Bushfire Management Strategy for Council Owned and Managed Land 2015-2025
The Bushfire Management Strategy describes the approach to managing bushfire risk for land managed by the City of Launceston.
The timing of this strategy follows a number of significant wildfire events in Tasmania and Victoria in recent years that have led to a review and publication of updated policies and procedures for wildfire prevention, safety and control. Additionally the most recent climate change modelling predicts a worsening in the fire season for this region. This strategy will assist Council’s preparedness for a likely increased frequency of severe fire events.
This document sets out the City of Launceston’s strategic approach to fire management of the reserves. It describes the context for fire management of the reserves which are largely in an urban setting, relationships to state-wide fire management systems, procedures and initiatives, and other Council plans and programs.
Fire Management Objectives
1. Manage fuel loads across the reserves in order to:
- reduce the intensity of unplanned burns,
- reduce the likelihood of a burn entering a reserve causing catastrophic damage,
- increase the opportunities for control of any unplanned burn within a reserve,
- protect physical and cultural assets in the reserves, and reduce the risk of uncontrollable fire to adjacent properties, and
- maintain or improve the visitor experience and visitor safety of Council Reserves
2. Maintain or improve biodiversity within the reserve through a mosaic of burning areas and intensities.
3. Reduce weed problems within reserves through burning with pre burn and follow up treatment.
4. Ensure fire infrastructure enables access for effective fuel management and wildfire control.
5. Identify and facilitate operational efficiencies and cross tenure infrastructure and vegetation management
6. Record and manage appropriate fire management data about each reserve in an easily accessible format for improved planning, management and incident response.
7. Community and stakeholder engagement in the fire management planning process
8. Improve the community's understanding of fire hazards and actions to remove hazards and reduce the fire risk.