❓ The Minister for Planning updates the house on the Liberal-National government's bushfire risk mitigation strategies for new developments, including hazard assessments, building standards, and state planning policies. The Minister also addresses concerns about the impact on emergency services levy.
AnsweredQoN 283Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
BUSHFIRE
RISK MITIGATION STRATEGIES
283. Mr F.A. ALBAN to the
Minister for Planning:
I am aware that the minister made an announcement last week
about the new bushfire risk mitigation strategies. Can the minister update the
house on what the Liberal–National government is doing to reduce the
bushfire risk in new developments?
RISK MITIGATION STRATEGIES
283. Mr F.A. ALBAN to the
Minister for Planning:
I am aware that the minister made an announcement last week
about the new bushfire risk mitigation strategies. Can the minister update the
house on what the Liberal–National government is doing to reduce the
bushfire risk in new developments?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Swan Hills for the question. This is
obviously of significant interest to residents of his electorate of Swan Hills
and also my electorate of Kalamunda, the electorate of Darling Range and,
indeed, much more widely in Western Australia, particularly in the south west
part of the state. In fact, it is potentially an issue for residents of
locations much closer to the coast and much closer to the Perth CBD, as some
people might realise, on some occasions. The major inquiry into bushfire
management issues was undertaken by Mick Keelty a couple of years ago following
the major fires in Kelmscott, Roleystone and also Margaret River. Various
recommendations were made that affected a wide range of areas across
government. In relation to new housing developments in bushfire-prone areas,
various recommendations were made that have been accepted by the government. As
a result of that, from 1 May next year, a bushfire hazard assessment will be
required to be undertaken for all new homes that are constructed in
bushfire-prone areas. Depending on the assessment that is provided, the home
will need to be built according to Australian standard 3959. A range of protections
are provided within that, which vary depending on the level of risk identified.
However, they include, for example, ember screens over air-conditioning units,
window screens, sealing off eaves so that embers cannot enter under them, and
also other protections such as ensuring all above-ground piping is made from
metal materials rather than from plastic.
The Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner will have the
responsibility of designating bushfire-prone areas.
Ms
R. Saffioti : When is that coming in?
Mr J.H.D. DAY :
This project is underway at the moment. Indeed, quite a lot of information has
already been gathered by local governments and also by Landgate. But the Fire
and Emergency Services Commissioner, as I said, will have the formal responsibility
of designating areas as being bushfire prone. Then, as I said, homes that are
built in those areas will need to comply with the measures that I have just
outlined. Where a home is being built in an area that has not been mapped but
is within 100 metres of one hectare or more of bushland, then they will also
need to comply with this change. There will be a change to all local planning
schemes in the state; that will be effected through a regulation change, which
is currently being prepared, and that will have the effect of enforcing this
action to ensure that homes are built to such standards.
In relation to higher-level planning issues or the
development of subdivisions in relation to high-fire risk areas, there is a new
state planning policy, which is now out for public comment. That will provide
the sort of measures that need to be taken into account in improving structure
plans and also need to be considered in any planning scheme amendments. There
are also revised guidelines out for public comment at the moment in relation to
constructing homes in bushfire-risk areas and to state planning policy, and I
encourage members and members of the public to go to the Department of Planning
website to look at these guidelines if they are interested and wish to make a
comment.
There was a comment made by the
member for Girrawheen last week when we made this announcement expressing
concern about any impact on the emergencies services levy. In fact, there is no
real link between these two aspects. The emergency services levy and the
category in which homes are located are determined on the level of fire
response service that is provided rather than the actual risk that applies. In
fact, some homes in high-risk areas pay a lower levy because they rely on
volunteer fire brigades rather than career fire brigades. The concern that was
expressed by the member for Girrawheen is, in fact, one that is not real.
I thank all of the officers within government who have
assisted us in getting to this position. It is actually a very complex issue
legally, and potentially logistically, to some extent. The officers from the
Department of Planning and the Department of Fire and Emergencies Services, the
Building Commission, Landgate, local governments and indeed staff in my own office
have all played a very important role in getting to this point and I am pleased
that we now have clarity about what is to be required in relation to
residential developments and building construction within high bushfire-risk
areas.
obviously of significant interest to residents of his electorate of Swan Hills
and also my electorate of Kalamunda, the electorate of Darling Range and,
indeed, much more widely in Western Australia, particularly in the south west
part of the state. In fact, it is potentially an issue for residents of
locations much closer to the coast and much closer to the Perth CBD, as some
people might realise, on some occasions. The major inquiry into bushfire
management issues was undertaken by Mick Keelty a couple of years ago following
the major fires in Kelmscott, Roleystone and also Margaret River. Various
recommendations were made that affected a wide range of areas across
government. In relation to new housing developments in bushfire-prone areas,
various recommendations were made that have been accepted by the government. As
a result of that, from 1 May next year, a bushfire hazard assessment will be
required to be undertaken for all new homes that are constructed in
bushfire-prone areas. Depending on the assessment that is provided, the home
will need to be built according to Australian standard 3959. A range of protections
are provided within that, which vary depending on the level of risk identified.
However, they include, for example, ember screens over air-conditioning units,
window screens, sealing off eaves so that embers cannot enter under them, and
also other protections such as ensuring all above-ground piping is made from
metal materials rather than from plastic.
The Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner will have the
responsibility of designating bushfire-prone areas.
Ms
R. Saffioti : When is that coming in?
Mr J.H.D. DAY :
This project is underway at the moment. Indeed, quite a lot of information has
already been gathered by local governments and also by Landgate. But the Fire
and Emergency Services Commissioner, as I said, will have the formal responsibility
of designating areas as being bushfire prone. Then, as I said, homes that are
built in those areas will need to comply with the measures that I have just
outlined. Where a home is being built in an area that has not been mapped but
is within 100 metres of one hectare or more of bushland, then they will also
need to comply with this change. There will be a change to all local planning
schemes in the state; that will be effected through a regulation change, which
is currently being prepared, and that will have the effect of enforcing this
action to ensure that homes are built to such standards.
In relation to higher-level planning issues or the
development of subdivisions in relation to high-fire risk areas, there is a new
state planning policy, which is now out for public comment. That will provide
the sort of measures that need to be taken into account in improving structure
plans and also need to be considered in any planning scheme amendments. There
are also revised guidelines out for public comment at the moment in relation to
constructing homes in bushfire-risk areas and to state planning policy, and I
encourage members and members of the public to go to the Department of Planning
website to look at these guidelines if they are interested and wish to make a
comment.
There was a comment made by the
member for Girrawheen last week when we made this announcement expressing
concern about any impact on the emergencies services levy. In fact, there is no
real link between these two aspects. The emergency services levy and the
category in which homes are located are determined on the level of fire
response service that is provided rather than the actual risk that applies. In
fact, some homes in high-risk areas pay a lower levy because they rely on
volunteer fire brigades rather than career fire brigades. The concern that was
expressed by the member for Girrawheen is, in fact, one that is not real.
I thank all of the officers within government who have
assisted us in getting to this position. It is actually a very complex issue
legally, and potentially logistically, to some extent. The officers from the
Department of Planning and the Department of Fire and Emergencies Services, the
Building Commission, Landgate, local governments and indeed staff in my own office
have all played a very important role in getting to this point and I am pleased
that we now have clarity about what is to be required in relation to
residential developments and building construction within high bushfire-risk
areas.
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