41FGeneral fire road construction requirements

41F General fire road construction requirements

41F General fire road construction requirements

(1) A fire road—

(a) must have a trafficable width of at least 4 metres, and

(b) must have strips at least 1 metre wide on each side that are kept clear of woody vegetation, and

(c) must have at least 4 metres of overhead clearance from any structure or foliage.

(2) The grade for a fire road must not be more than 15°. However, a perimeter track may include two sections of not more than 200 metres in length with a grade of not more than 20° in any 500 metre length of track.

(3) Any drainage feature crossing or any road drainage structure on a fire road must—

(a) be constructed to enable a vehicle that is 8 metres long to freely pass over the crossing or structure, and

(b) have an approach and departure angle of not more than 25°.

(4) If the height of any crossbank or drainage structure on a fire road is more than 300 millimetres, the ramp over angle must not be less than 165°. However, in the case of a perimeter track that has a grade of more than 12°, the ramp over angle must be as large as is practicable.

(5) A fire road must not have a curve with a radius that is less than 15 metres.

(6) A fire road must not have crossfall that is more than 6°. Any negative camber on a curve of a fire road must be minimised as much as is practicable.

(7) The owner and manager of a plantation must ensure the following records are kept and are made available to the Secretary if requested to do so—

(a) evidence in writing that any fire road on the plantation (and any bridge or culvert located on a fire road) was constructed so that it is suitable for a vehicle that weighs 15 tonnes gross and has an axle loading of 10 tonnes, and

(b) an inspection log that records that any such fire road, bridge or culvert has been inspected at least once a year and that it remains in substantially the same condition as when it was constructed.