Kleinfelder prepared the Bushfire Management Plan (BMP) for the Ashton Coal Mine’s current and future asset protection and emergency management. The mine site includes natural, life, property, and cultural assets that are susceptible to bushfire events. The BMP was prepared using the AS/NZS ISO 31000:2009 Risk Management guidelines.

Creating a Plan to Fit Existing Needs

The main challenge was to provide a working BMP that relates to other existing land management and emergency management plans. Also, the current land management for bushfire treatments needed to be gathered, reviewed, and assessed for effectiveness.

An Innovative and Real-time Solution

The BMP was prepared as an interactive database that allows for up-to-date mapping. Such a map can be printed and used at any moment, specifically for the purposes of bushfire emergency management. The system also generates a specific management action within a planned schedule; indicates when certain management actions are required, provides a specific works plan and performance criteria, enters information back into the database when the mitigation action is completed, and maps any changes in the landscape.

Project Results

The project achieved positive outcomes for personal safety in the event of a bushfire emergency, as well as certainty of asset protection for infrastructure, natural, and cultural assets—thereby reducing potential cost and risk.

Project Details

Location:
Camberwell, Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia

Owner:
Ashton Coal (Yancoal)