Wildfire Management Overlay

The Minister for Planning has recently undertaken a Ministerial Amendment which has applied the Wildfire Management Overlay (WMO) to select areas within the municipality. The amendment has been implemented by the Minister as a result of recommendations made by the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission.

The areas which are subject to the overlay are generally through the Narrows, Queenscliff, extending down to the eastern end of Bowen Road, Point Lonsdale and to areas along and to the north of Ocean Road, Point Lonsdale. The amendment has been implemented by the Minister as a result of recommendations made by the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission.
The overlay has the effect of requiring planning permits for a number of land use activities and for some buildings and works. The WMO is a risk management tool which seeks to ensure appropriate development and land management in areas of high fire intensity. It is intended to ensure that development in areas of high fire intensity has appropriate:
• water supply

• access
• building siting and design, and
• fuel-reduced areas around buildings

Council has prepared an information sheet on the WMO, which can be downloaded HERE.

The WMO sets out a series of objectives and outcomes for buildings and works associated with specific uses and for subdivisions. A planning permit application must demonstrate that the objectives and outcomes have been considered and incorporated in a proposal. The provisions of the overlay can be viewed at the following link:
http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/planningschemes/aavpp/44_06.pdf

Where a planning permit is required for a development/ use, Council is required to refer the application to the Country Fire Authority for advice. The Country Fire Authority requires permit applicants to complete an Application Kit and a link to this kit is as follows:

http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/documents/wmo_applicants_kit.pdf

If you should have any queries regarding the new overlay, please contact Council's Planning Department on 5258 1377.