❓ Hon Martin Pritchard raises concerns about insufficient lead time and training for bushfire-prone area planning regulations. The Minister responds by outlining measures taken, confirming no extension to the transition period, and detailing training delivered and planned.
AnsweredQoN 373Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
PLANNING — BUSHFIRE-PRONE AREAS
373. Hon MARTIN PRITCHARD to the Minister
for Planning:
I refer to the planning regulations
for bushfire-prone areas that will come into force this week on 8 April and to
industry concerns that there has been insufficient lead time and inadequate
training delivered to those required to make assessments.
(1) Which measures have been taken
to address those concerns?
(2) Is the minister planning to
further extend the transitional period?
(3) Can the minister
outline the training delivered to date and what is scheduled to occur in the
future?
373. Hon MARTIN PRITCHARD to the Minister
for Planning:
I refer to the planning regulations
for bushfire-prone areas that will come into force this week on 8 April and to
industry concerns that there has been insufficient lead time and inadequate
training delivered to those required to make assessments.
(1) Which measures have been taken
to address those concerns?
(2) Is the minister planning to
further extend the transitional period?
(3) Can the minister
outline the training delivered to date and what is scheduled to occur in the
future?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice
of the question.
(1) Building industry associations
were first advised in 2014 of the proposed designation of bushfire-prone areas
in the state. The state government's bushfire reforms were announced in
December 2015 and were developed in response to ''A Shared
Responsibility: The Report of the Perth Hills Bushfire February 2011 Review''—the
Keelty report. ''State Planning Policy 3.7: Planning in Bushfire Prone
Areas'' and associated bushfire guidelines took effect on 7 December
2015. In the lead-up to the planning gazettal, the Department of Planning and
other relevant government agencies consulted extensively with a range of
stakeholders including the development industry and the Building Commission,
and released extensive information to assist industry and local governments to
implement the reforms. The government also provided a four-month transition
period to allow the industry adequate time to consider the effects of the
introduction of the map of bushfire-prone areas and planning and building
regulation amendments. The Department of Planning has also provided advice to
27 local governments that had specific issues as to the application of the
bushfire planning regulations in their local planning schemes. The department
will continue to present at local or industry information sessions at local
government offices. In addition, the department's website provides
useful information to stakeholders including industry, local government and the
public about planning proposals and what, if any, requirements from the
bushfire planning reforms apply to their proposal.
(2) No.
(3) The Fire
Protection Association of Australia ran its first five-day bushfire attack
level—BAL—assessor training course in September 2015. Eight
courses have been delivered since that time. Future BAL assessor courses are
scheduled for metropolitan and regional areas over forthcoming months. The
Building Commission is actively delivering information and training sessions
regarding the bushfire reforms. These include presentations on the bushfire
reforms and construction requirements as part of the Building Code of Australia
regional seminar series at selected regional locations around Western Australia—namely
Geraldton, Bunbury, Busselton, Albany, Esperance, Kalgoorlie, Merredin,
Karratha and Broome. Targeted training for builders on how to adhere to the
bushfire construction requirements of the BCA has been delivered in Bunbury,
Manjimup and Albany. Targeted training has also been delivered for building
surveyors on what they need to know when assessing a building for compliance
with the bushfire construction requirements of the BCA. A two-day awareness
course that provides an overview of bushfire behaviour and planning
requirements under the new reforms will be held in Perth in May and June.
Additional five-day and two-day courses will be announced shortly.
of the question.
(1) Building industry associations
were first advised in 2014 of the proposed designation of bushfire-prone areas
in the state. The state government's bushfire reforms were announced in
December 2015 and were developed in response to ''A Shared
Responsibility: The Report of the Perth Hills Bushfire February 2011 Review''—the
Keelty report. ''State Planning Policy 3.7: Planning in Bushfire Prone
Areas'' and associated bushfire guidelines took effect on 7 December
2015. In the lead-up to the planning gazettal, the Department of Planning and
other relevant government agencies consulted extensively with a range of
stakeholders including the development industry and the Building Commission,
and released extensive information to assist industry and local governments to
implement the reforms. The government also provided a four-month transition
period to allow the industry adequate time to consider the effects of the
introduction of the map of bushfire-prone areas and planning and building
regulation amendments. The Department of Planning has also provided advice to
27 local governments that had specific issues as to the application of the
bushfire planning regulations in their local planning schemes. The department
will continue to present at local or industry information sessions at local
government offices. In addition, the department's website provides
useful information to stakeholders including industry, local government and the
public about planning proposals and what, if any, requirements from the
bushfire planning reforms apply to their proposal.
(2) No.
(3) The Fire
Protection Association of Australia ran its first five-day bushfire attack
level—BAL—assessor training course in September 2015. Eight
courses have been delivered since that time. Future BAL assessor courses are
scheduled for metropolitan and regional areas over forthcoming months. The
Building Commission is actively delivering information and training sessions
regarding the bushfire reforms. These include presentations on the bushfire
reforms and construction requirements as part of the Building Code of Australia
regional seminar series at selected regional locations around Western Australia—namely
Geraldton, Bunbury, Busselton, Albany, Esperance, Kalgoorlie, Merredin,
Karratha and Broome. Targeted training for builders on how to adhere to the
bushfire construction requirements of the BCA has been delivered in Bunbury,
Manjimup and Albany. Targeted training has also been delivered for building
surveyors on what they need to know when assessing a building for compliance
with the bushfire construction requirements of the BCA. A two-day awareness
course that provides an overview of bushfire behaviour and planning
requirements under the new reforms will be held in Perth in May and June.
Additional five-day and two-day courses will be announced shortly.
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