Rebuilding and recovery
Information about rebuilding and recovery after the 2009 bushfires including:
Bushfire recovery
After the 2009 fires special provisions were introduced to enable bushfire recovery, to allow for temporary accommodation and to fast track approval of a replacement house on a site affected by the bushfires.The provisions that provide for replacement of a house and the occupation of temporary accommodation have been extended to 30 April 2013. New temporary accommodation cannot be constructed without a planning permit from council.
Read the provisions at clauses 52.38 (PDF - 24 KB) and 52.39 (PDF - 24 KB) of the Victoria Planning Provisions and all planning schemes.
Building considerations and resources
Information about post-bushfire hazards, safety considerations and temporary homes is available from the Building Commission website or phoning the Bushfire Building Advice line on 1300 360 320, which operates from 9.00am to 5.00pm on Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.Fire Recovery Unit
The Fire Recovery Unit (FRU) was established on 1 July 2011 following the closure of the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority (VBRRA). The FRU’s role is to assist the ongoing recovery of communities impacted by the 2009 Victorian bushfires by facilitating strong relationships and clear responses to identified community needs.
For Information about bushfire reconstruction and recovery visit the Fire Recovery Unit website or call 1800 055 714.
Rebuilding dwellings
The Government has streamlined the planning process for rebuilding dwellings, dependent person's units and buildings used for agriculture that were damaged by the 2009 bushfires through Clause 52.39 - 2009 Bushfire - Replacement buildings.
Information is available in Advisory note Bushfire replacement buildings - Amendment VC57, May 2009 (PDF - 172 KB)
Changes to Building Regulations
To ensure that specific bushfire safety measures continue to be applied to dwellings being rebuilt and located in a Bushfire Management Overlay, amendments were made to the Building Regulations 2006. These amendments require the provision of dedicated on-site water supply for fire fighting purposes and access for emergency vehicles through the building permit process. See Building Amendment (Bushfire Safety) Regulations 2010 on the Building Commission website.
Information about rebuilding in areas affected by bushfire is available from the Building Commission website or phoning the Bushfire Building Advice line on 1300 360 320.
Bushfire Response Planning Unit
About the Bushfire Response Planning Unit
The Bushfire Response Planning Unit has been established to help people complete rebuilding in fire-affected areas and to provide specialist planning advice for people building in areas of identified fire risk across the state.
The Bushfire Response Planning Unit was established in August 2010 as part of a suite of planning and building initiatives introduced to respond to the findings of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission.
The unit provides assistance to people impacted by the February 2009 bushfires and landowners across Victoria who live in an area with a Bushfire Management Overlay (BMO). It helps people to rebuild and to navigate the planning controls, building standards and vegetation rules now in place.
Rebuilding Advisory Service
The Bushfire Response Planning Unit is responsible for the Rebuilding Advisory Service (RAS). The RAS provides information and assistance on all aspects of rebuilding through Rebuilding Advisory Centres in Kinglake and Marysville and a mobile service that visits affected landowners.
For more information read the following information sheet:
Bushfire Response Planning Unit (PDF - 167 KB)
Bushfire Response Planning Unit - Accessible Version (DOC - 62 KB)
The Bushfire Response Planning Unit can be contacted by phone on 03 9098 8947 or email to stateplanning.services@dpcd.vic.gov.au.