The Western Australian Government announced that a Bushfire Framework Review would be conducted throughout 2019 and 2020, to address inconsistencies in the existing bushfire policy framework.

The review is in response to recommendations made in Bushfire Planning and Policy Review: A Review into the Western Australian Framework for Planning and Development in Bushfire Prone Areas, a ministerial review into the bushfire planning development framework released in January 2019.

The goals of the Bushfire Framework Review include:

• improved scientific basis for identifying areas of the State as bushfire prone
• streamlined planning approvals for development in areas of lower bushfire risk
• bushfire planning and building requirements that reflect the identified level of risk.

A three-stage plan has been developed to implement the Bushfire Framework Review involving the Map of Bush Fire Prone Areas and the State Planning Policy 3.7(Planning in Bushfire Prone Areas) and accompanying Guidelines for Planning in Bushfire Prone Areas.

Our Fire Management planning team welcome the enacted and proposed changes to both the bushfire prone area mapping and the bushfire policy framework, which better balance bushfire risk in urban areas.

If landowners or clients are interested in reviewing whether the new edition of the Bush Fire Prone Area Map impacts their current or proposed developments, we would encourage you to view the Map on the DFES website.

The Bushfire Framework Review, including the Action Plan and the Bushfire Planning and Policy Review, can be found on the DPLH website.

Our team are here to help with any queries or concerns regarding these updates - please contact us.