The Bushfire Management Overlay (BMO) is a planning control that places tighter regulations on development and use of land with a higher potential of being impacted by extreme bushfires.
This means land and properties within the BMO need a planning permit for certain uses, developments and subdivision, and must adhere to appropriate bushfire protection measures.
To learn more about the BMO visit the DELWP Website.
You can check if your property is affected by the BMO using the State Government’s Planning Maps Online tool – Map Share.
Inspecting properties for bushfire risk
People who own property or vacant land within the BMO are required to meet certain bushfire prevention measures.
Each year, prior to the commencement of the Fire Danger Period, property owners within the BMO will receive a letter reminding them importance of reducing the fire hazard on their property before Fire Restrictions are introduced. Every property within the BMO will be inspected, at least once, upon the introduction of Fire Restrictions to assess fire hazards. If any potential hazards are found, a Fire Prevention Notice is issued which gives the property owner a date by which the hazard must be removed.
Any properties that fail to comply by the deadline will be issued a fine and Council will immediately commence a compulsory clean-up of fire hazards at the expense of the property owner.
Did you know? Ahead of the 2019-20 Fire Danger Period, Council inspected 2,480 properties in the BMO and subsequently issued 43 Fire Prevention Notices. This is 43% fewer notices than the same time last year, thanks to the growing understanding and proactivity of Knox households.