Bushfire Management Plan

Transcription

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2 Table of Contents for Purpose Scope Background Site Description Climate and Bushfire Season Topography Bushfire Risk Bushfire Protection Zones Assets Economic Assets Environmental Assets Cultural Assets Human Settlement Bushfire Management Zones Management of Asset Protection Zones Management of Strategic Fire Management Zones Management of Land Management Zones BCC Bushfire Protection Measures and Preparedness Site Management and Emergency Response Communication of this Emergency Contacts Meeting and Access Points The Emergency Response Procedure Measurement and evaluation Annual Fire Season Review Fire History Database Fuel monitoring Review and Improvement Definitions Page 2 of 14

3 1 Purpose The purpose of this plan is to identify bushfire threat, assets at risk and provide the preventative measures to be taken to protect human life and minimise impacts on property from the threat of a bushfire. This plan also details what to do in the event of a bushfire that occurs on site. Table 1 below outlines relevant conditions from Bulga Coal Complex (BCC) licences and approvals which are applicable to this management plan. Table 1: Relevant Conditions Application to the Approval/Schedule/Conditon Condition Details Compliance Details DA MOD6 / Schedule 4 / Condition 44 DA MOD6 / Schedule 4 / Condition 58 DA SSD-4960 MOD 1/ Schedule 3 / Condition 34 DA SSD-4960 MOD 1/ Schedule 3 / Condition 51 The Applicant must prepare a Biodiversity Management for the Bulga Mining Complex to the Satisfaction of the Secretary. This plan must include a detailed description of the measures that would be implemented over the next 3 years, including procedure to be implemented for: Bushfire Management The Applicant must: a) Ensure that the development is suitably equipped to respond to any fires on-site; and b) Assist the RFS and emergence services as much as possible if there is a fire on site during the development. The Applicant must prepare a Biodiversity Management for the Bulga Mining Complex to the Satisfaction of the Secretary. This plan must include a detailed description of the measures that would be implemented over the next 3 years, including procedure to be implemented for: Bushfire Management The Applicant must: a) Ensure that the development is suitably equipped to respond to any fires on-site; and b) Assist the RFS and emergence services as much as possible if there is a fire in the surrounding area. Biodiversity Management Section 5.7 refers to this Bushfire Management Section 5 and 6 of this Bushfire Management Biodiversity Management Section 5.7 refers to this Bushfire Management Section 5 and 6of this Bushfire Management Page 3 of 14

4 2 Scope This plan applies to all land within the BCC boundary located near Broke in the Upper Hunter Valley, New South Wales. The location of the BCC mining lease boundary is provided within the Bushfire Operations, a copy of which is attached in Appendix A. 3 Background This (BMP) for the BCC has been prepared in compliance with Condition 34 and 51 of the Bulga Surface Operations (BSO) development consent (SSD 4960 Modification 1, dated 1 January 2017) and Condition 44 and 58 of the Bulga Underground Operations (BUO) development consent (DA Modification 6, dated June 2016). Bushfire is a significant land management issue in the Upper Hunter Valley. Glencore has a duty as a land owner under Section 63(2) of the Rural Fires Act 1997 (RF Act) to prevent the occurrence of bush fires and minimise the danger of the spread of bushfires on the land that they manage.this plan is a revision of the previous dated October 2016 and comprises of two documents: This which details the bushfire risk to the existing assets and surrounding properties; identifies a fuel management regime to mitigate that potential risk and document emergency response in the event of a bushfire; and A Bushfire Operations which is an A0 size map based document that identifies operational features and strategies in the event of a bushfire on / or adjoining BCC lands. The plan provides a ready reference for firefighting suppression crews to identified assets at risk, fire advantages and pre-planned strategies. 3.1 Site Description The BCC is located approximately 15 kilometres southwest of Singleton, five kilometres north of Broke and six kilometres east of Bulga, in the Upper Hunter Valley of NSW and covers a combined area of approximately 5,805 hectares. It comprises of the following two coal mining operations, inclusive of a common coal handling and preparation plant and rail loading facility: Bulga Surface Operations; and Bulga Underground Operations Climate and Bushfire Season The climate of the Hunter Valley is warm temperate and seasonal climate that varies from hot, wet summers to cool, mild winters. The mean monthly maximum temperatures range between 17.1 o C in July and 30.6 o C in January. The mean monthly minimum temperatures range between 5.4 o C in July to 17.8 o C in February. Rainfall records show maximum average rainfall of 94.3mm in January with a minimum average of 28.2 mm in July. Rainfall records at the BCC show a maximum mean rainfall of 93.9mm in February and a minimum mean of 28.7mm in April. Wind direction recorded at the BCC meteorological station show that the dominant winds are from the east, south to southwest and west to north-west. Page 4 of 14

5 The Singleton Bush Fire Management Committee Bush Fire Risk Management (2011) identifies that the Upper Hunter Valley area experiences major fires on a regular basis due to the historical occurrence of hot north westerly winds combined with fire ignitions caused by dry lightning storms. Fires generally travel in a south-easterly direction under the influence of those winds. Southerly winds also have the potential to intensify wildfires burning during the passage of a cold front during spring and summer Topography The topography of the site is generally level with 0-5 degree slopes over most of the site, however in the south east of the complex, a steep escarpment exists above Monkey Place Creek with slopes of up to 15 degrees. Topography has a significant effect on bushfire behaviour. For every increase in slope gradient, there is a similar increase in fire intensity and rate of fire spread. 3.2 Bushfire Risk The BCC has been identified under the Singleton Bush Fire Risk Management (2011) as an economic asset with the potential to experience major consequences as a result of a bushfire. Therefore, this plan and the A0 Bushfire Operations will be provided to the RFS when any significant updates occur. The local RFS are also invited to site for familiarisation after any significant operational changes occur. A site meeting with RFS was last conducted in May The bushfire hazards which have been identified as posing a significant risk to the site are as follows. a) The BCC site The land within the mining site supports a variety of fuel types including pastoral grassland, eucalyptus woodland remnants and areas disturbed by mining activities. The nature of these fuel groups combined with a network of roads and management trails makes for relatively straight forward fire suppression under milder conditions. The greatest risk within the complex is for the accumulation of high grass fuel loads during a relatively wet summer and autumn. These conditions, followed by a dry spring and summer and weather conditions leading to Very High to Catastrophic Fire Danger Ratings, increase the potential for fires to spread within the BCC site and onto neighbouring lands. b) The Singleton Military Area The land located to the east of the site supports a large contiguous area of eucalyptus forest and woodland. A significant fire burning in this area has potential to spread onto the BCC site under northeast through to south-east winds through a direct run of fire or by spot fires caused by wind-blown embers. Fires burning within the BCC site have the potential to spread into the Singleton Military Area under a westerly wind with the potential for a large bushfire to develop. c) Wollemi National Park The Wollemi National Park forms a large contiguous area of eucalyptus forest and woodland approximately six kilometres to the west of the site with rural properties between the mine and the park. The potential exists for a significant fire in the Wollemi National Park under strong westerly winds to spread through adjoining rural properties into the BCC site or to cause spot fires by wind-blown embers. Page 5 of 14

6 4 Bushfire Protection Zones Glencore is committed to bushfire hazard mitigation and have prepared this BMP in accordance with the NSW Rural Fire Service Model Bushfire Risk Management and the GCAA Land and Property Management Protocol. This section identifies potential assets at the BCC, proposed bushfire management zones and general management of those zones. Section 5, details the specific management proposed at the BCC. 4.1 Assets In relation to bushfire management, assets are defined as anything valued by the community which includes houses, crops, forests, livestock, heritage buildings and places, infrastructure, the environment, commercial and industrial buildings and equipment, which may be at risk from bushfire. Under this plan, where possible, assets will be protected from the effects of fire by the establishment of Asset Protection Zones (APZs) around assets at risk and by the establishment of a series of Strategic Fire Management Zones (SFMZs) to reduce the spread of fire Economic Assets Significant mine assets include: The rail loading, coal handling and preparation plant in the north east of the site; Coal stockpiles located at the CHPP and adjacent to the Deep Pit area; The rail line and refuelling facility in the north east and overland conveyors within the site; Gas Wells located throughout the underground mining area; Pre and Post Flares; Powerlines and on-site Powerstation; and Administration, workshop buildings and equipment laydown areas Environmental Assets Flora The site has a history of cattle grazing, mining activity and other associated land uses which have resulted in large areas of pastoral grassland or general land clearing. Remnants of regrowth woodland with varying levels of disturbance occur in patches. Vegetation surveys have been conducted on the site with 27 distinct vegetation communities (not including olive groves, vineyards, disturbed areas, rehabilitated areas, planted areas and water bodies). Fauna A total of 13 threatened fauna species have been recorded on site. These comprised five birds and eight mammals. Page 6 of 14

7 4.1.3 Cultural Assets There are numerous sites of Aboriginal significance occurring within the areas to which this plan refers. This includes a Conservation Agreement (CA) area in the north-west of the study area which conserves a large artefact scatter Human Settlement The mining lease covers numerous private and leased properties. These are identified in the Bushfire Operations. 4.2 Bushfire Management Zones Bushfire management authorities in NSW have adopted the use of fire management zones to identify the fire management intent for a specific area and the treatment of hazards. The zones applicable to this plan are: Asset Protection Zone (APZ) a mown, slashed or hard stand area around an asset (such as a house, mine facility or infrastructure) designed to reduce the potential for flame, radiant heat or embers to ignite a structure and to create a defendable space where occupants or fire-fighters can protect that asset. Strategic Fire Management Zone (SFMZ) - an area where slashing is conducted to reduce fuel loads with the aim of reducing the speed and intensity of a future bushfire. The SFMZ aims to reduce the risk of fires spreading within the site and assists in stopping fires spreading on or to adjoining lands. Land Management Zone (LMZ) - areas managed to meet relevant land management objectives where APZs or SFAZs are not appropriate (i.e. land identified for mining operations, biodiversity conservation or by leases for residential or agricultural purposes. In this plan, areas not mapped as an APZ or SFMZ will be considered as LMZ. The fire management zones, as identified on the Bushfire Operation, are the basis of implementing fire management on site Management of Asset Protection Zones The following management option for maintaining the APZ on-site should be follow, where practicable: Mowing or slashing of grass: Grass needs to be kept short (approximately 100 mm in height), and, where possible, green; Removal or pruning of trees, shrubs and understorey: The control of vegetation involves both selective fuel reduction (removal, thinning and pruning) and the retention of vegetation. Prune or remove trees so that you do not have a continuous tree canopy leading from the hazard to the asset. Separate tree crowns by 2 to 5 metres. A canopy should not overhang a building. Native trees and shrubs should be retained as clumps in landscape beds and should not exceed a covering of more than 20% of the IPA. Key periods for maintenance of an APZ are in late spring prior to the onset of the bushfire season. Maintenance should be continued all year round. Several leased and private properties occur within the BCC site which includes assets such as houses, crops, livestock and viticulture activities. Lessees are to be responsible for the maintenance within their lease holdings in accordance with their tenanted agreements. Page 7 of 14

8 4.2.2 Management of Strategic Fire Management Zones The SFMZs are primarily in pastoral grassland and adjacent to existing control lines (roads) and should be maintained (up to 10 metres width either side of the road where possible) by slashing. The development of grassland fuel loads is dependent on seasonal weather conditions effecting growth and curing and has to be monitored rather than relying on time since fire. Appropriate triggers for undertaking slashing would be grass heights greater than 400mm during the growth phase. The BCC is responsible for maintaining a 10m slashed boundary with private properties and on access roads to leased properties Management of Land Management Zones Controlled burning or any form of hazard reduction burning is not recommended for the BCC. However, regular communication with the RFS and the surrounding land holders will occur; including the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service; and assistance may be provided where hazard reduction burning is being carried out on surrounding lands. The primary risk to Aboriginal heritage sites is direct disturbance caused by earthmoving machinery or hand tools in fire control line construction. The BCC has a good network of trails and it is unlikely that additional control lines would be needed. The Aboriginal sites database should be checked prior to constructing any new fire control line and any proposed hazard reduction is to comply with the Bushfire Environmental Assessment Code (2006) Biodiversity Offset Areas A number of Biodiversity Offset Areas (BOAs) have been established around the BCC following the approval of SSD The BOC Project Approval has specific targets for the re-establishment of Endangered Ecological Communities (EEC) from the derived native grasslands that currently occur within the BOAs. The preferred method for establishing these EECs is through natural regeneration and therefore it is proposed to prevent fire from occurring in these areas until the vegetation has time to mature to a stage where they are able to withstand bushfire and regenerate naturally following such an event. Activities that will be undertaken to limit the risk of fire occurring in, or spreading into the BOAs includes: regular slashing of boundary fences to create fire breaks and provide access maintenance of access tracks for bushfire fighting purposes assessments of fuel loads during six-monthly inspections. 5 BCC Bushfire Protection Measures and Preparedness The open cut mine earthworks create a very effective fire break which will assist fire agencies in controlling a major fire running west from the nearby Singleton Military Area or east from the Wollemi National Park. Broke Road also works as a containment line, limiting the spread of a fire onto the BCC from the Singleton Military Area. Page 8 of 14

9 Administration, workshop buildings and equipment laydown areas are located within the central portion of mining operations approximately 100 metres from bushland vegetation. No bushfire mitigations works are generally required for these assets. The land adjoining the BCC to the north is owned by Mount Thorley Warkworth and is an opencut mine. Therefore the bushfire risk posed from the northern is considered low. Control measures and associated responsibilities pertaining to bushfire management at the BCC are provided in Table 2 below. Control Measure Responsibility Timing / Frequency Establishment and maintenance of Asset Protection Zones. Open Cut APZs include: where possible, up to 50m slashing to rail loading, coal handling prep plant, coal stockpiles, rail line and overland conveyors. Underground APZs include: 10m APZ around gas wells, 30-50m around pre and post mining flares. Slashing under powerlines (where applicable). Establishment and maintenance of grassland SFAZ (slashing either side of road ways on the access roads to private properties, and around the boundaries of offset areas.). Maintenance of the leased properties is considered the responsibility of the tenant. Confine activities that are likely to cause bushfire ignitions such as welding and grinding to workshop areas on Total Fire Ban days. Fire Danger Rating in ed daily to relevant personnel. Manager or Delegate. Manager or Delegate. Health, Safety and Training Manager Ongoing Autumn and late Spring. Ongoing Autumn and late Spring. Ongoing All vehicles are to carry portable fire extinguishers, appropriate communications with the Control Room/Dispatch. Monitor access roads and fire trails for accessibility by checking regularly for fallen logs, erosion or other signs of degradation. This is recorded during monthly inspections. Review the fire history database. Health, Safety and Training Manager Manager or Delegate. Manager or Delegate. Ongoing Ongoing Annually Late Spring Page 9 of 14

10 Control Measure Responsibility Timing / Frequency Maintain a GIS based fire history database for the site which records date and ignition source for all prescribed burns and wildfires affecting the site. Manager or Delegate. As required Assess the need for rehabilitation after a bushfire. Manager or Delegate. As required Maintain and identify suitable nominated Refuge Areas and Staging Areas as mine operations progress. Conduct an inspection of the flora growing within a 30m diameter of each of the flares and determine if it presents a bushfire risk. This is recorded during monthly inspections. Undertake an immediate site inspection of both pre and post drainage flares sites when a combination of the following 3 conditions occurs: Health, Safety and Training Manager Manager or Delegate. Gas Drainage Manager As required Ongoing, but minimum of Annually Late Spring Ongoing Wind Speed >5 and <9 m/s Total Fire Bans Low Humidity Conduct an annual fire season review Review and update of BMP and Operations Manager or Delegate and Health, Safety and Training Manager Manager or Delegate Annually Late Spring Annually Late Spring or after Bushfire Event. 6 Site Management and Emergency Response Management of all lands, regardless of whether it is inside or outside of the BCC mining area must be undertaken in accordance with license conditions and legislation. Under the RF Act, the RFS has the power to direct landholders, including BCC to undertake hazard reduction activities on their property. The RFS will have the lead role in emergency response for the BCC site. However, due to the potential presence of gases and explosive material, NSW Fire and Rescue (NSWF&R) may also be involved if a HAZMAT is declared. Any HAZMAT event will be coordinated between NSWF&R and RFS. In the event of a fire, BCC will assist the RFS where possible. Page 10 of 14

11 In the event of a small fire, BCC may attempt to suppress a fire with portable fire extinguishers and earth moving machinery. A site water cart may also be deployed. In the event of a bushfire occurring on the BCC site the operational priorities are for: The safety of all personnel. The effective protection of human life and community assets. The conservation of biodiversity and cultural heritage. The cost effectiveness of strategies. The protection of human life including the safety of personnel engaged in bushfire suppression will be the first priority in fire suppression followed by the protection of community and environmental assets. The emergency response to fire is outlined in the Bushfire Operations Poster and is reproduced in Appendix A. 6.1 Communication of this This BMP will be communicated and available to all persons having a responsibility under the. A copy is to be retained in the Bulga Underground Control Room, Bulga Dispatch Centre and the CHPP Control Room and will be posted at readily accessible locations in the Main Office at all times. This plan is to be used as a basis for training of staff so that they are aware of essential emergency bushfire responses and responsibilities. A current copy of the report and the Bushfire Operations be held by the local RFS. 6.2 Emergency Contacts Emergency contact details for emergency services (police, ambulance, fire brigade), RFS, National Parks, State Emergency Service (SES, regional hospitals, council, Road and Maritime Service (RMS) and electrical infrastructure (Ausgrid and Transgrid) and mines rescue are provided on the Bushfire Operations Poster. This list is to be reviewed and updated annually by the Environment and Community Officer before each fire season. 6.3 Meeting and Access Points Eight designated refuge points have been proposed where site employees will muster to in the event of a fire. These are shown and documented on the Bushfire Operations Poster. For personnel working on the surface and away from identified muster points, a review of suitable escape routes and muster points based on work site should be considered on Total Fire Ban days. In the event of a fire, a BCC employee will meet the RFS at a nominated point based on the location of the fire. 6.4 The Emergency Response Procedure In the event of a bushfire, the fire will be reported immediately to the Control Room/Dispatch and following emergency procedures implemented: Emergency Response Manual (BULUG ); and Emergency Management (BULOC ). Page 11 of 14

12 Copies of these manuals are stored at the Control Room and Dispatch. If the fire is small and easily accessible, trained staff may attempt suppression with portable fire equipment/water carts/earth moving machinery. Large fires will be reported to 000 by Control/Dispatch. 7 Measurement and evaluation 7.1 Annual Fire Season Review The annual fire season review will be conducted in late Spring of each year. The review will be coordinated by the Manager and the Health, Safety and Training Manager and include any relevant mine staff. Issues to be discussed during the review period should include the following: Any safety issues; Adequacy of any fire response and strategies used; and Bushfire mitigation works and management of fuel loads around APZs and SFAZs. 7.2 Fire History Database The Manager will maintain a GIS fire history database. The database will enable monitoring of fire regimes of vegetation communities on site and assist with reporting. The fire history database is to record ignition points and sources so that strategies can be developed to address any regular causes of fire and will be reviewed in late Spring of each year. 7.3 Fuel monitoring The Manager will monitor grassland fuel loads on site. Slashing of identified SFAZs in grassland areas will be undertaken as needed, particularly when grass heights exceed 400mm during the growth phase. 8 Review and Improvement This BMP will be reviewed and updated annually prior to the start of each bushfire season or after a major Bushfire event. The BMP will also be sent to the RFS. The BMP may also be reviewed as mining excavations modify the landscape at the site. Accordingly, as the BMP is a working document, review should be undertaken on a regular and as needed basis. Page 12 of 14

13 9 Definitions Term Definition Assets Asset Protection Zone (APZ) Anything valued by the operation or community and includes houses, buildings, infrastructure, equipment, crops, livestock, cultural sites, heritage buildings, the environment, businesses, and forests that may be at risk from bush fire. A mown or slashed area around an asset (such as a house or mine facility) designed to reduce the potential for flame, radiant heat or embers to ignite a structure and to create a defendable space where occupants or firefighters can protect that asset. Bushfire A general term used to describe fire in vegetation, includes grass fire. Bushfire Hazard The potential severity of a bush fire, which is determined by fuel load, fuel arrangement and topography under a given climatic condition. Bush Fire Risk The chance of a bush fire igniting, spreading and causing damage to the community or the assets they value. Fire Fighting Authorities The NSW Rural Fire Service, NSW Fire Brigades, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and Forests NSW. Strategic Fire Management Zone (SFMZ) An area where slashing is conducted to reduce fuel loads with the aim of reducing the speed and intensity of a future bushfire. The SFMZ aims to reduce the risk of fires spreading within the site and assists in stopping fires spreading on or to adjoining lands. Land Management Zone (LMZ) Lands managed to meet relevant land management objectives where APZs or SFAZs are not appropriate. Relevant examples include land identified for mining operations, biodiversity conservation or by leases for residential or agricultural purposes. Major Bushfire A bushfire which requires the attendance of multiple brigades, or causes damage to property or injury to one or more persons. Prescribed Burn A controlled burn undertaken to meet a defined fuel management purpose with a prescription outlining intended frequency, fire behaviour and fuel reduction targets. Page 13 of 14

14 Bulga Coal Complex Appendix A - Copy of Bushfire Operations Officer - Environment Community Page 14 of 14 Uncontrolled unless viewed on the intranet