PLANNING PLANNING FOR BUSHFIRE PROTECTION 2018 Are you familiar with the Planning for Bushfire Protection development standards? Planning for Bushfire Protection is a planning document which contains development standards for planning and building on bushfire prone land in NSW. It is referenced by the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and therefore must be considered when planning or building on bushfire prone land in NSW. The NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) has conducted an extensive review of Planning for Bushfire Protection 2006 (PBP 06), and after industry consultation has released Planning for Bushfire Protection 2018 (PBP 18) (as a pre-release version). THE NSW RURAL FIRE SERVICE (RFS) HAS CONDUCTED AN EXTENSIVE REVIEW OF PLANNING FOR BUSHFIRE PROTECTION 2006 (PBP 06), AND AFTER INDUSTRY CONSULTATION HAS RELEASED PLANNING from exposure to a bushfire’. The chapterLOCAL COUNCILS FOR BUSHFIRE also contains a flow chart outlining howWILL PROVIDE THE MAPS PROTECTION 2018... to use the document throughout the TO THE COMMISSIONER planning process. OF THE NSW RFS WHO The provisions of PBP 18 will commence in conjunction with the 2. Framework MAY CERTIFY THE LAND adoption of NCC 2019 (1 May 2019). This chapter provides an outline of theIS BFPL... Until then PBP 06 remains in force. In thelegal framework surrounding PBP 18. The meantime PBP 18 may be used as part ofdocument outlines that PBP 18 should be a performance solution, in consultation withconsidered at both the strategic planning NSW RFS. phase and development assessment phase. PBP 18 is divided into 8 chapters. Key points: A description of each chapter and the keyUnder s.10.3 of the Environmental • points for HIA members to take note of arePlanning & Assessment Act (EP&A Act), provided below. bushfire-prone land (BFPL) must be mapped. Local councils will provide the 1. Introduction maps to the Commissioner of the NSW This chapter sets out the main objectivesRFS who may certify the land is BFPL. of the document, the first being to ‘affordThe commissioner may make changes to buildings and their occupants protection BFPL maps at any time. BUILDING NEWS ISSUE 1/2019P27