeds 10 tonnes per ha B 

Burnt in 2004 wildfire 

F, G, H 

No burning proposed 

L, Q 

Patch burning (mainly for weed 

U 

management) 

8 

Conditions in spring may be too wet for management burning.

38 

Table 10: Proposed burning regimes 

FUEL TYPE 

FREQUENCY 

(years) 

REMARKS 

Wet sclerophyll forests 

E. obliqua wet forest (may have tea tree 

understorey) 

Eucalyptus viminalis wet forest 

Eucalyptus ovata shrubby forest 

Dry/Damp sclerophyll forest 

Eucalyptus obliqua dry forest 

E. obliqua/E. amygdalina damp sclerophyll 

forest 


Grassy E. ovata woodland 

Grassy E. viminalis woodland 

Other types 

Callistemon pallidus bottle brush 

100 – 400 Avoid fire in this plan period 

15-25 

5 – 20 This type occupies most of the 

Greenbelt 

Avoid fire 

Avoid fire in this plan period; 

occurs near the Greenbelt

39 

Table 11: Fire management units and burning proposals 

Burning schedule 

Unit 

Size 

(ha) 

Dominant plant 

community 

Optimal fire 

frequency 

(years) 

Notes & precautions 

First 

period 

2004 - 06 

Second 

period 

2007 - 09 

Third 

period 

2010 - 12 

Fourth 

period 

2013 - 15 

Fifth 

period 

2016 - 18 

A 9.5 O - Eucalyptus obliqua 

dry forest 

15 - 25 Unit adjoins an electricity transmission line easement, 

consult with Aurora Energy prior to burning. 

Part of the unit is on private property, landowner 

permission required. 

Part burnt in 

Wildfire Nov 

2004 

Burn 

Easement infested with Spanish heath, Erica 

lusitanica, weed control after burning required. 

Unit adjoins a public road – potential smoke hazard. 

Only burn when the wind will carry smoke and 

burning embers away from the Williams Reservoir. 

B 5.4 O - Eucalyptus obliqua 

dry forest 

15 - 25 Maintain as a fuel modified buffer zone to protect 

adjoining subdivision. 



Burn when fuel loads exceed 10 tonnes per hectare. 

C 

11.7 O - Eucalyptus obliqua 

dry forest and VW – 

Eucalyptus viminalis 

wet forest 



Where possible burn when VW forest is too wet to 

burn, alternatively only allow back fire in this 

vegetation. 

Burn 




lusitanica, and pampas grass, Cortaderia seloana, 

weed control after burning required. 

D 13.3 Eac – Coastal 

Eucalyptus amygdalina 

woodland 


consult with Aurora Energy and Transend prior to 

burning. 

Forest in this area appears to be recent regrowth. 

This unit is on private property, landowner 


Burn

40 


Unit 

Size 

(ha) 


community 

Optimal fire 

frequency 

(years) 


First 

period 

2004 - 06 

Second 

period 

2007 - 09 

Third 

period 

2010 - 12 

Fourth 

period 

2013 - 15 

Fifth 

period 

2016 - 18 

E 8.8 Eac – Coastal 

Eucalyptus amygdalina 

woodland 


consult with Transend prior to burning. 

This unit is on private property, landowner 


Unit adjoins a public road – potential smoke hazard. 

Burn 

F 


dry forest and OT - 

Eucalyptus obliqua wet 

forest 

15 - 25 Where possible burn when OT forest is too wet to 


vegetation. 

Unit adjoins an electricity transmission line easement, 


Wildfire 

Nov 2004 

G 8.7 O - Eucalyptus obliqua 

dry forest 

15 - 25 Construct a foot track to provide the western 

boundary for this unit. 

Wildfire 

Nov 2004 

Burn 

H 9.4 O - Eucalyptus obliqua 

dry forest; DSC – E. 

amygdalina/E. obliqua 

damp sclerophyll forest 

and Eov – Grassy 

Eucalyptus ovata 

woodland 

15 - 25 Contains potential swift parrot, Lathamus discolor, 

foraging area. 

Exclude fire from the immediate surrounds of the 

‘lizard’. 



Wildfire 

Nov 2004 

I 6.7 O - Eucalyptus obliqua 

dry forest 





Unit infested with Spanish heath, Erica lusitanica, 

and gorse, Ulex europaeus, weed control after 

burning required. 

Burn 

J 8.2 O - Eucalyptus obliqua 

dry forest 




lusitanica, and pampas grass, Cortaderia seloana, 

weed control after burning required. 

Burn

41 


Unit 

Size 

(ha) 


community 

Optimal fire 

frequency 

(years) 


First 

period 

2004 - 06 

Second 

period 

2007 - 09 

Third 

period 

2010 - 12 

Fourth 

period 

2013 - 15 

Fifth 

period 

2016 - 18 

K 


dry forest 

15 - 25 Part of the unit is on private property, landowner 


Burn 

Do not burn Eucalyptus obliqua wet gully forest 

along Durkins Road. 


consult with Aurora Energy and Transend prior to 

burning. 

Contains an area of Spanish heath, Erica lusitanica. 

L 

3.9 OV – Eucalyptus ovata 

shrubby forest and O - 

Eucalyptus obliqua dry 

forest 

100 - 400 Most of the unit has a dense understorey of 

Melaleuca ericifolia. 

Contains potential swift parrot, Lathamus discolor, 

nesting and foraging area. 

No burning for the duration of this plan. 

M 


dry forest and Ew – 

Grassy Eucalyptus 

viminalis woodland 

15 - 25 Contains old growth Eucalyptus obliqua forest. 

Contains an area of the weed Spanish heath, Erica 

lusitanica. 

Burn 

N 9.9 O - Eucalyptus obliqua 

dry forest 

O 4.9 O - Eucalyptus obliqua 

dry forest 

15 - 25 Contains an area of Spanish heath, Erica lusitanica. Burn 

15 - 25 Contains an area of Spanish heath, Erica lusitanica. Burn 

P 2.4 O - Eucalyptus obliqua 

dry forest 

Q 15.4 OT - Eucalyptus 

obliqua wet forest 


consult with Transend prior to burning. Infested with 

Spanish Heath. 

100 - 400 No burning for the duration of this plan. 



Burn

42 


Unit 

Size 

(ha) 


community 

Optimal fire 

frequency 

(years) 


First 

period 

2004 - 06 

Second 

period 

2007 - 09 

Third 

period 

2010 - 12 

Fourth 

period 

2013 - 15 

Fifth 

period 

2016 - 18 

R 


dry forest and OT - 

Eucalyptus obliqua wet 

forest 

15 - 25 Part of the unit is on private property, landowner 


Where possible burn when OT forest is too wet to 


vegetation. 

Burn 

S 3.3 EW – Grassy 

Eucalyptus viminalis 

woodland and O - 

Eucalyptus obliqua dry 

forest 

5 - 20 Burn to maintain grassy woodland structure. Burn Burn 

T 


dry forest 



Burn 

Contains an area of the weed Spanish heath, Erica 

lusitanica. 

Unit is heavily weed infested, need to coordinate 

weed control with burning. 

U 5.1 OV – eucalyptus ovata 

shrubby forest 

and 

Fj - regenerating 

cleared land 

V 3.9 DSC – E. 

amygdalina/E. obliqua 

damp sclerophyll forest 

15 - 25 Unit is heavily weed infested, burn in patches as 

weed control and bush regeneration work progresses. 



Contains potential swift parrot, Lathamus discolor, 

foraging area. 




lusitanica and gorse Ulex europaeus, weed control 

after burning required. 

Burn 

Notes for burning: 

1. The optimal season for low intensity burning is autumn or winter. However, early spring 

burning is not necessarily unsuitable and can be implemented if the opportunity for autumn 

burns has been missed, or vegetation is too damp to burn at this time of year 

2. It will generally not be possible to achieve uniform fire intensity and flame height 

during a burn due to variations in topography and fuel loads, however flame height 

should be kept below 1.5 m wherever possible to minimise canopy scorch.

43 

7 Recommendations 

Most of the recommendations relate to operational matters, and are listed in Table 12. Other 

recommendations relate to arrangements to implement the plan and include the following. 

1. Kelcey Tier Greenbelt and areas within 100 metres of its boundaries are to be regarded 

as being prone to bushfires: DCC should use its legal powers to ensure that 

developments adjoining the Greenbelt include defendable spaces on their own land. 

2. DCC should use its legal powers to ensure that buildings in fire prone areas are 

constructed according to appropriate levels in AS 3959 and TFS guidelines, as 

provided for in the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act. DCC should also ensure 

that buildings are sited so that defendable spaces (of about 20 metres) can be 

maintained around dwellings and that these spaces are on the owners’ properties. 

Further, all new dwellings in the fire prone area should be accessible to Tasmania Fire 

Service tankers. 

3. DCC should issue hazard abatement notices, as appropriate, to property owners, 

especially those within 100 metres of the Greenbelt (as provided for in the Local 

Government Act). 

4. DCC should investigate, along with the TFS, the best process (including the 

availability of crews and equipment) to implement the management burning 

programme. 

5. DCC will make suitable arrangements for fire trails to be constructed and maintained 

in conditions suitable for fire management, by competent persons. 

6. DCC will take steps to control unauthorised access to the Greenbelt (eg, trail bike 

riding and “wood hooking”). 

7. DCC should set up a mechanism to ensure that reviews and revisions of this fire 

management plan are carried out in a timely fashion. 

8. DCC to review the fire management arrangements for the Greenbelt, including this 

plan, at the end of each annual fire danger period, with a view to making 

improvements for the next fire danger period. 

9. DCC should review and revise this fire management plan every five years. 

10. DCC will, separately from TFS, record all fires in the Greenbelt (wildfires and 

management burns) giving date and time, weather conditions, approximate area burnt, 

probable cause, vegetation type, location (using GPS), a sketch map, remarks, and if 

practical, photographs of the burnt area. (Recording these details will build up data 

that will be useful in generating more complete records than those held by the TFS, 

[which are necessarily generalised] and also assist in assessing the effects of fire on 

various plant communities. It may also be appropriate to check for Aboriginal artefacts 

as part of this process, since they are easier to see on burnt ground.) 

11. DCC should continue to liaise with, and involve, the Friends of Kelcey Tier Network 

in fire management planning. 

12. DCC, in consultation with the TFS, should liaise with residents near the Greenbelt to 

guide them in protecting their properties: special attention should be paid to ensuring 

there are adequate defendable spaces around dwellings and protection against ember

44 

attack (this is particularly important for the residence near the communications tower) 

and to providing static water supplies that can by used by the TFS 9 . 

13. To ensure wider understanding and awareness of the fire management arrangements 

outlined within this plan, DCC should ensure annually that TFS units likely to attend 

wildfires within the area, are familiar with the plan and its contents and that both are 

registered on the TFS communication system. 

14. DCC will include fire protection in brochures, leaflets, etc about Kelcey Tier 

Greenbelt, referring to this fire management plan where appropriate. 

15. "The brief for this fire management plan was necessarily restricted to lands managed 

by DCC, but as bushfires can easily cross boundaries, DCC should investigate the 

need for this fire management plan, or a similar plan, to cover forested land adjacent to 

the Greenbelt, and if found desirable, to initiate action for such a plan to be prepared." 

9 

At the “walk and talk”, residents in Wrenswood Drive expressed concern for the safety of their lives and 

property should a major bushfire occur in the Greenbelt. As Wrenswood Drive is not in the plan boundaries, this 

plan does not address their concerns. Nevertheless DCC should liaise with these residents to ensure that they 

have a good knowledge of appropriate fire precautions.

45 

Table 12: Summary of proposed management actions 

Fire management objective Recommended action Priority Performance indicators 

1. Minimise the risk of wildfires 

starting in the Greenbelt. 

2. Minimise the risk of fire to users of the 

Greenbelt 

a) On days of acute fire danger, erect fire warning signs 

and consider closing the Greenbelt in consultation with the TFS 

District Officer. 

b) Implement a program to request residents near the 

Greenbelt to report any smoke or suspicious persons, 

particularly on days of acute fire danger. 

c) Remind landholders near the Greenbelt to exercise 

extreme caution when burning off, particularly in dry conditions 

outside the fire danger period when permits are not required. 

d) Request residents near the Greenbelt to report 

suspicious behaviour associated with bushfires to the TFS or to 

DCC’s Bushland Coordinator 

e) Ensure unauthorised fires are not lit in the Greenbelt 

a) Erect appropriate signs on tracks and fire trails to warn 

Greenbelt users of management burns. 

a) E 

b) REC 

c) REC 

d) REC 

e) REC 

No wildfires started by accident in the Greenbelt. 

a) E Post-fire recovery carried out after wildfires. 

No users of the Greenbelt injured by wildfires or 

the effects of wildfires. 

3. Minimise the risk of wildfire 

damaging built and cultural heritage assets in 

and surrounding the Greenbelt. 

a) Implement the fire protection measures listed in Table 

2, including the establishment and maintenance of defendable 

spaces. 

b) Ensure properties surrounding the Greenbelt are 

inspected at the beginning of the bushfire danger period and 

hazard abatement notices issued as required. 

c) Ensure that authorities planning wildfire control 

operations in the Greenbelt are aware of the location of cultural 

heritage assets and ensure they are not damaged by machinery 

movement or other activities. 

a) E 

b) REC 

c) REC 

Fire protection measures in the Greenbelt 

implemented and maintained. 

Fuel modified buffer zones maintained in a fuel 

reduced condition (fuel loads < 8 tph or grass < 

100 mm high) at all times. 

Properties adjoining the Greenbelt inspected 

annually by Council Hazard Abatement Officers. 

No assets lost to fires originating in, or moving 

through, the Greenbelt. 

No cultural heritage assets damaged during fire 

management or control operations in the 

Greenbelt. 

Post-fire recovery carried out after wildfires.

46 


4. Minimise the impact of fire and fire 

management activities on water quality. 

a) Minimise the risk of wildfires starting and spreading. 

b) Maintain a minimum 5 m wide unburnt buffer along 

creeklines during management burning wherever possible. 

d) Do not spray fire fighting foams or retardants onto 

water courses during prescribed burning or wildfire suppression 

operations. 

a) 

b) REC 

d) REC 

Minimal impact on water quality from wildfires, 

management burning and fire management 

activities. 

Unburnt buffers maintained along creeklines. 

Post-fire recovery carried out after wildfires. 

5. Implement planning controls on new 

developments within and adjoining the 

Greenbelt to ensure they incorporate adequate 

bushfire protection measures. 

6. Maintain existing emergency vehicle 

access points and fire trails shown on Figure 3 

in a trafficable condition. 

7. Provide additional emergency 

vehicle access for fire control and fire 


8. Minimise damage to the fire trail 

system by preventing unauthorised vehicle 

access. 

a) Any new buildings in the Greenbelt must be 

constructed in accordance with the relevant construction level in 

Australian Standard 3959 - 1999 Construction of Buildings in 

Bushfire Prone Areas. 

b) DCC should adopt the appropriate planning procedures 

for all new developments within 100 m of the Greenbelt 

boundary. 

a) Carry out fire trail repairs and maintenance listed in 

Table 9. 

b) Ensure all fire trails shown on Figure 3 are inspected 

and maintained in a trafficable condition at all times. 

a) E 

b) REC 

a)E 

b)ROU 

All new developments in, and within 100 m of, 

the Greenbelt incorporate fire protection 

measures to Tasmania Fire Service standards. 

Access routes inspected as required, and 

maintained in a trafficable condition for fire 

service vehicles. 

Provide additional fire trails and links as shown on Figure 3. E Access provided and maintained as the 

subdivision proceeds. 

a) Implement a security lock system (keys that can’t be 

copied without permission) to control access to fire trails in the 

Greenbelt. Issue copies of the key to the Tasmania Fire Service 

and other emergency services. 

b) Install new gates to control unauthorised access as 

shown in Figure 3. 

c) Inspect gates regularly to ensure that locks are in place 

and functioning. 

a) REC 

b) REC 

c) ROU 

No unauthorised use of fire trails in the 

Greenbelt. 

Security lock system implemented, keys 

distributed to the Tasmania Fire Service and 

other emergency services. 

Minimal damage to fire trails in the Greenbelt.

47 


9. Signpost all fire trails at their access 

points, and at trail intersections. 

a) Erect appropriate signage at all vehicle access points, 

and at fire trail intersections, to guide emergency service 

vehicles. Signs should include commonly used names and/or 

codes. Dead end trails should be marked as such on the signs. 

b) Consult with the Tasmania Fire Service on the most 

appropriate form and location for the signs. 

a) REC 

b) REC 

Signs erected at all fire trail entry points and 

intersections. 

10. Close and rehabilitate all vehicle 

trails not designated as fire trails in Figure 3, 

and not required for other management 

purposes. 

Rehabilitate any vehicle trails not designated as fire trails in 

Figure 3, and not required for other purposes. 

REC 

Trails not required for management purposes 

stabilised and revegetated. 

11. Construct any future foot tracks so as to 

maximise their use for fire management. 

Locate any new foot tracks along the boundaries of fire 

management units wherever possible. 

REC 

New foot tracks routed along fire management 

unit boundaries, and constructed and maintained. 

12. Ensure an adequate and accessible water 

supply for fire fighting. 

a) Ensure fire hydrants in streets near the Greenbelt are 

clearly marked and maintained to Australian Standard AS 

2419.1 - 1996. 

b) Encourage residents in areas with poor mains pressure 

to install stored water supplies for fire fighting that are 

accessible by fire brigade vehicles. 

c) Ensure that fire plugs along Wrenswood Drive are 

erected and maintained in accordance with AS 2419.1 - 1996. 

a) E 

b) E 

c) E 

Fire plugs in and surrounding the Greenbelt are 

clearly marked and meet current standards of 

flow rate and pressure. 

Stored water supplies installed where the mains 

supply does not meet the requirements of AS 

2419 – 1996, and marked. 

Fire plugs erected and maintained in accordance 

with Standard 

13. Apply the appropriate fire regime to 

populations of flora and fauna of conservation 

value in the Greenbelt that require periodic 

fire for their long-term survival. 

a) Consult with the DIPWE Nature Conservation Branch 

when planning prescribed burns in blocks containing 

populations of threatened flora and fauna. 

b) Avoid burning the whole of any population of a 

threatened or rare plant species in a single fire. 

c) Monitor the recovery of any populations of threatened 

or rare flora and fauna burnt by wildfires or prescribed burns. 

a) E 

b) E 

c) E 

All burns in units designated for Ecosystem 

Management carried out according to the 

requirements of flora and fauna of conservation 

value. 

No decline in the populations of threatened or 

rare flora and fauna due to fire.

48 


14. Implementation of a mosaic burning 

program in selected forest plant communities 

to maintain and enhance existing habitat 

diversity, and reduce overall fuel loads in 

bushland areas. 

a) Carry out prescribed burning according to the schedule 

in Table 5. 

b) Regularly revise burning prescriptions to ensure they 

incorporate the most recent information on the fire ecology of 

flora, fauna and plant communities of conservation value in the 

Greenbelt. 

c) Exclude fire from areas of wet forest in the Greenbelt 

wherever possible. 

a) E 

b) REC 

c) REC 

Mosaic of burnt fire management units 

maintained. 

No decline in the populations or distribution of 

threatened species. 

No decline in the area or distribution of plant 

communities of conservation value. 

Minimal burning of wet forest. 

15. Control of unwanted plant species through 

coordinating fire management and weed 

control activities. 

a) Treat any weeds in areas to be burnt under this fire 

management plan. 

b) Coordinate fire management and weed management 

activities. 

c) Integrate the prescribed burning program and its 

associated weed control activities into any weed management 

program for the Greenbelt. 

d) Ensure that all vehicles involved in fire management 

activities in the Greenbelt are washed to remove any mud, soil 

or plant material prior to entering the Greenbelt, particularly 

vehicle underbodies. in order to control the spread of weeds and 

plant diseases. 

a) REC 

b) REC 

c) REC 

d) REC 

Pre and post fire weed control carried out in any 

weed infested fire management units burnt under 

this plan. Minimal coppicing or regrowth of 

weeds from treated rootstock. 

All declared noxious weeds removed, reduction 

in extent of other weeds. 

Any weed management plan integrated with this 

fire management plan. 

16. Coordination of fire management 

activities in the Greenbelt amongst the 

various stakeholders. 

a) Implement procedures for coordinating fire 


b) Preparation of pre-fire season map updates and 

distribution to the Tasmania Fire Service. 

c) Approach all landowners who have works or activities 

recommended on their land in this fire management plan and 

obtain their cooperation in implementing the relevant activities 

on their land. 

a) E 

b) REC 

Meetings held and minuted 

Landowner cooperation for works on adjoining 

properties obtained. 

c) E

49 


17. Ensure all personnel carrying out fire 

management activities in the Greenbelt are 

suitably trained and equipped. 

18. Develop, assist development of, or utilise 

existing education programs and materials 

aimed at: 

• reducing arson 

• informing residents adjacent to the 

Greenbelt of fire safety issues, and 

measures to improve protection of 

themselves and their property 

• informing residents of adjoining 

properties about the potential impact of 

their fuel management activities on 

environmental and other values 

• interpreting fire management activities 

for the public, particularly the role of fire 

in maintaining biodiversity. 

19. Maintain up-to-date information on 

location of dwellings, fire trails and their 

condition, water supply points, defendable 

spaces, and areas burnt in prescribed fires and 

wildfires. 

a) Ensure all personnel engaged in prescribed burning 

activities in the Greenbelt have the appropriate level of training 

and equipment as outlined in Section 6.4. 

b) Ensure all personnel engaged in fire management 

activities in the Greenbelt, including fire trail maintenance, are 

provided with appropriate instruction in the recognition and 

protection of items of natural and cultural heritage value. 

a) Prepare an information sheet as outlined in Section 6.1 

of this plan, and distribute to adjoining residents, Greenbelt 

users and other interest groups. 

a) E 

b) REC 

All personnel are able to show the required level 

of training and minimum levels of equipment. 

All personnel instructed in the recognition and 

protection of items of natural and cultural 

heritage value. 

a) REC Information sheets distributed and problem 

solving sessions offered as required when 

complaints or unfavourable comments are 

received. 

Educational material distributed to adjoining 

residents. 

Reduction in the incidence of illegal fires on and 

around the Greenbelt. 

Record fire management activities and wildfires. REC Records maintained of all fire management 

activities.

50 


20. Monitor the impact of fire management 

activities in the Greenbelt. Adjust practices to 

achieve relevant objectives, and periodically 

review the fire management plan. 

a) Monitor the impacts of fires carried out as outlined in 

Section 5.2.6 “Post fire recovery” 

b) Review this fire management plan at regular intervals. 

c) Regularly revise burning prescriptions to ensure they 

incorporate the most recent information on the fire ecology of 

flora, fauna and plant communities of conservation value in the 

Greenbelt. 

a) REC 

b) ROU 

c) REC 

Monitoring and review carried out as scheduled 

in the plan. 

New information on the fire management 

requirements of threatened flora and fauna 

incorporated into the fire management plan. 

URGENT (U) Actions required to reduce a very high risk to life or property. Urgent actions need to be undertaken as soon as possible. 

ESSENTIAL (E) Actions required to improve safety, or inadequate fire protection measures in high risk areas. Actions that are essential for control & 

suppression of wildfires, and/or conservation of threatened species. 

RECOMMENDED (REC) Actions required to improve inadequate fire protection measures in moderate risk areas. Actions required to ensure on-going effective 

fire management, or conservation of biodiversity. 

ROUTINE (ROU) Maintenance of fire control resources and protection measures.

51 

8 References 

CARSAG (2002) Reservation Targets for Tasmanian Native Non-forest Vegetation. 

Comprehensive, Adequate and Representative Reserve System Scientific Advisory Group. 

Devonport City Council eMap Kelcey Tier Planning Zones, available from 

http://protege.dcc.tas.gov.au/P13_02_00 

Driessen MM, Mammals of the Kelcey Tier Greenbelt, Devonport (Appendix C of Kelcey 

Tier Greenbelt Landscape Management Plan) 

Environment Australia, 1997 National Weeds Strategy 

Forestry Commission and Tasmanian Fire Service, 1984 Guidelines for fuel reduction 

burning under dry forests 

Gardam F, 1996 Sawdust, Sails and Sweat 

Gilfedder L, Vegetation of the Kelcey Tier Greenbelt, Devonport (Appendix B of Kelcey Tier 

Greenbelt Landscape Management Plan) 

Jerry DeGryse Pty Ltd 1992 Kelcey Tier Greenbelt Landscape Management Plan 

Sharples C, 1992 Geology of the Kelcey Tier Greenbelt, Devonport (Appendix A of Kelcey 

Tier Greenbelt Landscape Management Plan) 

Standards Australia, 1993 Building in bushfire-prone areas – information and advice 

Standards Australia, 1994 Fire Hydrant Installations Part 1: System Design, Installation and 

Commissioning AS 2419 – 1994 

Standards Australia, 1999 Construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas AS 3959-1999 

State Fire Commission, 2002 Barrington Fire Management Area: Fire Protection Plan 

Tasmania Fire Service, 1995 Planning Conditions and Guidelines for Subdivisions in Bushfire 

Prone Areas. 

Tasmanian Vegetation Management Strategy, 2002 TASVEG 2002: Draft Vegetation 

Mapping Unit Descriptions. DPIWE unpublished report.

52 

Appendix: Procedure for risk assessment 

The fire risk to the assets within and adjoining public lands of the Kelcey Tier Greenbelt 

owned by Devonport City Council has been assessed using a procedure developed from the 

principles in Australian Standard 4360 – 1999 Risk Management. Although there is 

insufficient data available to assess the likelihood of a high intensity fire starting in the 

Greenbelt, there is sufficient fine fuel in the Greenbelt to sustain a high intensity fire on days 

of high, very high or extreme fire danger. It is therefore assumed that an intense fire will 

occur sooner or later, and so the likelihood of ignition is taken as constant in the analysis. 

The analysis is only for fires burning within the Greenbelt or approaching an adjoining asset 

from the Greenbelt. Where there are several possible fire approaches, the approach with the 

highest threat is used. 

The purpose of this assessment is to rank the risk to various assets so that risk reduction 

works can be prioritised. 

The analysis is based on three main factors: 

• fire threat in terms of fuel loads and fire approach 

• vulnerability to damage of the asset 

• potential consequences of a fire damaging or destroying the asset. 

The analysis was carried out by assigning a relative score to each factor, and multiplying the 

scores to determine a relative level of risk. Scores are weighted where it is considered that the 

factor would have a major influence on fire risk. Multiplying the scores means that assets not 

at risk from fire have a score of zero. 

The scores allow the level of risk to be placed in the broad risk categories of minimal, low, 

medium and high. These risk categories have the following general meanings and nominal 

values: 

0 not at risk of fire damage 

1 to 250 low levels of burning ember attack, possible 

spotfires and/or asset is of low value 

251 to 2000 asset likely to be impacted on by a high 

intensity fire front but has features that will 

reduce the severity of the fire attack, or 

provide some protection from fires 

2001 to 11664 asset likely to be impacted on by a high fire 

front with few, if any, features that would 

reduce the severity of fire attack 

This risk analysis allows fire protection measures to be implemented that are appropriate to 

the level of risks. 

Fuel Loads 

Vegetation type is used as a surrogate for fuel loads as actual fuel loads vary with time after 

the last fire, etc and reach different maximum levels in different vegetation types.

53 

(A) VEGETATION TYPE 

SCORE 

Wet and mixed forests 6 

Dry forest & woodland, shrub or heath understorey 5 

Heathland and shrubland 4 

Dry forest, grass understorey 3 

Grassland and grassy woodland 2 

Rainforest 1 

Scores are halved where the vegetation threatening the asset is less than 1 ha in area, or the 

potential fire run is less than 20 m. 

Fire Approach 

Fire approach has two aspects, slope and prevailing wind direction. Fires burning down slope 

generally have a lower intensity than fires burning upslope in the same fuel type. Extreme 

fire weather generally occurs with hot, dry, northerly to northwesterly winds. These winds 

are usually generated ahead of cold fronts, which cause the winds to back round to the west 

and south as the front passes. This wind change can turn the previous flank of the fire into the 

headfire which can continue to burn with high intensity until the cooler temperatures and 

higher humidity brought by the change increase fuel moisture levels. The two fire approach 

factors are scored as follows: 

(B) FIRE APPROACH - SLOPE 

SCORE 

Up slopes greater than 5 degrees 3 

Across slopes – 5 degrees to + 5 degrees 2 

Down slopes greater than 5 degrees 1 

(C) FIRE APPROACH - DIRECTION SCORE 

North through west to south-east 3 

North-east and east 1 

Vulnerability to Damage 

Vulnerability to damage is assessed using three factors; the combustibility of the asset, fire 

protection measures in place in the form of a defendable space, and whether the asset is 

accessible by fire brigade vehicles. A defendable space is a managed area around an asset 

where there is insufficient fuel to carry a fire even under extreme conditions. For any given 

fuel type, the width of the defendable space determines the likely severity of bushfire attack. 

Where there is no defendable space an asset can be subjected to flame contact, intense radiant 

heat, and wind-blown burning embers. With an inadequate defendable space in terms of the 

recommended widths in the TFS document Planning Conditions and Guidelines for 

Subdivisions in Bushfire Prone Areas, an asset could be subjected to intense radiant heat and

54 

wind-blown burning embers. With an adequate defendable space the asset should only be 

subject to attack by wind-blown burning embers. 

(D) COMBUSTIBILITY 

Asset constructed of non combustible materials capable of maintaining 

structural integrity during a bushfire 

Asset contains structural elements that are combustible, or may fail at 

the temperatures likely to be generated by a bushfire (all dwellings 

have been included in this category) 

Asset is constructed primarily of combustible material 3 

SCORE 

0 

2 

(E) DEFENDABLE SPACE 

SCORE 

None (flame contact, intense radiant heat, burning embers) 3 

Present but inadequate (intense radiant heat, burning embers) 2 

Adequate (wind-blown burning embers) 1 

Accessibility 

This factor assesses the ability of fire brigades to actively defend an asset during a bushfire. 

The assessment is in terms of the ability of fire brigade vehicles to gain access to the asset, 

and assumes that there will be sufficient water available to at least extinguish spotfires on or 

around the asset. It should be noted that in a major fire where fire fighting resources are 

heavily committed, there may not be enough crews available to defend every dwelling in the 

path of a fire. Also in high intensity fires it may not be safe for fire fighters to actively defend 

an asset. 

This factor also provides an indication of the likely danger and difficulty in evacuating 

residents during a major bushfire. It should be noted that in all areas near bushland 

evacuation becomes progressively more dangerous as the fire front approaches. 

(F) ACCESSIBILITY 

SCORE 

No fire brigade vehicle access 4 

Dead end, light tanker only 3 

Dead end, light and heavy tanker 2 

Through road or fire trail 1

55 

Potential Consequences 

The following potential consequences of fire were used in the analysis. 

(G) CONSEQUENCES TO LIFE OR PROPERTY 

CATASTROPHIC; potential loss of life; loss of structures 

equipment and infrastructure; high financial loss. 

MAJOR; potential serious injury, some loss or major damage to 

structures, equipment and infrastructure; medium financial loss. 

MODERATE; localised damage; possible minor injury, total 

loss of structures, equipment and infrastructure unlikely; low 

financial loss if any. 

MINOR; no injury, superficial damage to structures, equipment 

and infrastructure, if any; very low financial loss if any. 

SCORE 

INSIGNIFICANT; no injury or damage likely. 0 

6 

4 

2 

1 

The injury factor in the consequences assessment assumes that residents will be sheltering in 

their dwellings during a bushfire. Some assets, such as Aboriginal heritage sites, may not be 

directly damaged by fire but may be damaged by fire management and fire suppression 

activities, such as construction of fire control lines. 

Active protection of an asset during a fire can greatly reduce the fire risk. From a planning 

point of view it is not possible to guarantee that this will be available, although the potential 

for active protection by the TFS is incorporated into the analysis under Factor F 

“accessibility”.

Kelcey Tier Fire Management Plan 266.74 Kb - Devonport City Council

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