22 October 2024 Post
New State Planning Policy 3.7 on Land Use and Bushfire Risk
24 September 2024: DPLH released new SPP 3.7 Planning for Bushfire Prone Areas to be operational from 18 November 2024 to provide the foundation for land use planning to address bushfire management in Western Australia. It is to be used to inform and guide decision makers, referral agencies, and landowners/proponents to help achieve acceptable bushfire protection outcomes.
SPP 3.7 applies to all bushfire prone designated land
SPP 3.7 Clause 7.3 provides as follows:
Siting in BAL-40 or BAL-Flame Zone i.
… presumption against approving development site(s) or habitable building(s) in areas with radiant heat impact exceeding 29kW/m2 (BAL-40 or BAL-FZ).
… siting of habitable building not considered vulnerable may be considered in following limited circumstances,
- lot created prior to December 2015; and
- demonstrated site characteristics and/or environmental, biodiversity or conservation values that prevent the achievement of a radiant heat impact not exceeding 29 kW/m2 (BAL-29); and
- demonstrated that building footprint reduction or redesign to manage or mitigate the risk, is not practical or appropriate.