Bushfire Prone Areas

In the Black Summer of 2020, like many, I experienced the threat of bushfires first hand at our family farm near Corryong. My partner’s family home was lost to the bushfires, and days were spent preparing my parent’s home for two different ‘catastrophic’ events - though the fire was extinguished on two neighbouring properties.

This event led me to research the topic of design for bushfire prone areas extensively, and I went on to present at the 2020 Australian Bushfire Building Conference (on the topic of designing for active defence) and then lead a team at Light House Architecture and Science (my employer at the time) to update the Australian Institute of Architects ‘Site Planning and Design for Bushfire’ Practice Note. This Note is available below (it is usually only available to members of the Australian Institute of Architects, but as one of the authors, I am permitted to share it with my direct network.)

A video on this topic, including my thoughts on design for active defence, is available here:

Site planning and design for bushfire planning - Member webinar

All projects in bushfire prone areas must be designed and constructed to meet Australian Standard AS3959:2018 which was also made freely available in 2020:

AS 3959:2018 | Construction In Bushfire-prone Areas | SAI Global

Another favourite and easily readable resource (written for the general public) is Joan Webster’s Bushfire Safety Book.

If you’re wondering about the bushfire requirements for your block in NSW, please see the NSW Rural Fire Service Single Dwelling Application Kit.