Bushfire Hazard Assessment or Bushfire Attack Level Certificate?

It can be quite daunting when you are new to developing and suddenly find you need a Bushfire report or Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) Certificate, especially if you haven't heard these terms before. How can you tell which document you need? Most people aim to gain approval for their development via the Complying Development route. This is commonly referred to as a CDC, which stands for Complying Development Certificate (CDC). In plain English, a Complying Development is development that meets the specific standards in the State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008. Applications can be determined by  the Council or a Private Certifier without the need for a full development application.

A CDC is a faster way to go, as legislation requires the Certifier to issue the CDC within 10 days of lodgement. Approach your local Council or to find a list of Private Certifiers in your area, go to the Building Professionals Board website here.

A BAL Certificate must be issued by an Accredited Bushfire Consultant or the Council for a CDC on bushfire prone land. There are a whole range of reasons though, why a CDC might not be able to be issued for the land, and one of those is because the bushfire risk is too high. If this happens, you'll need to apply for your development via a Devlopment Application to the local Council. A Bushfire Hazard Assessment is the document you'll need.

A BAL Certificate tells you what the bushfire risk is for your development, and how that risk was worked out. A Bushfire Hazard Assessment includes a BAL Certificate and also assesses the development against criteria contained within the Rural Fire Service document, Planning For Bushfire Protection. If you'd like to read it, you can find it here.

If this still sounds confusing, why not get in touch? You can give us a ring on 0425 833 893.