Land and emergency management agencies in Australia and overseas recognise the importance of an access network to support bushfire management activities. Ground and aerial access provides a platform for fire reduction and readiness activities and provides opportunities to contain fires before they escalate into major fires that could otherwise incur significant costs and potentially significant losses to community, cultural and environmental values.
Fire access within the ACT consists of a network of roads, tracks and trails that support fire prevention, readiness and response activities. The identification and maintenance of fire access is an integral element of fire management across the ACT.
Access management is divided into four areas :
1. maintenance
2. upgrade
3. construction
4. vegetation removal.
ACT PCS Fire Management Unit currently manage and maintain approximately 3,218 kilometres of roads and fire trails within the ACT. The classification of fire roads, tracks and trails is performance based to provide clear guidance to response agencies during incidents.
Ground access is defined in four classes :
1. Float road – an access road or trail accessible to a low loader float carrying a large bulldozer or other heavy equipment.
2. Tanker road – a fire trail of strategic importance accessible to a heavy tanker and a tipper carrying a small bulldozer.
3. Light unit trail – a fire trail accessible at minimum standard for a light unit.
4. Dormant fire trail – a trail that has been deliberately closed or not maintained and can be quickly re-opened with minimal works.
The objective of ground access works are to upgrade and maintain road pavements within the parks and reserves of the ACT to the above four classes standard under the current Bushfire Operational Plan. Many areas require ongoing general maintenance or upgrading to an appropriate standard. This is done principally to provide reliable access for operational requirements and for fire suppression activities in the event of a wildfire that may threaten the ACT.
Vegetation removal work is conducted by mechanical mulchers that reduce vegetation on roads and trails that impede access for operational and fire suppression requirements identified under the current Bushfire Operational Plan. The Parks and Conservation Service Fire Management Unit also commit a number of other contracted resources (graders, trucks, rollers, excavators and backhoes etc) to conduct daily scheduled maintenance as well as upgrade and construction services on a yearly basis within the ACT.
The Bushfire Operational Plans map shows the Environment, Planning & Sustainable Development Directorate (EPSDD) Bushfire Operations Plan (BOP) for the current financial year.
The EPSDD BOP is derived from the 5-year Regional Fire Management Plans, which can also be viewed on this site. The EPSDD BOP details the specific timing, type and location of fuel-reduction, access and infrastructure activities proposed to be undertaken in the ACT in the current financial; year, in accordance with the Strategic Bushfire Management Plan (SBMP).
