‘Like building in flood plains’: Mayor warns against high fire risk builds

After flames tore through Hobart's hillside last month, the mayor has revealed the area was classed as a bushfire prone zone in the same meeting the subdivision was approved. LATEST + HAVE YOUR SAY >>

Tasmanians looking to build homes in high bushfire risk areas should think again, warns Hobart lord mayor Anna Reynolds, with fears many are setting themselves up for failure.

The concerns come in the wake of a bushfire which devastated the Dynnyrne/ Mt Nelson area last month.

Ms Reynolds said a subdivision extension for Oberon Court – the street last month’s blaze was sparked – was approved in 2017, despite recommendations it be refused because of the number of houses proposed.

The mayor was one of two councillors who voted against it.

“They said it should be three but not ten to be appropriate for the zone, that wasn’t to do with the bushfires,” she said.

Bushfire in Dynnyrne threatening homes. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Ms Reynolds said in that same meeting the council approved a new bushfire prone zone, which Oberon Court was included in.

“These areas are identified as higher-risk by Tasmania Fire Service and have an overlay that helps to set policies and controls for the development of land in this zone – like reducing the density of houses exposed to fire risk in these areas,” Ms Reynolds said.

“It’s ironic that the exact item before this subdivision was the approval of the subdivision of those zones.”

Hobart Lord Mayor, Anna Reynolds addresses the media. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Ms Reynolds said building in bushfire prone zones should be avoided.

“Building in a bushfire zone is a bit like building in flood plains,” the mayor said.

“As climate change accelerates we need to avoid building in risky areas completely.

“It puts too much stress on residents and emergency management.”

Professor of pyro-geography and fire science at the University of Tasmania, David Bowman said those who wanted to live in those areas needed to change the risk and remove the fuel or build better homes.

“In a lot of these high risk places around Hobart, that’s the attraction people don’t want to live in a bald area, people want to live with gumtrees and birds and native wildlife,” Mr Bowman said.

“If people are really insistent on living in these places, we do have the means to build structures that can withstand fires.”

David Bowman Professor of Pyro-geography and Fire science at UTAS. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Mr Bowman said Australian building standards did not require people to include extra features in their designs.

“These are not your normal suburban houses,” Mr Bowman said.

“The phrase I like is compliant plus – designing walls that are not going to allow embers to get in, having gardens that are not going to carry fire into the property, having spray systems, their own water supplies and their own fire pumps.

“You can live in the most dangerous bushfire environments, but by god you’re going to pay for it.”

Mr Bowman said the risk was escalating because of climate change.

“We’re now experiencing more extreme fires,” Mr Bowman said.

“A lot of people living around Hobart are thinking of winter, but not thinking 42 degrees and a howling northerly.

“We shouldn’t be trying to build affordable suburban houses in high risk places, it’s too dangerous and is going to ender in tears.”

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