Defence Estate Quality Management System (DEQMS) 
Environmental Management
Bushfire Management
Bushfires on the estate have the potential to adversely impact people, assets, capability and the environment. Defence manages bushfire for the purpose of reducing these risks while also seeking to improve environmental outcomes.
Bushfire management planning is integral to Defence’s approach for managing bushfire risk and is required for all properties that contain bushfire prone areas.
Defence’s bushfire management policy is detailed in Chapter 7 of the Environment and Heritage Manual (2019) and Chapter 10-12 of the Landscape Management Manual. These manuals supersede Chapter 6 in the Manual of Fire Protection Engineering (MFPE) Edition 3 (May 2018).
Contacts
To find out more, contact the Director of Environment and Heritage Policy Development (DEHPD) at DEHPD.policy@defence.gov.au.
The Assistant Director Environment and Sustainability and the Environment and Sustainability Manager support this role in the Zones.
Defence
- Environmental Policy
- Environmental Strategy
- Environment and Heritage Manual
- Landscape Management Manual
- Manual Fire Protection Engineering (MFPE) – Chapter 10 – Building construction in bushfire prone areas
- Defence UXO Management Manual (DUXOMM), Chapter 9 - Guidance for Firefighting in UXO Affected Areas
- Specialised Data Specifications Section 13 Environmental Data
Memorandum of Understanding
- NSW - Rural Fire Service (available on request)
- TAS - Tasmania Fire Service (available on request)
- VIC - Country Fire Authority (available on request)
- WA - Department of Fire and Emergency Services of Western Australia (available on request)
- QLD – Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (available on request)
The purpose of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is to support a close working relationship between Defence and the relevant state or territory fire authority.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is in place between the Department of Defence and the relevant state/territory fire authority as documented below:
External
- Bushfire Management & National Environment Law
- AFAC – National Council for Fire and Emergency Services
- NSW Rural Fire Service Guide for Bushfire Prone Land Mapping (2015)
- NSW RFS Fire Trail Standards
Defence default standard if no existing state or territory standard exists - NSW Rural Fire Service Fire Trail Design, Construction and Maintenance Manual
Defence default standard if no existing state or territory standard exists - NSW Rural Fire Service Neighbourhood Safer Places
National Bushfire Management Plan Program
Bushfire Training
Version No: 4.0 | Last Updated: May 2022 | Next Review: Dec 2022
Technical Authority: ASEE
Subject Matter Expert: DEHPD
