Changes to bushfire risk mapping could save landowners in Melbourne’s north thousands of dollars in compliance measures.
Planning Minister Matthew Guy has approved updates to bushfire-prone area (BPA) maps, which require specific construction standards for areas in 26 municipalities, including Whittlesea and Hume.
Mr Guy said a review had reduced unnecessary red tape for landowners by “removing the cost burden of complying with these regulations”.
A total of 688 lots were removed from the construction standards requirement in Hume, with 143 removed in Whittlesea.
Mr Guy’s spokesman said most of the lots removed were in new housing estates where the bushfire risk had been reduced because of progressing development and the removal of areas of overgrown grass.
He said developed sections of several estates on the fringes of Greenvale and Craigieburn had been removed from the BPA mapping. This included lots with houses threatened by the Mickleham/Kilmore fire earlier this year.
“People who have bought a new lot in these estates should still check the status of their property, as some may still be designated as a bushfire-prone area,” the spokesman said.
“Those who have had their lot removed from the BPA will save about $3000 on some building safety measures.”
Whittlesea council advocacy and communications director Griff Davis said it was not necessary to have houses in urban areas built to a BPA standard. “It really is unreasonable to ask them to invest in that level of protection,” he said.
Whittlesea township has also been removed from BPA maps. Mr Davis said some landowners could save as much as $10,000.
Protection requirements in BPA zones can include fireguards on guttering, gap fillers around windows and doors, fire-retardant doors, sprinkler systems with diesel-powered pumps, and fire guards over vents.
