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New planning overlay to highlight wildfire managementNew planning overlay to highlight wildfire management. By Latrobe City Council - 25th July 2006 - Back to News A new planning overlay being introduced by Latrobe City Council will require any planning permit being issued for building in certain fire risk areas in Latrobe City to include a statement which demonstrates that all fire protection requirements have been considered and incorporated.
Latrobe City mayor, councillor Lisa Price said that the requirement only affected new applications for dwellings, facilities such as childcare centres, education facilities and hospitals; industry, places of assembly, retail premises, and timber production.
"The new wildfire management overlay identifies the Strzelecki ranges and foothills in the south-eastern portion of the municipality, forested areas adjacent to the northern and eastern council boundaries and plantation land to the north of Morwell as areas where there is a heightened risk to life and property from wildfire," Cr Price explained.
Latrobe City's strategic planner, Gavin Brosche, said the new overlay places control on buildings and works associated with specified land uses which have the potential to increase the number of people in the affected areas.
"Before a planning application can be considered, applicants will have to demonstrate through the development of a fire risk management plan that water supply, access, building and works, vegetation and any other relevant matters have been considered and incorporated into a statement within the application," Mr Brosche said.
"Fire risk management plans will need to demonstrate that water is available to landholders and emergency services to enable life and property to be defended from wildfire and includes the requirement for outlets and connectors compatible with fire brigade equipment.
"They need to show that safe access is provided for emergency and other vehicles at all times through properly designed access tracks with turning circles or passing bays as required. They will also need to ensure that the design and siting of buildings and works improves protection for life and minimises the level of fire impact through proper consideration of slope, access, vegetation and orientation," Mr Brosche added.
"New subdivision proposals in the wildfire management overlay will also need to consider designing for emergency vehicle access, evacuation of residents, appropriate setbacks, water supply and proximity of existing vegetation.
Mr Brosche said that those wishing to develop properties in areas affected by the wildfire management overlay were advised to consider the implications of wildfire management at the very earliest stage of design and siting of any proposal. "The CFA will be a referral authority to Latrobe City Council in relation to applications affected by the wildfire management overlay," Mr Brosche explained.
"The CFA have produced a wildfire management overlay applicant's kit that is designed to assist applicants in carrying out a property assessment and developing a proposal that meets the new planning overlay requirements.
"Exemptions will be granted for those uses that have an existing and approved fire risk management plan and for additions and outbuildings under certain square metres in size," Mr Brosche concluded.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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