Excluded Areas - Requirements

Please note: This information applies only to the 39 councils in South Australia with Bushfire Protection Areas. These councils are located on Eyre Peninsula, Yorke Peninsula, Kangaroo Island, the South-East, the Riverland, Murray Bridge, mid-North, Mt Lofty Ranges and parts of the metropolitan Adelaide region. A list of these councils is available here.

For additional information regarding bushfire protection, including preparing your own Bushfire Action Plan, please visit the SA Country Fire Service website (external link).

The selected property falls within an area described as 'EXCLUDED AREA FROM BUSHFIRE PROTECTION PLANNING PROVISIONS'

‘Excluded’ areas generally include existing townships and other settlements that have an adequate water supply for fighting fires and suitable emergency vehicle access and egress.

The need to have regard to matters that specifically seek to reduce risk to life or property from bushfires in such areas is generally considered lower than other areas which have been assigned to a Bushfire Risk category, and where considerations about the siting of buildings, vehicles access and availability of a dedicated fire fighting water supply are more important. As such, proposals to construct a house or to subdivide land for residential purposes within an ‘excluded’ area are not assessed against the Bushfire Protection provisions of the Development Plan.

There are, however, other requirements that need to be taken into account when applying to develop land in ‘excluded’ areas. This includes the need to ensure the layout and design of land division proposals takes into account the Bushfire Risk assigned to adjoining land.

Other planning requirements relating to the subject property will also be contained within the relevant local area Development Plan. You should contact the local Council for advice. Council contact details can be found on the Local Government Association website. Alternatively, you may view the Development Plan on the Planning in SA website.

New buildings in excluded areas that are located within 500m of an adjoining high bushfire risk area must comply with the construction requirements of bushfire attack level BAL – LOW that are used in the South Australia.

Where new buildings in excluded areas are within 100m of an adjoining high bushfire risk area they are required to have an individual site assessment in accordance with AS 3959 – Construction of buildings in bushfire prone areas to determine expected the bushfire attack level that is applicable to the site.

Details of the building construction requirements applicable in South Australia can be found in the state variations to the Building Code of Australia and the South Australian Housing Code and Minister’s Specification SA 78.