Bushfire integrated planning and building framework

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Bushfire Integrated Planning and Building
Framework MAV Rural Planning Forum March 2012
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Integrated Planning and Building Framework

• 16 VBRC recommendations for planning and building
  brought together into an integrated package of
  planning and building rules
• Focused on prioritising human life and
  strengthening community resilience to bushfire
• Strengthens the consideration of bushfire at
  different stages of the planning process and
  better integrates the planning and building
  systems.

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Regulatory Responses to Bushfire in the Planning
and Building System

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Integrated Planning and Building Framework
Regulatory responses
Three levels of response

• In Victoria both the planning and building
  systems respond to bushfires
• Building system
• Construction of buildings
• Using AS3959-2009 Construction of buildings in
  bushfire prone areas
• Planning system
• Measures in combination
• Strategic planning and development approvals
• Construction of buildings
• Siting, defendable space, access, water supply

• Based on the bushfire hazard (vegetation,
  topography and slope)
• Uses the best available science, which will
  continue to improve over time
• Tailored to the tools available in the building
  and planning systems

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Integrated Planning and Building Framework
Regulatory responses
Three levels of site-based response
BUSHFIRE HAZARD LEVEL 2 AREAS
Areas of extreme fuel loads where there is
potential for extreme bushfire behaviour such as
a crowning fire and extreme ember attack
Planning response Bushfire Management Overlay
(BMO) AND Building response Bushfire Prone
Area (BPA) and the Building Regulations
BUSHFIRE HAZARD LEVEL 1 AREAS
Building response Bushfire Prone Area (BPA) and
the Building Regulations
Areas of high to extreme fuel loads where there
is potential for high bushfire behaviour such as
a crown fire and ember attack
Areas where the extent, configuration and/or
management of vegetation means that there is low
potential for bushfire spread.
BUSHFIRE HAZARD LEVEL LOW AREAS
No planning or building response
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Integrated Planning and Building Framework
Regulatory responses
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Integrated Planning and Building Framework
Regulatory responses
Bushfire Prone Areas (BPA)
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Integrated Planning and Building Framework
Regulatory responses
Bushfire Prone Areas (BPA) and Bushfire
Management Overlay (BMO)
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Integrated Planning and Building Framework
Complete picture
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Integrated Planning and Building
Framework Building System Components
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Integrated Planning and Building Framework
Building System Components

• September 2011
• New building regulations came into effect -
  Building Amendment (Bushfire Construction)
  Regulations 2011.
• Bushfire Prone Areas were determined by the
  Minister for Planning.
• Consistent with the findings of the VBRC, the
  risk posed by grassland, scrub and heath has been
  taken into account for the first time in the
  designation of bushfire prone areas.
• A minimum construction requirement of BAL 12.5
  applies in bushfire prone areas.

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Integrated Planning and Building Framework
Building System Components

• Integration of the planning and building system
• A building surveyor must accept a BAL contained
  in a planning permit or a planning scheme.
• This means that a second assessment is not
  required to be prepared or assessed at the
  building permit stage.
• Accessing the Bushfire Prone Areas maps
• Property search
• http//services.land.vic.gov.au/landchannel/conten
  t/addressSearch

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Integrated Planning and Building
Framework Planning System Response Amendment
VC83
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Amendment VC83

• Key content
• Primacy of human life precautionary principle
  to inform decisions
• BMO objectives and standards gives a benchmark
  for meeting policy objectives and determining
  acceptable risk
• There will be situations where objectives and
  standards cant be met and approval will not be
  appropriate
• Vegetation exemptions for existing houses have
  been matched to the bushfire hazard

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Amendment VC83

• Implements key changes to the Victoria Planning
  Provisions and planning schemes
• New State planning policy
• New Bushfire Management Overlay
• New particular provision bushfire protection
  planning requirements
• New bushfire exemptions
• 10/30 and 10/50 rule
• Consequential changes

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Clause 52.47 Bushfire Protection Planning
Requirements

• Structure of Objectives
• Subdivision
• BF1 (General requirements)
• BF2 (Residential lots)
• All development
• BF3 (Location)
• BF4 (Siting and layout)
• BF5 (Bushfire protection measures)
• Buildings and works
• BF6 (Defendable space for dwellings)
• BF7 (Defendable space for industry, office and
  retail)
• BF8 (Defendable space for other occupied
  buildings)
• BF9 (Defendable space location)
• BF10 (Water supply and access)

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10/30 and 10/50 Rules

• 10/30 rule
• Made permanent, based on expert fire science and
  advice from DSE
• Clear all veg within 10 metres and all veg except
  for trees within 30 metres
• Existing houses need to check the dates
• Previously exempt metropolitan councils can
  opt-in through a planning scheme amendment
• 10/50 rule
• New, based on expert fire science and advice from
  DSE
• Clear all veg within 10 metres and all veg except
  for trees within 50 metres
• Existing houses need to check the dates
• Applies to all areas within the BMO
• Replaces another exemption which provided for
  less extensive clearing but over a greater
  distance

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Strategic Planning for Bushfire Protection State
Planning Policy for Bushfire

• Use planning schemes to identify where the
  bushfire hazard requires specific consideration
• Asses the risk at a regional, municipal and local
  scale.

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Strategic Planning for Bushfire Protection State
Planning Policy for Bushfire
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Strategic Planning for Bushfire Protection State
Planning Policy for Bushfire
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Strategic Planning for Bushfire
Protection Planning Scheme Amendments

• Ministerial Direction No. 11 (Strategic
  Assessment of Amendments) and associated Practice
  Note 44 (November 2012)
• A planning authority to evaluate and discuss how
  an amendment addresses bushfire considerations
• An amendment must be assessed to determine
  whether the changes proposed will result in any
  increase to the risk to life, property, community
  infrastructure and the natural environment from
  infrastructure.
• The views of the relevant fire authority must be
  sought and applied in formulating the amendment.

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Integrated Planning and Building
Framework Support for Implementation
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Support for Implementation

• Published materials
• BMO practice note (essential reading)
• Template and sample Bushfire Management Statement
• Template s173 agreement
• Local policy practice note
• Enforcement web content
• Training materials
• Building practitioners briefings (Aug/Sep 2011)
• Joint Building Commission and DPCD briefing
  series
• Over 1200 practitioners attended sessions
  throughout Victoria

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2011 Planners Training
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2012 Planners Training

• Jointly delivered by CFA and DPCD
• Aimed at councils, referral authorities,
  consultants
• Introductory sessions
• 5 March 2012 (Melb) - Done
• 8 March 2012 (Ballarat) - Done
• 22 March 2012 (Mildura)
• 28 March 2012 (Melb)
• More advanced session
• 17 May 2012 (Melb)
• Bushfire Site Assessment council training
• Strategic planning for bushfire

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Support to councils

• 1.2m allocated in 2011
• A further 800k to be allocated. All councils can
  express interest to access funding

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Bushfire Hazard Mapping for the Planning and
Building Systems

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Bushfire in Victoria
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Mapping

• State responsible for bushfire designations in
  line with VBRC
• Bushfire Prone Area designated in Sept 2011
• Bushfire Management Overlay applied to WMO areas
  in November 2011

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Mapping

• Best available science verification BPA / BMO
• LGA by LGA basis
• BPA reviews commenced in late 2011. Growth area
  council engagement complete
• Bushfire Management Overlay process commenced
  in Jan 2012. Updates and amendments implemented
  progressively in 2012
• CFA, DSE, DPCD working with councils and MAV

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