Bushfire Mapping & BAL Inputs: Understanding the Basics (VIC)

Bushfire risk is a major planning consideration across Victoria, especially in peri-urban and regional areas. Many small developments encounter bushfire-related requirements early in the design process, often before engaging a BPAD-accredited assessor.

This article provides general, non-certified guidance about how to interpret bushfire mapping and what factors typically influence BAL (Bushfire Attack Level) considerations.

Bushfire Management Overlay (BMO)

The primary trigger in Victoria is the BMO. If a site falls within the overlay, a certified bushfire assessment will be required to determine the BAL rating and assess defendable space.

A desktop review can identify:

• whether the property is in BMO

• the extent of mapped bushfire hazard

• proximity to classified vegetation

• surrounding land use context

This is useful during early design, but it is not a certified BAL assessment.

Vegetation Categories (High-Level Overview Only)

Vegetation near a site influences bushfire considerations. Typical high-level categories include:

• forest

• woodland

• shrubland

• grassland

• urban managed vegetation

A desktop review can identify approximate vegetation types based on public datasets, but formal classification must be undertaken by a qualified practitioner.

Separation Distance

BAL ratings depend partly on the distance between the building and the nearest classified vegetation.

A desktop summary can help identify:

• likely defendable space constraints

• nearby unmanaged vegetation

• areas where certification may highlight challenges

Terrain & Slope

Slope affects fire behaviour. Identifying slope direction (upslope/downslope) from public elevation data helps predict whether specialist input is likely to be more complex.

When You Must Engage a BPAD Practitioner

Specialist input is required when:

• any BMO is present

• vegetation is close to the building envelope

• the site is steep

• the design includes complex building forms

• certification is required for a planning application

Desktop summaries assist early-stage understanding but are never a substitute for certified BAL ratings.

Conclusion

Understanding basic bushfire mapping allows small developers and builders to anticipate the need for specialist assessment. Desktop inputs help clarify expectations and support early design decisions while remaining firmly non-certified.