As we progress through the Request For Information stage of the proposed upgrades to Arthurs Seat Eagle (ASE), we would like to take the opportunity to share some of this information relating to the community’s most frequently asked questions.
The following is informed by the questions the community has shared via the online suggestion box and comments on social media.
This blog seeks to answer specific questions about bushfire safety at ASE, with additional topics to follow. The following information has been taken from reports submitted by bushfire management experts, Terramatrix, and is being shared to assure visitors, neighbours and the wider public that safety is and will remain of prime importance to everyone at ASE.
Q1. How does Arthurs Seat Eagle address bushfire safety, being in an ‘extreme’ bushfire risk zone?
Like many districts in Victoria, Arthurs Seat is classified as an ‘extreme’ bushfire risk zone. This classification means that fires can be dangerous, and immediate action is necessary to protect life and property. On days classified as ‘Extreme Fire Rating,’ specific bans (such as total fire bans) may be declared. On extreme days, we monitor and assess risk on an hourly basis to determine whether it is safe for ASE to continue operating as normal. On catastrophic fire days, our attraction will remain closed. This action will remain the same with the proposed upgrades.
Q2. How will emergency evacuations be managed to prevent congestion and ensure swift responses by emergency services?
Arthurs Seat Eagle has an established Bushfire Emergency Management Plan (BEMP), devised to ensure the safety of staff and visitors alike.
This document is reviewed annually as standard practice. The existing BEMP will be updated when the proposed upgrades are finalised. This is so it can be done with certainty and to encompass physical structures and pathways on the ground.
The BEMP will then be updated accordingly to ensure emergency personnel can readily access the site and realistic timelines are set for evacuations.
Q3. How quickly would people need to be evacuated should a bushfire break out at Arthur’s Seat?
Bushfires can spread rapidly, depending on terrain, weather conditions and the fuel available (such as vegetation). Our BEMP has been devised to consider our location, the slope’s elevation, and the site’s vegetation. The evacuation via our rope line will take approximately 7.35 minutes, factoring in the minimum and maximum speeds a fire may travel.
The existing BEMP will be revised to accommodate the progression of the design and construction of the proposed upgrades to ensure a clear and realistic evacuation strategy that continues to prioritise staff and visitor safety.
Q4. How does ASE prepare for dynamic and unpredictable conditions in readiness for an evacuation? What consideration is given to people with less mobility?
In line with the annual review of our BEMP, ASE staff also undertake specialised training with the CFA.
The training involves all facets of safety, including weather conditions and ensuring readiness to evacuate from all locations within our attraction, whether on the ground or in the gondolas.
We work with the CFA and provide regular training for all weather conditions, ensuring preparedness to respond to facets of an emergency on our site, including strong winds while working at heights.
In addition to the training all staff receive, we also implement and continually train all staff for different Emergency Control Organisation (ECO) roles. This ensures that we are able to assist individuals with limited mobility, including the elderly and disabled, during emergencies. The ECO officers work closely with caregivers to ensure everyone is safely evacuated.
Q5. What ignition risks does the development pose, and how are they being mitigated?
No ignition risks have been identified in the proposal for the upgrades or the attraction’s future operations. ASE will continue to mitigate bushfire risk by:
- Implementing proper vegetation management
- Maintaining clear access routes
- Postponing construction during high-risk period
Q6. Has the increased bushfire risk from climate change been considered?
Bushfire standards are updated regularly. The design and construction of the upgrades comply with the most recent bushfire resilience standards. For example, specific structures like the luge platform will be constructed to a higher Bushfire Attack Level (BAL 29) for improved safety against bushfires given its location ASE has also updated its Bushfire Management Overlay (BMO) and will update the BEMP to address climate risks
Q7. Will there be adequate firefighting resources on site to accommodate the upgrades?
Yes. ASE has worked with Bushfire and Ecological Sustainable Development (ESD) consultants to ensure our precinct has sufficient firefighting resources.
In line with the requirements outlined in the BMO, the base station maintains a static water supply of 40,000 litres in reserve for bushfires, in addition to the flow from water mains. The water tanks at the summit station exceed the minimum requirement, with a capacity of 288,000 litres.
Finally, the design of the proposed upgrades incorporates designated clearance emergency vehicle access routes, ensuring clearances for response teams so they can access the site quickly in the event of a fire emergency.