RSCH.016.001.1136 - 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission

RSCH.016.001.1169
Bushfires 29
Additionally, the Service trains a number of specialist air and ground crew personnel to
support the management of aviation resources including air attack supervisors, air
observers, airborne system operators, air operations managers, airbase and helibase
managers and airbase operation personnel. 72
As noted later in this Paper, the use of heavy duty water bombing helicopters attracted
considerable attention during the 2001-2002 fire season.
5.0 BUSHFIRES AND THE PLANNING SYSTEM
It was noted earlier in this Paper that especially since the 1960s, people have wanted to build
their homes and holiday retreats by and within bushland areas. It is clear that under these
circumstances, building standards and urban planning can contribute substantially towards
the safety and protection of life and properties from bushfire hazards.
During the height of the NSW bushfire period in early 2002, it was noted that councils
should do more to ensure that houses are fire resistant. For instance, it was reported that
many residents in fire prone areas had chosen to upgrade their homes since the 1994 fires,
but many dwellings still did not comply with Australian Standard guidelines on fire
resistance. 73
It is widely accepted that modern planning techniques and provisions as outlined below, if
implemented properly, can help reduce the hazards of bushfires to life and property.
However, the fact that large parts of the urban/bush interface, both in Sydney, the Blue
Mountains, and up and down the ‘holiday’ coasts, have had extensive areas of subdivision
that are not, from a planning perspective, protected against bushfires.
In December 2001 the NSW Rural Fire Service released an updated booklet on planning for
bushfire protection. 74 A key feature of the document is the linkage of bushfire hazard for
a site with the implementation of appropriate bushfire related planning and development
controls. The document identified five main ways of protecting life and property from
bushfire. These were: 75
· The planning and implementation of bushfire hazard reduction activities such as
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73
74
75
NSW Legislative Council, General Purpose Standing Committee No 5, Report on Inquiry into
the NSW Rural Fire Service. Report No 6 June 2000 at 144.
“NSW: Councils should ensure houses are fire resistant.” AAP News 15 January 2002.
NSW Rural Fire Service, Planning for Bushfire Protection. A Guide for Councils, Planners,
Fire Authorities, Developers and Home Owners. December 2001.
NSW Rural Fire Service, Planning for Bushfire Protection. A Guide for Councils, Planners,
Fire Authorities, Developers and Home Owners. December 2001, at 1.