The WA State Government recently announced the implementation of a finalised bushfire reform package. Guidelines for Organisations seeking to become accredited bodies in Western Australia have also been released, including details on accreditation for Level 2 Bushfire Planning Practitioner – Prescriptive (Level 2) and Level 3 Bushfire Planning Practitioner – Performance (Level 3). Under the guidelines, organisations can apply to the WA Bushfire Accreditation Steering Committee to become accredited bodies for Level 2 and/or Level 3 Bushfire Planning Practitioners.
Building construction requirements will change in bushfire-prone areas when the transition period in the Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Amendment Regulations 2015 ends in April 2016. Owners will be required to obtain a Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) assessment using Method 1 of AS 3959 or, in the case of part of a subdivision approval, a BAL Contour Map.
BAL Assessments and BAL Contour Maps may form part of a building surveyor’s assessment of bushfire risk for compliance with the requirements of the Building Code of Australia for some residential classifications of buildings. However, there will be an exemption to the new bushfire planning regulatory requirements, applicable to single houses and ancillary dwellings on a site area less than 1,100m2.
Information Sessions
To assist stakeholders in understanding the bushfire planning reforms, the Department of Planning are holding information sessions to be held at the following times:
- Thursday 10 December 2015 from 2:30pm – 4:00pm at Gordon Stephenson House, Level 2, 140 William Street, Perth
- Friday 11 December 2015 from 9:30am – 11:00am at Gordon Stephenson House, Level 2, 140 William Street, Perth
- Tuesday 15 December 2015 from 10:30am – 12:00pm at Quality Hotel Lighthouse (formerly Lighthouse Beach Resort), Carey Street, Bunbury (Koombana Room)
The sessions run for 1.5 hours and places are limited. To register your attendance, complete a registration form on the Department of Planning’s website at http://www.planning.wa.gov.au/Bushfire-Reform-Information-Sessions/Register-Interest.asp
For more information
The team at WA BAL Report are experts at conducting Bushfire Attack Level Assessments, Bushfire Attack Level Contour Maps and bushfire prevention in general. For more information, contact our friendly staff on 08 6114 9356 or at admin@wabalreport.com.au
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