Medium Bushfire Risk Area - Requirements

Please note: This information applies only to those Development Plans 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 MEDIUM BUSHFIRE RISK.

Proposals to develop property within Medium Bushfire Risk Areas are assessed against the Bushfire Protection planning provisions of the relevant local area Development Plan, as well as other relevant provisions.

All proposed new habitable buildings (e.g. a dwelling or tourist accommodation) will be assessed for compliance with the following criteria:

  • Have a dedicated fire fighting water supply of at least 5,000 litres
  • Ensure that gaps between the dwelling floor and the ground are enclosed to prevent burning debris from entering
  • Be set back 20 metres from flammable/combustible vegetation
  • Be located and designed to minimise risk from bushfires
  • Have access roads and tracks that are appropriately designed and built for entry and exit of vehicles, including fire fighting vehicles, during a fire.

(Note: these planning policy provisions are the same as for 'General' bushfire risk areas; however stronger building requirements apply in Medium bushfire risk areas) 

Further detail on the bushfire planning requirements is contained in the following document, which includes a checklist of actions which should be followed by all applicants:  

Most of the measures have already been recommended to people building in bushfire prone areas for many years.

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.

In addition, new buildings in medium bushfire risk areas will also be assessed against the provisions of the building rules. They can either be built to a set of specific requirements without the need for a site assessment or they can have a site assessment to accurately determine the expected level of bushfire attack and relevant building features.

The specific requirements for new buildings located in a medium bushfire risk area must comply with the construction requirements for an expected bushfire attack level BAL 12.5.

Details of the building construction requirements applicable in South Australia for BAL 12.5 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.

Generally, buildings must be designed to provide protection from sparks and embers only, which means measures such as covers under eaves, metal fly wire screens and steel shoes for posts amongst other things.