Updates to Bushfire planning regulations in Western Australia

For some time now, there has been a state government planning framework  to address planning in bushfire prone areas of Western Australia. This effects small lot infill property developers in western Australia, dong subdivisions and property developments. The framework doesn’t just impact bigger land developers on the metropolitan fringes. If you pull up the DFES may of bushfire prone areas, there are plenty of suburban areas adjoining reserves, waterways, bushland, and parks that are DFES designated “bushfire prone” risk areas adjoining them. For example, a number of properties in Subiaco/Shenton Park adjoining kings park are DFES designated bushfire prone. Also, Large number of properties in our eastern hills and foothills also are impacted by bushfire planning regulations, such as Kalamunda, Mundaring, Armadale, Gosnells, and serpentine-Jarrahdale.

A property that is DFES designated “Bushfire Prone” needs a BAL (Bushfire Attack Level) assessment and modelling done by a suitably qualified bushfire panning consultant, to accompany any planning application for development or subdivision to the relevant decision making body. The outcome of the assessment can impact placement and orientation of dwelling/s on the site, and build technology elements of the dwelling, such as glazing, sealing, walls, roofing and external fixtures/fittings. Depending on how severe the site BAL ratings are, there can be major impact on the dwellings’ functionality and cost, and I the context of subdivision, the yield/number of lots and their salability/market value.

In the past, most development proposals could get away with simplified BAL assessments done by level 1 BPAD assessors, that looked at a site in question in context with only the adjoining bushland and fire sources within a certain distance, using a simplified, standardised assessment methodology ( “method 1”). With recent policy and approach shifts though, this has changed.

The old approach had some limitations around providing advice that adequately considered the real behavior of a bushfire over broader landscape area.  It didn’t look at the entire surrounding areas topography and land contour, along with things like entry and exit paths for human escape. Assessing a site BAL rating by considering its relationship to a larger area of overall assessment, has been deemed more appropriate.

The last major update to State Planning Policy 3.7 Bushfire (SPP 3.7) was published in September 2024, and became operational not long after, in November of the same year.  It has since received further refinement based on industry use and feedback over the first year of operation. Key changes and improvements :

• Updates have since been provided on the Assessment method for fire source classification used in the BAL modelling , being a new “Broader Landscape Assessment methodology”.
• To assess the bushfire planning impacts for a development site, there is also a new outcomes based approach for determining the BAL rating or BAL contour map for specific sites, along with the referrals processes for submitting the assessment and your planning applications to DFES,
• Depending on the outcomes of the assessment and the need to reach consensus with DFES and the local government, there may be extensive consultation on the findings presented by your bushfire practitioner using the outcomes based approach with these decision makers before an application for subdivision or planning approval will even be accepted for processing .

Bushfire planning is no longer a box ticking exercise that is a walk in the park. It’s a far more considered approach that looks at each proposal with broader consideration for environmental impact on flora and fauna (where clearing and associated fire breaks/vegetation reduction is proposed), bushfire safety for people and property, and further relationship to other building and planning controls (such as SSE or sewerage management for additional dwellings and density in bushfire prone areas).

As a final note, an updated Map of Bush Fire Prone Areas came into effect in December 2025, and will receive more frequent updates as more data and modelling is done over time by DFES and support agencies.

The latest version of the state planning policy 3.7 Bushfire and all the accompanying explanatory noted can be found here: State Planning Policy 3.7 Bushfire

If a property development site you own or you are looking to buy is bushfire prone, its important to BAL modelling as part of due diligence and feasibility modelling early so you can fully capture the impact and potential consequences for your development or subdivision in WA.

You can learn more about planning in bushfire prone areas, feasibility considerations, and approvals processes in our online books and courses.

To discuss planning in Bushfire prone areas in Western Australia and the best ways to develop a property, contact us and we can get in touch to discuss.