My presentation at AFAC 2011 Conference in Sydney Monday 29 August on “Enhancing Community Resilience through Appropriate Planning and Building Mechanisms” Looking at a range of issues associated with implementing planning and building regulations and requirements for new developments in Bush Fire Prone Areas.

1. Enhancing Community Resilience through Appropriate Planning and Building Mechanisms Lew Short Group Manager Community Resilience

3. Market Failures property owners will not voluntarily include appropriate levels of bushfire protection and survival measures in new buildings in bushfire prone areas. Insufficient information, “bounded rationality” and perception of risk Split incentives for developers(ie lowest cost = > profit)

4. “due to the imperfect responses and a range of market failures it is unlikely that in the absence of regulation, householders would voluntarily, or have the knowledge to, include appropriate levels of bushfire protection and survival measures in new buildings in BPAs. This is likely to result in increased risks associated with death, injuries and damage costs to property. Therefore, Government intervention is justified on the grounds that it could deliver a more efficient outcome for society.”

5. Redefining from reactive fire fighting role into a community safety focus Pro-actively addressing known problems at the planning and building stages of development. Policy and legislation at the planning stage to leverage advantage for fire fighting. Ultimately improving the capacity of our community for self reliance – move from active to passive protection And giving fire fighters increased ability to defend life and property

7. Are things that don’t always sit easily or well

8. Not an easy path Complex organisational issues Changes risk profile of the organisation BUT Good decision making Risk based sustainable

9. Why Regulate?

10. Planning and Building At the Zoning/ Planning Stage Local Plans: ensure new zonings and land-uses take account of bushfire protection issues up front At the Sub-division Clear integration of bushfire issues into planning legislation Ensure adequate setbacks, access, water supplies At the Building Stage Often existing pattern of development Ensure building materials meet applicable building standards Outcome focussed but must not increase risk, potential for engineered solutions

12. Primary role in providing protection to life, property and the environment from bush fires Legislative controls – Aug 2002 Improving the capacity of our community for self reliance – move from active to passive fire fighting. In NSW there are: 1.2 million bush fire prone properties; 300,000km of urban/bushland interface; 20/78 million Ha of bush fire prone land

13. NSW Applications 2010 - 2011 13

14. Aim and Objectives of PBP To provide for the protection of human life (including firefighters) and to minimise impacts on property from the threat of bush fire, while having due regard to development potential, on-site amenity and protection of the environment.

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17. Policy and legislation at the planning stage to leverage advantage for fire fighting (short, medium & long term outlook). Ultimately improving the capacity of our community for self reliance – move from active to passive fire fighting Giving fire fighters increased ability to defend life and property This is where the planning and development controls focus

18. Ta much Lew.short@rfs.nsw.gov.au Lew Short lewshort14