On Saturday morning 11th February, Council and Hunter Joint Councils staff demonstrated the Simtable 3D interactive tool that can simulate the impact of bushfire, storm and flooding events on a specific area.
We focussed on western Lake Macquarie and, in particular, on the wider Coal Point and Toronto areas, and considered flood and bushfire risk scenarios.
The main flood risk area is the low-lying land around Puntei Creek and wetland in Carey Bay bounded by Excelsior Parade. Further information is available at: https://shape.lakemac.com.au/lake-tributary-flood-studies
The scale and extent of bushfire risk, how far and how fast bushfires can travel, and why a plan is needed was clearly demonstrated, using the 2002 Killingworth fire as an example. Bushland and surrounds in the Coal Point area are only moderately at risk as there is not enough connectivity of bushland in our area for fires ’to run’. Major risk is for large bushland areas west of Fassifern.
Ember attack is likely to be the primary reason for spot fires developing in our area on severe and catastrophic fire days. The need for preparation plans to be in place were emphasized along with seasonal maintenance such as gutter cleaning and garden maintenance. (information available at https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/resources/bush-fire-survival-plan).
A take home message from the session was that a response to a catastrophic fire event in our community would likely require a significant community response addressing and containing controllable spot fires in our area of fragmented vegetation and small reserves. To prepare yourself and your property for the worst case scenario completing your bush fire survival plan is the best first step.
Some smartphone apps were recommended to inform what was happening locally and when travelling.
Red Cross Get Prepared : helps you access information and tools to complete an emergency plan, as well as their RediPlan template.
Hazards Near Me: keeps you updated on current/live bush fire and flood threats across the state.
More online resources to assist with the bush fire season:
RFS website: for information about your bush fire risk, creating a bush fire survival plan
1233 ABC Radio and news channel 24 ABC: are the designated emergency channels.
Now there’s a way to find out. The Hunter Joint Organisation has a Simtable and they are travelling around our region. The Simtable can model bushfire movement and outcomes based on what bushfire plan you implement to protect your home and it helps communities understand their bushfire risk and develop preparedness and response plans.
The CPPA will be bringing the Simtable to our hall in February for community members to test their response plans.
Recently members of local Sustainable Neighbourhood Groups were able to see the Simtable in action as it modelled the 2002 Killingworth fire. The Teralba Landcom development, currently under construction, would have been consumed and in a scenario where it kept burning, even the Coal Point peninsula, surrounded by water was impacted right out to the tip of Coal Point.
At the workshop Craig Holland, LMCC’s Bushfire Officer, commented that 87% of homes in bushfires are lost to ember attack, not the actual flames or heat from the fire front. He also emphasised that Lake Macquarie was largely untouched by the Black Summer fires of 2019-20 and how important it is to prepare your house now for summer as the wet weather has also resulted in a lot of growth and it isn’t taking long for the ground to dry out.
The RFS website, has a wealth of knowledge to assist us in preparing for this bushfire season and there are some must do actions for our bushland community.
1. Get your bush fire survival plan in place, it only takes 5 minutes to think through and discuss with your family what you’d do if a bushfire was threatening your home-
2. Prepare your home and gardens now before the bushfire season kicks in.
- Trim overhanging trees and shrubs,
- Mow grass,
- Remove material that can burn from around your home e.g wood piles, mulch, paint, straw door mats,
- Clean out your gutters,
- Make sure your hoses can reach around your house
3. Know the bushfire alert levels. They’ve been simplified to Moderate, High, Extreme and Catastrophic.
You can download the Fires Near Me App and set it up for a radius of 10km around your home which will keep you informed f
4. Keep Key information handy to stay up to date on local conditions. Keep your phone charged, have a battery powered radio available to access local radio 1233 ABC
If you need a hand to prepare your home the RFS runs the AIDER (Assist Infirm, Disabled and Elderly Residents) program , a free, one-off service which supports some of our most at-risk community members. They can assist people who have limited domestic support available from family, relatives, friends or other services to do the tasks outlined above to prepare your home.
If you would like to know more about the AIDER service, call 02 8741 4955 or email aider@rfs.nsw.gov.au or download our fact sheet. You can also fill out an online form. https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/plan-and-prepare/aider
Other handy information includes the Lake Macquarie Council’s Disaster Dashboard. It’s a glimpse into the future in a climate changing world. Information is provided on 14 disaster scenarios; bushfires, heatwaves, storms, floods, East Coast Lows, tsunamis, infrastructure failure, Human infectious diseases, biosecurity, coastal erosion, earthquakes and landslides.
It also offers some general tips
- Know your risks
- Plan now for what you’ll do
- Get your home ready
- Be aware
- Look out for each other:
If you like your plants there’s a way to have a garden and still be bushfire safe. A demonstration Fire Retardant Garden is at the Toronto Fire Station.
There are fire retardant plant selections in Lake Macquarie Landcare's Fact Sheet, Native Fire Retardant Plants and Trees In Newcastle’s TIN Topic 13 Fire Retardant Plants
… and did you know The Toronto Workers Club is the local Emergency Evacuation Centre!
