Yarra Ranges Council will discuss the concerns it has regarding the Victorian Government’s increase in planned burns for the March to April 2022 period at the council meeting on Tuesday 8 March.
Restrictions on property owners trying to build or develop on land in high-risk bushfire areas, and the unclear bushfire policy, provisions, and terminology used, which can result in inconsistent VCAT decisions, are the key issues that will be brought up at the meeting.
Mount Evelyn and Montrose are within the boundary of the bushfire prone area, surrounded by dense bushland.
The meeting agenda indicates the council believe current provisions for bushfire planning do not accurately factor in the impact bushfire construction standards have on ensuring safe and reasonable development in bushfire-affected areas.
While protecting human life is the priority of policy considerations, Yarra Ranges Council is concerned that this is used as a barrier to reasonable use and development too often in unnecessary circumstances.
Yarra Ranges residents can tune into the council meeting via videoconference at 7pm.
