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Bushfire Risk Management
Our desire to live close to nature means that many homes are built in areas that are at risk of bush fire. Eighty percent of homes destroyed by bushfire are built within 100m of bushland.
Since August 2002, legal standards have been in place for the safe construction of buildings in bushfire prone areas in NSW. These standards are set out in the Planning for Bushfire Protection guidelines and must be addressed in the preparation of a development application for land identified on the Bushfire Prone Land map.
These standards include:
- adequate setbacks from bushland
- inclusion of reduced fuel areas (Asset Protection Zones)
- correct siting
- good access roads for firefighters and residents.
Well planned developments in bushfire prone areas make homes and families safer from bushfires.
Bushfire protection standards must be included in development applications submitted to Councils for existing or proposed development in bush fire prone area.
Development Applications are assessed together with Local Rural fire Service's so that people, property and the environment are better protected against the dangers of bushfire.
All development on bush fire prone land will require a Bush Fire Risk Assessment and certification prepared by a suitably qualified consultant.
Updated: 07 Sep 2011
Related Documents
- Bushfire Prone Land Map
- Bushfire Risk Assessment Certificate
- Warringah Pittwater Bush Fire Risk Management Plan June 2010 (this is a draft document waiting approval from the NSW Bush Fire Coordinating Committee)