The planning system and bushfire through time.

The list below outlines the changes to the Victoria Planning Provisions for bushfire since 2009 and other major events related to the matter.

Amendment VC176 (6 August 2020)

Clause 52.12 Bushfire Protection Exemptions are updated to align the 10/30 and fence line clearing vegetation exemptions to designated bushfire prone areas.

March-April 2020

Clauses 52.07 Bushfire recovery and 52.10 Bushfire reconstruction introduced in Victorian planning schemes to assist recovery and rebuilding.

December 2019 to February 2020 bushfires

5 lives lost
396 homes destroyed statewide
1,505,027 ha of vegetation burnt

Bunyip Complex Bushfires March 2019

27 homes destroyed
15,280 ha of vegetation burnt

South West Bushfires (17/03/2018)

26 homes destroyed, and two damaged

2017 Amendment VC140 (21/12/2017)

Victorian Planning Schemes are reformed to improve transparency and usability
State bushfire planning policy clause 13.05 becomes clause 13.02-1s

Amendment GC13 (02/10/2017)

Bushfire Management Overlay (BMO) mapping applied consistently across Victoria

Wye River Bushfires (19/12/2015-16/01/2016)

2,500 ha of vegetation burnt
116 homes destroyed

Amendment VC109 (31/7/2014)

BMO was adjusted, and application pathways were introduced for new developments in the BMO

Amendment VC100 (15/07/2013)

Clause 52.47 is updated

2012-2013 Fire Season (Dec 2012 – Mar 2013)

One community member and four firefighters’ lives lost
46 homes destroyed

Amendment VC83 (18/11/2011)

The Bushfire Management Overlay (BMO) replaced the WMO. It responds to bushfire hazard and extreme bushfire behaviour areas by considering vegetation, weather and slope. It includes a 150m ember protection buffer beyond the hazard.
The BMO initially covered the same areas as the WMO, but with the collaboration of local councils new BMO mapping was progressively introduced over time.
Clause 52.47 ‘Bushfire Protection: Planning Requirements’ is created to complement the BMO.
State Policy clause 13.05 is amended and strengthened.

Bushfire Prone Area (BPA) (8/9/2011)

BPA maps designated across Victoria 
Minimum bushfire construction requirements introduced

VBRC 2009 (16/2/2009 - 31/7/2010)

Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission (VBRC) recommendations prioritise protecting human life. Agencies, communities and individuals share the responsibility to help prevent a similar tragedy from ever happening again.
The Victorian Government accepted all VBRC recommendations.

Black Saturday Bushfires (7-14/2/2009)

173 lives lost
Over 2,000 homes destroyed
430,000 ha of vegetation burnt

Pre-2009: Wildfire Management Overlay (WMO)

The WMO applied to areas of forest greater than 5ha with a vegetation density greater than 80%.  
From 1901-2008 333 lives were lost to Victorian bushfires.