Bushfires: Queensland clears way for 20m firebreaks

The Queensland government has warned local councils to lift their game in relation to housing development in bushfire-prone areas.

Queenslanders have been warned that this year’s fire season could be worse than in 2019. Picture: iStock

The Queensland government has warned local councils to lift their game in relation to developing housing in bushfire-prone areas, saying land management and planning schemes must improve in the wake of a horror fire season.

Planning Minister Cameron Dick has written to the state’s 77 councils to stress the need for ­“default separation distances” ­between housing lots and bushland vulnerable to fire.

The government has also moved to ensure landholders are able to clear land for firebreaks and other fire management purposes without having permission from state and local agencies.

In his letter, Mr Dick said councils should be aware of changes to the state’s planning framework to “help local governments better plan for development in bushfire prone areas”.

He said the changes “will help local government better integrate planning and mitigation measures, with consideration given to a number of elements, including emergency access, water supply, urban design and landscape management”. “The guidance also ­includes separation distances ­between hazardous vegetation to achieve an ­acceptable level of radiant heat and reduce the likelihood of building losses or injury to residents and firefighters,” Mr Dick said.

The change “will ensure new development is not increasing the state’s bushfire risk and the right mitigation measures are in place”.

The minister’s warning to councils is a sign the government is looking to tighten planning regulations to take account of more severe bushfire risk.

However, it is also moving to ease restrictions on land clearing for firebreaks after property owners complained they were unable to do proper fire management due to bureaucratic red tape.

Last month, it amended planning regulations to make it clear firebreaks and fire management lines up to a width of 20m no longer needed state or local government approval.

Landholders will still need to obtain a fire permit for hazard ­reduction burning.

The new regulations follow a call by Queensland’s inspector-general for emergency management to reassess laws relating to bushfire mitigation and hazard ­reduction to take into account the increased risk of intense bushfires in rural and regional Queensland.

Queensland Fire Commissioner Greg Leach said the fire season in Queensland this year could be worse than 2019.

“It’s unlikely we are going to get above average rainfall this year and so it’s highly likely we are going to go into next fire season with even drier conditions than we have now,” he said.

He said the need for hazard ­reduction burning would be “significantly impeded” this year, with fire and emergency services looking to other means to reduce fuel load.

Last week Queensland Housing Minister Mick de Brenni said he had sought advice on whether building standards in the state ­remained appropriate after The Australian revealed Standards Australia had urged the government to review its fire danger ratings for houses.

About 49 homes have been lost to bushfires in Queensland since last September. Scenic Rim mayor Greg Christensen, whose region bore the brunt of damage from fires in September, said councils genuinely needed to learn the lessons from an unusually intense fire season and decide what needs to happen with building regulations and planning schemes.