Victoria Provides Clarity For Building In Bushfire Prone Areas
The Victorian Government supports all seven recommendations of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission interim report into priorities for building in bushfire-prone areas.
The Premier John Brumby today welcomed the Royal Commission’s Interim Report 2 Priorities for Building in Bushfire Prone Areas and said it was in line with actions being undertaken by the Government and its agencies to provide clarity to Victorians building in bushfire-prone areas.
Mr Brumby said the Government had taken action to establish an interim regulation and accreditation process for the construction of bunkers or private bushfire shelters ahead of new national standards, and was working with industry to implement and inform communities of the new interim arrangements.
In its interim report the Royal Commission welcomes the actions of the State to develop an interim solution for the construction of bunkers or private bushfire shelters ahead of the new national standards that the Royal Commission has requested be ready by 30 April 2010.
“The Government established the Royal Commission because we wanted to leave no stone unturned in better protecting the community in future bushfire seasons,” Mr Brumby said.
“The task for all levels of government, emergency services agencies, communities and families is to work together to make our state as fire-safe and as fire-ready as possible.
“Our Government and emergency service agencies are rolling-out unprecedented new resources and measures for the largest-ever firefighting effort. This is being backed by record funding for our emergency services.”
In its submission to the Commission, the State submitted that private bushfire shelters are not and should not be relied upon as a substitute for adequate preparation of an existing home and appropriate mitigation measures at the planning and building stage of a new home. The Commission notes this and has accepts and adopts it as a sound approach.
“Bunkers and private bushfire shelters cannot be guaranteed to save lives and the safest option for the protection of human life is to leave early,” Mr Brumby said.
“It is absolutely vital that people considering building a bunker or private bushfire shelters are aware of the risks and requirements that they need to meet for such a bunker to be considered a safer place of last resort.
“The new interim regulations and an accreditation process for construction of bunkers or private bushfire shelters are about providing clarity to Victorians until the new national standards are introduced next year.”
The Commission has recommended that a new national standard for bushfire bunkers be available to the public by 30 April 2010 and that Victoria adopts the new national standard by 31 May 2010. The Victorian Government supports these recommendations.
Planning Minister Justin Madden said the Victorian Government had also adopted the Australian Standard AS 3959-2009 in March, for the Design and Construction of Buildings in Bushfire Prone Areas, a year earlier than other States and Territories.
He said the Government would now work with the relevant organisations to implement recommendations outlined in the Royal Commission’s Interim Report 2 Priorities for Building in Bushfire Prone Areas.
“Many recommendations refer to the Commonwealth Government and Australian Building Codes Board and Standards Australia and we will work with them to implement the Commission’s recommendations,” Mr Madden said.
“We established an interim regulation and accreditation process for the construction of bunkers so that Victorians who do choose to build bunkers or private bushfire shelters have a clear set of guidelines that they need to adhere to until there are national standards in place.
“The Government took this action because we wanted to ensure people in bushfire-prone areas have all of the information and are aware of the conditions that they need to meet.
“Under the new interim accreditation process, if people do choose to construct a bunker or private bushfire shelter they will be required to adhere to the regulations and accreditation process.
“Whilst the Victorian Interim Regulations are in place the Victorian Building Commission will also undertake further consultation, awareness raising and training activities to support the introduction of the interim arrangements and to ensure a smooth transition once these interim arrangements are replaced by the new national standards.”
Under the system, manufacturers are able to apply to the Building Regulations Advisory Committee (BRAC) for accreditation of their products. The committee will consider the application taking into account expert and test reports and appraisals. Products accredited by the Committee will receive a BRAC certificate of accreditation.
The Victorian Building Commission has worked in partnership with BRAC to develop the interim regulation and accreditation process for private bushfire shelters or bunkers.
In order to obtain a permit to build a fire bunker or private bushfire shelter residents need to purchase a bushfire bunker or shelter which is accredited or satisfy a building surveyor that it meets the requirements contained in the regulations.
The 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission will deliver its final report by 31 July, 2010.
Topics: 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission interim report, Australia, building, bunkers, bushfire shelters, Bushfires, environment, fires, Governance, housing, interim solutions, priorities, Victoria
Print This Article in Plain Text
|
|
Latest Headlines
- Osama Bin Laden Dead?
- Florida To Share $1 Billion For Gulf Coast Restoration Efforts
- Texas Prays For Rain During Extreme Drought Conditions
- Governor Christie Takes Action To Reduce Diesel Emissions, Improve Air Quality
- Governor McDonnell Outlines Draft Transportation Improvement Program
- Alaska Energy Bill Passes Legislature
- Illinois State Building Receives ENERGY STAR Award
- Homeland Security Begins Using National Terrorism Advisory System
- U.S. Outlines New Health Insurance Options For Graduating College Students
- Electrolux Expands In North Carolina, To Create 200 Jobs In Charlotte
- Virginia Storm Victims To Receive Tax Extension
- U.S. Expands Broadband Investment For Rural Areas To Accelerate Job Creation
- U.S. To Invest $130 Million For Advanced Energy Research
- Michigan Passes “I’m Sorry” Bill
- Kentucky Sells Two State Aircraft To Save Taxpayer Dollars
