By JESSE GRAHAM
SWEEPING changes to the Bushfire Management Overlay (BMO) outlined today will resolve ‘all the issues’ currently holding up Yarra Ranges properties, according to mayor Fiona McAllister.
Planning Minister Matthew Guy outlined key changes to the bushfire overlay this morning (Wednesday 28 May), which had been officially adopted and were set to be implemented.
Key changes include allowing private bushfire bunkers to be constructed on land with high risk of bushfires and allowing vegetation clearance for defendable space around a home.
The vegetation clearance obligations for defendable space would be limited to the boundary of the property under the overlay changes, where it had not been limited beforehand.
Cr McAllister said she had “no words” to express how pleased she was with the announced changes, which she said would unlock land currently restricted in the area.
“It looks at this point as if it will resolve all the issues for those building in BMO areas,” she said.
“For all of the people who have been fighting for years to achieve this, it is an incredible outcome.
“I’m absolutely thrilled.”
Mr Guy said the changes will help people to build on land with higher Bushfire Attack Levels (BAL), where they previously had not been able to do so.
“These changes will help Victorians address the challenges of living in bushfire prone areas. It will see common sense return to planning decision making, while ensuring Victorians build their homes to the best possible standards,” Mr Guy said.
The Mail has reported a number of cases of landowners in areas such as Chum Creek who had been unable to build or develop their property in any way, due to restrictions from the overlay.
Cr McAllister said the changes will provide flexibility to those landowners to finally build their dream homes, while still doing so in a way to minimise bushfire risks.
A $700,000 Bushfire Planning Assistance Fund will also be set up under the changes to the overlay, which will offer assistance to landholders in making permit applications and reducing the backlog of applications to councils.
Mr Guy said the changes to the overlay, which came after a long period of consultation, had been adopted and would be implemented “shortly”.
For the full story, see next week’s Mail.
