- Building Work Applications - Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) Assessment
If you are building, renovating or undertaking any building works, it is likely you will require a Development Approval for these building works.
If your property is within any of the bushfire hazard areas, you will require a Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) Assessment. A BAL assessment determines your property’s bushfire exposure, based on:
- Vegetation type and density
- Topography (slope and land shape)
- Distance between the vegetation and your proposed building, and
- The Australian Standard AS3959 – Construction of buildings in bushfire prone areas.
Typically, the process will involve:
- A site inspection
- Discussion about vegetation clearing requirements
- Determining your BAL rating
- Identifying construction requirements
- Providing advice on how the BAL affects design and materials
The results of the BAL directly influence the construction standards required for your building approval. BAL ratings range from BAL–LOW to BAL–FZ (Flame Zone). The higher the BAL, the more stringent the construction requirements. These requirements are included in your Building Work Development Permit.
Council’s Building Certifiers can undertake a BAL at a fee per Council’s fees and charges for that financial year or if you lodge a Building Application with Council, the BAL cost is included in the initial application fee. Alternatively, you can engage an external Building Certifier to undertake this service for you.
2. Town Planning Applications - Bushfire Management Plans
If your property is located within the high or very high bushfire hazard area, you may need to lodge a Development Application for a Material Change of Use (for establishing new or expanding existing land uses) or Reconfiguring a Lot (for subdivisions/boundary realignments). These are also known as town planning approvals.
This application will require a Bushfire Management Plan prepared by a suitably qualified professional and assessment against the Bushfire Hazard Overlay Code within the Gladstone Regional Council Planning Scheme.