​MAV Chief Executive Mr Rob Spence said land-use planning could play an important role in helping to identify and mitigate many bushfire risks, and the reforms would provide better clarity for councils and homeowners.

“Prioritising the protection of human life within our land-use planning system fulfils a key reform sought by local government to achieve improved community safety outcomes.

“Councils have called for planning controls that provide clearer guidance on restricting development in areas of highest bushfire risk, and give greater weight to actions necessary for fire protection purposes.

“Changes include new bushfire hazard mapping plus building, planning and vegetation controls to improve decisions about where and how development should occur, to better respond to a property’s assessed risk.

“Owners of homes that existed before September 2009 don’t need a permit to remove some native vegetation in high bushfire risk areas. If in doubt, check with your council - but for new properties, clearing for bushfire protection will be considered through planning permits.

“A new fire prevention exemption to help road managers mitigate bushfire risks from vegetation on roadsides also fulfils a key outcome sought by councils through the Royal Commission.

“The exemption will provide greater consistency in the way roadsides are managed for bushfire and ensure works are directed to areas which pose the greatest risk to the community.

A Bushfire Management Overlay (BMO) will replace the existing Wildfire Management Overlay for Victorian properties deemed at risk of bushfires. Over the coming months councils will be working with the Government to ground-truth the mapping of bushfire risk areas before the new maps are introduced to planning schemes.

The BMO complements building regulations introduced on 9 September to require all new residential buildings and extensions in bushfire-prone areas to be constructed to a minimum prescribed bushfire attack level (BAL).

Mr Spence said the MAV would continue to work through ongoing challenges with the Victorian Government and councils to ensure a smooth transition to the new bushfire planning regime.

“Verifying the new maps at the local level is a priority. It will be undertaken by a joint taskforce over the coming and will result in refinements to the new Bushfire Management Overlay.

“Councils have raised concerns about the challenges of enforcing permit conditions for ongoing maintenance of bushfire protection measures such as defendable space for the life of a development.

“The MAV will continue to work closely with fire agencies and the State Government to develop an appropriate resource response given the capacity and budget constraints for many smaller councils.

“We also look forward to contributing to an agreed assessment process with the CFA, as a referral authority, to ensure consistent and timely decisions under the new bushfire planning provisions,” he said.

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For further information contact MAV CEO Rob Spence on 0418 132 573 or MAV Communications on 9667 5521.

For details of the bushfire planning provision changes visit the Department of Planning and Community Development website.