Toowoomba Regional Council to vote on bushfire risk management strategy in new planning scheme

Bushfire risk management will be on the Toowoomba Regional Council’s agenda at its Wednesday special meeting, with the vote to shape its upcoming planning scheme.

The council will vote on bushfire strategies in relation to its upcoming planning schemes.

The Toowoomba Regional Council will consider new measures in its upcoming planning scheme to manage bushfire risks near new developments, with councillors to vote on the updated approach this week.

The council’s planning department will bring forward a recommendation at Wednesday’s special meeting, which if approved would limit the style of developments in certain areas considered to have a risk of bushfires.

Planner Wilson Tam’s recommendation is for the council to support developments in areas where the bushfire risk is “tolerable” but avoid it where the risk cannot be reduced.

“Vulnerable uses” are to be avoided in all areas of bushfire risk.

The risk analysis is part of the council’s requirements in creating a new planning scheme, under the Queensland Government’s State Planning Policy.

“The State Government bushfire hazard mapping is being used unchanged as there is limited local data available to make appropriate refinements,” the report said.

“The risk assessment is at the stage of considering options for regulating development in bushfire risk areas.

The strategic approach will be applied to the upcoming planning document, which is to replace the original scheme from 2012.

It comes after the council approved a number of controversial developments despite the risk of bushfires, most notably the Shangri-La Estate in Prince Henry Heights.

The special meeting will be held at the Annex, behind City Hall, from 2pm.