What services does Bushfire Consulting Services Pty Ltd provide?
We support you from start to finish with all the bushfire services you need, including:
- Bush Fire Attack Level (BAL) Certificates
- Bush Fire Assessment Reports
- Bush Fire Assessment Reports for Dual Occupancy or Subdivision
- Bushfire Statements of Compliance
- Bush Fire Attack Level (BAL) Assessments
- Bush Fire Webinars/Presentations
What is a Bush Fire Attack Level (BAL) Certificate and why do I need one?
A BAL Certificate specifies the severity of potential ember attack, radiant heat, and direct flame contact to a building site and is mandatory under the SEPP Code 2008 for Complying Developments. It relates to the requirements of Australian Standard 3959: Construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas that BAL 29 or less applies to your development.
How do you assess my property’s bushfire risk?
Our assessment includes:
- A comprehensive inspection of your site and surrounding vegetation
- Analysis of hazardous vegetation types
- Evaluation of topography (slope and landscape features)
- Measurement of the distance between the bushfire hazard and your proposed development.
- This detailed approach aligns with the NSW Rural Fire Service’s Planning for Bush Fire
- Protection (PBP 2019) guidelines to accurately determine your Bush Fire Attack Level
Which areas and council regions do you service?
We are locally based in Western Sydney and the Hunter Valley, and service over 50 council areas across NSW, including Greater Sydney (e.g., Blacktown, Camden, Parramatta, Ryde), the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Hunter Region, Illawarra (Shellharbour), South Coast (Bega Valley, Eurobodalla, Shoalhaven) and Western NSW (Bathurst, Lithgow)
What qualifications and accreditations do your consultants have?
Our Principal, Catherine Gorrie, holds a Graduate Diploma in Bushfire Protection from the University of Western Sydney and is a Level 3 Accredited Practitioner under the Fire Protection Association Australia’s Bushfire Planning and Design (BPAD) Scheme (Accreditation No. BPAD20751), ensuring industry-leading expertise. Catherine is also a qualifed Buildng Surveyor and has worked as a Development Assessment Officer and Registered Certifier. Other staff also hold similar qualifications
How do I engage your services and what does the process involve?
Simply fill out our Online Contact Form or call us on 02 4744 5800 to arrange an initial consultation. From there, we provide a written quote, and once you accept it, we conduct a site inspection, gather all necessary data, and provide you with a BAL Certificate or your detailed Bush Fire Assessment Report
How long does it take to receive my Bushfire Assessment Report?
We strive to keep your project moving smoothly by providing a clear timeline for your documentation from the outset. While exact turnaround depends on project complexity and site availability, most reports are delivered within 5–14 business days of site inspection
How much will a bushfire assessment cost?
Costs vary based on factors such as the size and complexity of the site and the type of development. We will provide you with a tailored quote once we understand your project requirements—please contact us for pricing details
Can you assist with council and NSW Rural Fire Service approvals?
Yes. Our team liaises directly with your local council and the NSW Rural Fire Service to help smooth the approval process, addressing any information requests and ensuring your development application meets all requirements
Which regulations and standards do you comply with?
We adhere strictly to the NSW Rural Fire Service’s Planning for Bush Fire Protection (PBP 2019) guidelines and the Australian Standard AS 3959: Construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas to ensure full compliance and maximum safety
Do you offer any webinars or training sessions?
Yes. We provide Bush Fire Seminars tailored to Council and Certifier staff builders, developers, and designers—sharing practical insights on bushfire risk management and compliance requirements. These can be in person or virtual.
What sets Bushfire Consulting Services apart from other consultants?
As a proudly family-owned, female-led business with extensive experience inside Council Development Assessment Teams, we offer honest, friendly partnership, clear communication, and high-quality service to give your project the best chance of success, every time
Why do we ask for a site plan?
In NSW, site plans for development must meet the minimum requirements outlined in
Schedule 1 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. These include
showing the site’s boundaries, area, north point, existing and proposed structures,
vegetation, and levels.
Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act):
This is the primary legislation governing land development in NSW and outlines the
requirements for site plans, as detailed in Schedule 1.
Specific Requirements (Schedule 1):
A site plan must include:
- Address and date of drawing
- Boundary dimensions and site area
- North point
- Existing vegetation, trees, and levels
- Existing and proposed buildings, including their uses
- Location and uses of buildings on adjoining sites
- Setbacks of proposed development from existing structures and boundaries
We need this to work out the Bushfire Attack Level for your new development, because it is calculated precisely to the structure. Here is an example of a simple site plan we drew ourselves!
