The Building & Energy section of the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety has recently advised building & construction industry stakeholders, including building surveyors, building certifiers and bushfire assessors, of the Western Australian Government’s decision to review the Bushfire Framework. The review will be carried out over the next 18 months and split into three stages including changes to the bushfire prone area mapping and methodology behind the mapping.
Stage one has come into effect already on Wednesday 31stJuly 2019, with an updated mapping which will result in a reduced number of lots within the metropolitan area being zoned in a bushfire prone area (approximate 30% reduction). It is expected that the mapping will be further refined by the end of September 2019.
Stage two involves engaging CSIRO to develop a new bushfire prone area mapping and methodology within Western Australia, as well as reviewing low risk areas on site to determine whether they can be excluded from bushfire prone areas. Stage two is not expected to be completed until the end of 2020 with Stage three following on to amend policies and guidelines to reflect the changes.
If you would like more information on the bushfire framework review or if we can be of any further assistance, please contact one of our bushfire assessors or building surveyors on 0411 548 159.
The media statement from the Western Australian government can be viewed at the below link;
