❓ Mr. Redman questions DFES's role in endorsing bushfire management plans for the Mt Helena Urban Precinct Development and other plans since March 2017. The response clarifies DFES's advisory role and provides data on plans reviewed.
AnsweredQoN 5439Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Mt Helena Urban Precinct Development in the Shire of Mundaring, and ask: (a) Has the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) been asked to endorse a bushfire management plan for the proposed development: (i) If so, when did this occur and did DFES support the plan; and (ii) If not, has DFES been engaged in a bushfire management planning process for this development; and (b) How many bushfire management plans has DFES been asked to endorse since March 2017: (i) Of these, how many were endorsed by DFES; and (ii) Of those not endorsed, what were the reasons for not endorsing them?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 October 2019
Responded by
Minister for Emergency Services
Response time
8 days
(a) DFES is not a decision maker and does not endorse or reject bushfire management plans. DFES is a referral agency and has an advisory role in the planning process. DFES has been asked to provide advice on the bushfire management plan for the proposed development – the Metropolitan Region Scheme Amendment 1277/57 Mount Helena Urban Precinct.
(i) DFES provided advice on two different revisions of the bushfire management plan on 16 September 2016 and 23 January 2017.
(ii) Not applicable.
(b) DFES is not a decision maker and does not endorse or reject bushfire management plans. DFES has provided advice on 1,476 bushfire management plans from 1 January 2017 to 18 September 2019. Some of these were different versions of the bushfire management plan for the same proposed development.
(i) DFES does not endorse bushfire management plans.
(ii) There are a variety of reasons for not supporting a bushfire management plan. These include, not complying with the policy measures in State Planning Policy 3.7 Planning in Bushfire Prone Areas, not complying with the Bushfire Protection Criteria contained in the Guidelines for Planning in Bushfire Prone Areas, and not enough information provided in the bushfire management plan to undertake a full assessment. If required, DFES will provide ongoing advice on bushfire management plans for a proposed development.
(i) DFES provided advice on two different revisions of the bushfire management plan on 16 September 2016 and 23 January 2017.
(ii) Not applicable.
(b) DFES is not a decision maker and does not endorse or reject bushfire management plans. DFES has provided advice on 1,476 bushfire management plans from 1 January 2017 to 18 September 2019. Some of these were different versions of the bushfire management plan for the same proposed development.
(i) DFES does not endorse bushfire management plans.
(ii) There are a variety of reasons for not supporting a bushfire management plan. These include, not complying with the policy measures in State Planning Policy 3.7 Planning in Bushfire Prone Areas, not complying with the Bushfire Protection Criteria contained in the Guidelines for Planning in Bushfire Prone Areas, and not enough information provided in the bushfire management plan to undertake a full assessment. If required, DFES will provide ongoing advice on bushfire management plans for a proposed development.
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