When I was at the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) in my role as Director responsible for Planning for Bushfire Protection (PBP), I often used the Berman House by Harry Seidler as a case study in staff and industry training. Not because it was a prescribed example within the...

By Lew Short, Director Blackash Bushfire Consulting In New South Wales, Planning for Bush Fire Protection 2019 (PBP) sets the benchmark for how we plan, design and assess new development in bushfire-prone areas. Its aim is clear and simple, yet profoundly important: To provide...

The landuse planning framework as it relates to landuse planning and bushfire in NSW is embedded in the EPA Act, the Rural Fires Act 1997 (RF Act), Rural Fires Regulation 2013 (RF Reg) which is articulated through PBP. The Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment Bill 2025...

Bushfire access matters. In NSW, Section 5.3.2 of Planning for Bush Fire Protection 2019 (PBP 2019) sets out the requirements for vehicle access. Like all bush fire protection measures, the intent is sound – ensure that residents can safely evacuate and that emergency services...

When Seth Godin coined the idea of the “purple cow,” he wasn’t talking about livestock, he was talking about ideas. A purple cow is something remarkable: it stands out, provokes curiosity, and makes people stop and think. In bushfire planning, the “purple cow” is the...

A Government Focus on Productivity Improvements In light of the recent Federal election win by Labour, Treasurer Jim Chalmers has placed increasing emphasis on “productivity improvements” as a way to strengthen Australia’s economy, lift wages, and make growth more sustainable....

In the world of building and construction, ensuring compliance with the Building Code of Australia (BCA) is essential to achieving safe, functional, and sustainable new development and structures. This is particularly critical for landuse planning and buildings in bushfire-prone...

In NSW, planning and building requirements for new development on Bushfire Prone Land have been in force since 1989 with the release of Circular C10 Planning in Fire Prone Areas issued by the Department of Urban Affairs and Planning in 1989. This was followed by the first version...

In today’s fast-paced business world, it’s easy to confuse the two. Both bring immense value, but the way they engage, the questions they ask, and the level of partnership they offer can be very different. Building trust isn’t a short-term game. It’s built on consistent...

Specification 43 of the Building Code of Australia (BCA) is a recent regulatory development from the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) that is now a requirement for some Class 9 buildings stirring concern across the health, education and aged care, planning and building...