Our desire to live close to nature means that many homes are built in areas that are at risk of bush fire. Eighty percent of homes destroyed by bushfire are built within 100m of bushland.

Since August 2002, legal standards have been in place for the safe construction of buildings in bushfire prone areas in NSW. These standards are set out in a document produced by the Rural Fire Service called "Planning for Bushfire Protection 2006" guidelines and must be addressed in the preparation of a development application for land identified on the Bushfire Prone Land map.

These standards include: 

• adequate setbacks from bushland
• inclusion of reduced fuel areas (Asset Protection Zones)
• correct siting
• good access roads for firefighters and residents.

Well planned developments in bushfire prone areas make homes and families safer from bushfires.
 
Bushfire protection standards must be included in development applications submitted to Councils for existing or proposed development in bushfire prone area.
 
Development Applications are assessed together with Local Rural Fire Services so that people, property and the environment are better protected against the dangers of bushfire.