MBS Environmental is primarily engaged for the development of Bushfire Management Plans and Bushfire Attack Level Assessments (including BAL Rating) for residential developments.  

BMPs are generally undertaken for large-scale developments or multiple lots where a comprehensive management strategy is needed.  The broad objective of a BMP is to:

• Define land use areas within and surrounding the property being assessed.
• Define and rank bushfire hazard areas according to the vegetation class and fire fuels present.
• Detail the roles and responsibilities of individuals and organisations such as property managers.
• Identify bushfire management strategies to minimise the threat of bushfire to people and property.

Work we do as part of a BMP:

• A pre-development site visit to identify the vegetation classifications present within and surrounding the Site, identify fire fuels present, and determine the effective slope for the Site.
• Outlining the location, aims, and objectives of the BMP.
• Characterising the Site based on what was observed during the field visit including vegetation, contours and slope, and land uses.
• Consideration of proposed landscaping designs post-development and environmental values, including conservation significant flora and fauna, wetlands and bush forever sites. 
• Details of the various vegetation classifications identified during the field visit, including a brief description and a map of the extent and location of each vegetation classification.
• A Bushfire Hazard Assessment, whereby vegetation and land uses are ranked from low – extreme hazard, illustrated on a map.
• BAL assessment, with BAL ratings assigned for each Lot that occurs within the proposed development.  BAL rating for each lot are illustrated on a map that is provided to the property developer.  BAL ratings are a system used in Australia to classify the risk of bushfire attack on a building site. These ratings help determine the construction standards and design measures required to mitigate bushfire risk.
• Outlining the responsibilities for bushfire preparedness in relation to the developer, City / Shire, and Owner / Occupier.
• Demonstration of compliance to State Planning Policy (SPP) 3.7 Planning in Bushfire Prone Areas.
• Information for other Sections as required under AS 3959:2018 Construction of Buildings in Bushfire Prone Areas, such as Asset Protection Zones, Shielding Provisions, Implementation of the BMP.

BAL Assessments are typically required for individual properties or smaller developments to assess and manage the specific bushfire risk to that site.  BAL Assessments have a similar overall objective and structure to BMPs but generally do not require as detailed assessment, with certain aspects such as Bushfire Hazard Assessment not required.  A BAL Assessment still includes the creation of maps to define vegetation classification extents and locations and assign BAL ratings to individual Lots.

Clients we’ve worked with:

• Alvito Pty Ltd
• LWP Property Group
• Peet Ltd
• Qube Property Group
• Satterley Property Group
• WA Building Company
• Wesley College Endowment Fund