_Changes to Bushfire Mapping and its Impact on Urban Development

In Victoria, areas identified to be affected by bushfire risk are typically designated within a bushfire prone area (BPA) and areas subject to a higher level of risk are affected by a bushfire management overlay (BMO).  The designation of a BPA and BMO is based on the perceived level of risk associated with the fire threat based on landscape conditions.  This designation has implications as to how the land can be used and what can be developed on the land.    

Bushfire risk in growth areas or regional townships experiencing growth is subject to change as the progressive development of land occurs.  As a result, the Department of Transport and Planning (DoTP) undertake a bi-annual review of the BPA mapping to ensure that bushfire risk that has been removed is reflected in the form of revised mapping.  A similar review process is undertaken regularly for the BMO mapping. 

Where conditions around a development site have changed (i.e. adjoining land has been developed), it is essential that developers make an application to DoTP before the review period to ensure that the development site is assessed with a view to the relevant bushfire controls being removed.  The timing for the submission of such applications to DoTP is critical as it allows for the removal / a reduction in the bushfire attack level construction requirements for dwellings and therefore, will avoid the need for unnecessary construction costs.      

Collie is well versed with the BPA and BMO planning provisions and has been involved on a number of projects where these controls have been removed and / or interim setbacks have been put in place on adjoining land to mitigate appropriately bushfire risk before neighboring land is developed.

For further details around the BPA and BMO planning provisions, please do not hesitate to contact the Collie office.