❓ Question regarding the implementation of the Keelty Report's recommendations on bushfire prone areas, specifically concerning the transfer of responsibility to the WAPC and integration of fire risk into town planning schemes. The answer clarifies the WAPC's role and ongoing efforts.
AnsweredQoN 8052Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Keelty Report and its recommendation that the State Government transfer responsibility for declaring bushfire prone areas from local government to the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC), and ask:
(a) what action has the WAPC taken to respond to this and other recommendations in the report; and
(b) what attempt has the Minister made to ensure fire risk areas are integrated into Town Planning Schemes to enable compliance with AS3959-2009 and, if none, why has the Minister failed to take action and when will he do so?
(a) what action has the WAPC taken to respond to this and other recommendations in the report; and
(b) what attempt has the Minister made to ensure fire risk areas are integrated into Town Planning Schemes to enable compliance with AS3959-2009 and, if none, why has the Minister failed to take action and when will he do so?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
7 August 2012
Responded by
Minister for Planning
Response time
76 days
(a) Recommendation 3 of the Keelty Report is that "the State government transfer responsibility for declaring bushfire prone areas from local government to the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC). The WAPC should urgently assess those areas that should be declared bushfire prone". It is not within the power of the WAPC to implement this recommendation, as this action requires amendment of legislation.
Active attention is being given to implementing the recommendations of the Keelty report in a coordinated way. The Department of Planning, which serves and advises the WAPC, is represented on the Department of Premier and Cabinet Bushfire Risk Identification and Mitigation Project Team, which informs the Joint Mitigation Working Group tasked to address the Keelty Report recommendations relevant to the planning portfolio.
(b) AS3959-2009 relates to building standards in bush fire prone areas. Compliance of new development with the standard can be achieved by a number of means, including reference in a local planning scheme. The WAPC's
Planning for Bushfire Protection Guidelines
(Ed 2) (the guidelines), which include reference to the standard, are a current planning consideration and should be given due regard by planning authorities in their decision-making, including those concerning local planning schemes, as well as other matters.
The guidelines and the WAPC policy position on land use planning and bushfire protection will be further strengthened through a forthcoming review of the WAPC's
State Planning Policy No. 3.4: Natural Hazards and Disasters
.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
Active attention is being given to implementing the recommendations of the Keelty report in a coordinated way. The Department of Planning, which serves and advises the WAPC, is represented on the Department of Premier and Cabinet Bushfire Risk Identification and Mitigation Project Team, which informs the Joint Mitigation Working Group tasked to address the Keelty Report recommendations relevant to the planning portfolio.
(b) AS3959-2009 relates to building standards in bush fire prone areas. Compliance of new development with the standard can be achieved by a number of means, including reference in a local planning scheme. The WAPC's
Planning for Bushfire Protection Guidelines
(Ed 2) (the guidelines), which include reference to the standard, are a current planning consideration and should be given due regard by planning authorities in their decision-making, including those concerning local planning schemes, as well as other matters.
The guidelines and the WAPC policy position on land use planning and bushfire protection will be further strengthened through a forthcoming review of the WAPC's
State Planning Policy No. 3.4: Natural Hazards and Disasters
.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.