Bushfire Planning

BAL ASSESSMENTS

Most of Central Victoria is subject to bushfire planning regulations that require any new developments to be assessed for their Bushfire Attack Level in order to be eligible for a building permit. Building in a Designated Bushfire Prone Area requires proposed developments to include appropriate bushfire protection measures. Phoenix Wildfire Management Services can provide detailed and accurate BAL Assessments to accompany all planning permit applications to local council.
If your development is subject to the Bushfire Management Overlay (BMO) you may require further bushfire planning to determine the appropriate bushfire mitigation measures to the proposed buildings.

BUSHFIRE MANAGEMENT STATEMENTS

Planning for bushfire is now a requirement wherever there is a Bushfire Management Overlay (BMO), directly effecting the type of construction, location and materials used in building. There is also a requirement to demonstrate ongoing landscape management to mitigate bushfire risk. Having a comprehensive bushfire management plan is an essential part of living in the increasingly fire-prone bush. Assessment of the property and its surrounding landscape is conducted in accordance with AS3959-2018 Construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas and Clause 44.06 Bushfire Management Overlay, and can cover building a single dwelling, extending an existing dwelling, building a shed, deck or carport, subdivisions and multi-dwelling developments.

BUSHFIRE RESILIENT LANDSCAPE DESIGN

This unique service offers bushfire safe landscape design incorporating plants and materials specifically selected to mitigate bushfire risk while providing the highest aesthetic and functional landscape requirements while drawing on 20 years of landscape design experience in Central Victoria. Plans are prepared with a combination of hand drawing and overlays for a unique combination of style and relevant information.

PRE-PURCHASE ASSESSMENTS

PERSONAL AND FAMILY BUSHFIRE PLANS

Be prepared for the fire season with a bushfire plan tailored to your lifestyle, including essential equipment to stay and defend, management strategies to keep your household fire -resilient, landscape management to reduce bushfire intensity and step-by step guides on what to do if you are faced with a bushfire at home or on the road. Phoenix Wildfire can help not only with landscape management plans but also seasonal preparedness, looking at essential protective equipment, emergency management plans, bushfire shelters, managing pets and livestock.

BUSHFIRE RISK ASSESSMENTS

Purchasing property can be a minefield of information and building in bushfire prone areas may restrict your dreams through stringent building requirements to meet bushfire safety standards. Help with assessing the bushfire risk of your desired property can help remove any pitfalls or surprises when it comes to planning your home or property development. Other critical information to consider before purchasing includes:

Topography and soil
Water resources
Power and energy resources
Existing vegetation assessments
Wind and weather
Access and egress

Phoenix Wildfire can help with assessing all your needs to find the best fit before purchasing.

Understanding the bushfire risk of your property or development can help understand how to manage the surrounding landscape and can provide you with knowledge and resources to better prepare for living and developing in a bushfire prone landscape. Services include vegetation classification and risk analysis, fuel load observations, effects of topography and local weather, landscape and fuel load management strategies. Fuel reduction by burning has become increasingly under scrutiny with high risks and management costs, along with the loss of soil carbon adding to atmospheric CO2. A whole range of alternative fuel reduction and vegetation management strategies are possible to reduce fire risk without burning, using animal management, mechanical fuel removal, fire resilient planting, forest management strategies and residential landscape planning.

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