The action plan and review of the bushfire policy frameworks were undertaken in response to community concerns about bushfire reforms implemented in 2015.
The draft State Planning Policy 3.7: Bushfire and Planning for Bushfire Guidelines has been informed by extensive policy development, consultation and testing and is now open for public comment.
Significant changes have been made to the policy and supporting guidelines to incorporate a contemporary best-practice approach to planning in bushfire prone areas and address implementation issues experienced with the previous policy framework.
Comprehensive engagement with the development sector, local government and industry has helped identify key improvements to the State's bushfire planning framework which include:
- a stronger emphasis on considering bushfire requirements in early planning stages;
- new policy provisions to apply to different categories on the draft Map of Bush Fire Prone Areas;
- introduction of an assessment of the broader landscape surrounding a development site, as a means of identifying locations with an unacceptable level of bushfire risk;
- an outcomes-based approach to facilitate improved flexibility and understanding by decision-makers; and
- clearer guidance and a more user-friendly format as the guidelines are now divided into sections based on the planning stage
To make a submission on the draft State Planning Policy 3.7: Bushfire and Planning for Bushfire Guidelines visit https://consultation.dplh.wa.gov.au/. Comments close on Monday 17 July 2023.
A draft Map of Bush Fire Prone Areas has also been released to assist in discussions on the draft policy and guidelines. The Department of Fire and Emergency Services will be seeking feedback on the draft map in the second half of 2023, in order to inform a final map, with submissions to be made via bushfiremap@dfes.wa.gov.au.
More information on planning and building requirements in bushfire prone areas is available at https://www.wa.gov.au/planning-bushfire and http://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/building-and-energy.
