South Australia: Fire danger maps are being redrawn to prevent development in high risk areas
By Miles Kemp and Cathryn McLauchlan
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A team of experts has been brought together by [South Australia's] Planning Department to update fire maps used by councils and the state government to approve housing developments and other buildings.
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“New and more sophisticated modelling, especially as computers become more powerful, can be done that could mean new areas are included,’’ the [Planning Department] spokesman said.
“It is expected that new areas may be included because we also better understand bushfire behaviour, particularly in relation to weather patterns and vegetation.’’
A ban on some buildings can be put in place in the areas of highest risk, or conditions placed on building materials and safety in areas according to “general, medium and high” risk.
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The CFS has also published online a database of 8000 buildings and sites most at risk of bushfire across the state.
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