Bushfire prone land
Bushfire prone land is an area of land that can support a bushfire or is likely to be subject to bushfire attack. The Singleton Bushfire Prone Land Map is the currently certified mapping by the NSW Rural Fire Service. It shows all land considered to be at risk from bushfire.
Activate the Bushfire Prone Land layer of the map by clicking on the Layer List tab on the left, scroll down until you see the Bushfire Prone Land option and tick the check box. A property is bushfire prone if it is wholly or partly located in the red, orange and yellow areas.
Update to Bushfire Prone Land Mapping
The NSW Rural Fire Service liaises with councils to ensure that bushfire prone land is properly identified and mapped to comply with planning for bushfire protection guidelines.
Through this process updated mapping for Singleton LGA was certified by the Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service on 22 September 2021. You can view the updated mapping by viewing the Singleton Bushfire Prone Land Map.
How does the updated mapping affect my development application?
For development on bushfire prone land, Council requires a bushfire report prepared by a BPAD certified bushfire consultant for all development applications for residential, commercial and for Special Fire Protection Purpose Development where development is located on bushfire prone land.
To discuss whether Council can accept a self-assessment for your development application, please contact us on T 02 6578 7290.
Access the Single Dwelling Application Kit for self-assessments via the NSW Rural Fire Service’s website.
Why can't I see any bushfire prone land on the map?
You will need to activate the Bushfire Prone Land layer of the map. Do this by clicking on the Layer List tab on the left, scroll down until you see the Bushfire Prone Land option and tick the check box. Bushfire prone areas will be shown in the red, orange and yellow.
What do the colours on the map mean?
Planning for Bushfire Protection 2019 specifies the following colours for mapping:
There are four different categories based on vegetation hazard. This hazard may identify a potential bush fire risk, which is based on combustibility and the likelihood of forming fully developed fires.
The categories are:
Planning for Bushfire Protection (PBP) 2019 specifies the following colours for mapping:
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Vegetation Category 1 (Red)
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Land considered to be the highest vegetation hazard for bush fire and surrounded by a 100m buffer (buffer is in Yellow). Vegetation Category 1 consists of areas of forest, woodlands, heaths (tall and short), forested wetlands and timber plantations.
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Vegetation Category 3 (Dark Orange)
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Land considered to be a medium vegetation hazard for bush fire and surrounded by a 30m buffer (buffer is yellow). Vegetation Category 3 consists of grasslands, freshwater wetlands, semi-arid woodlands, alpine complex and arid shrublands.
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Vegetation Category 2 (Light Orange)
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Land considered to be a lower vegetation hazard bush fire than categories 1 and 3. It is surrounded by a 30m buffer (buffer is yellow). Vegetation Category 2 consists of rainforests and lower risk vegetation parcels, for example due to active management, topography, access and likelihood of fire detection by the community.
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Vegetation Buffer Zone (Yellow)
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A vegetation buffer is defined as an area within close proximity to a vegetation category 1, 2 or 3 that may be impacted by the hazard from conditions such as ember attack, radiant heat and/or flame contact.
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What does it mean if my property is located on bushfire prone land?
If the property is located within the bushfire prone land map, bushfire protection measures are likely to be needed when designing a development. Council must also take into account the bushfire risk in the assessment of a Development Application, Construction Certificate or Complying Development Certificate for that land.
Special building setbacks, landscaping and construction requirements may apply. This will depend on the type of development, the degree of bush fire hazard and the distance from the hazard.
Further information is available from the NSW Rural Fire Service.
What are the construction requirements for bushfire prone areas?
Planning for Bushfire Protection is the NSW Rural Fire Service bushfire protection measures to be include when planning or modifying development in a bushfire prone area. It links the bushfire hazard for a site with appropriate bushfire protection measures including:
- Asset Protection Zones (fuel reduced areas)
- Building construction standards and design (using Australian Standard AS3959)
- Access arrangements for residents, fire fighters, emergency service workers and those involved in evacuation
- Water supply and utilities
- Emergency management arrangements
- Suitable landscaping to limit fire spreading to a building
Map accuracy
The edge of the bush fire prone land on the map is an artificial boundary. The impact of a bush fire may not be limited to designated bush fire prone areas.
The bush fire prone land map has been produced from aerial photos and vegetation maps. Field surveys have occurred, but in some areas it is very likely difficult to map the edge of the vegetation.
If an applicant disagrees that a particular property is bush fire prone, it is their responsibility to provide more detailed information in a form of a survey showing the distance from the nearest bush fire hazard to the proposed development.