Murrindindi Shire.
Did you receive a planning consent under the Temporary Planning Provisions (TPP) following the 2009 bushfires? Are you eligible for one the TPP process?
The TPP process closes on Saturday, September 30 with Murrindindi Shire urging all affected property owners to check what action must be taken before 30 September 2017.
Temporary Planning Provisions (TPP) were designed to streamline planning processes to enable those whose homes had been badly damaged or destroyed on Black Saturday to go through the planning process quickly.
At the time landowners only needed Council’s endorsement of a site plan to get a planning consent. Some landowners were also permitted to continue to stay in temporary accommodation such as caravans or sheds until their dwelling was rebuilt.
Mayor Charlie Bisset said Council is urging affected landowners eligible for the simplified TPP to act now to determine what steps they need to take if they intend to rebuild.
“The TPP process closes on 30 September 2017, so if you intend to rebuild you need to find out what this means for you. I encourage you to get in touch with Council’s Planning Unit – they are there to help even if you are still undecided about rebuilding.”
“Landowners should also note that if they have permission to stay in temporary accommodation, that permission expires on 30 September 2018.
“We have written to all affected landowners providing them with information about the deadlines and invited them to one of four drop-in sessions we held across the Shire in July this year. The details set out in that letter also appear on Council’s website, including an information sheet to help landowners work out if they need to take action.”
“These deadlines will affect you if you have not yet applied for a planning consent (but are eligible to do so), or if you have an expired planning consent. It will also affect you if you have a current planning consent, but have not yet obtained a building permit, an occupancy permit or a certificate of occupancy.
“The deadlines mark an important step in the recovery process for our Shire. Our Planning Team is here to help you through this process, so please contact them if you have any questions,” she said.
The state government is bringing in a number of important changes to make the community safer during bushfires.
As part of this process and in partnership with the CFA the Victorian Government is updating the Bushfire Management Overlay (BMO), which provides bushfire hazard mapping in the Planning Scheme
Cr Bisset said a large number of properties in Murrindindi Shire will be affected by the changes to the BMO, as the Shire is located in an extreme bushfire area.
“In coming months landowners of properties affected by these changes will be notified directly by the Victorian Government’s Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and Council about this. It is important to remember that while we live in a very beautiful part of the world, we also live in an area that is subject to extreme fire risk. This means we must all take action to protect ourselves and our properties.
“I urge everyone to think now about reviewing and updating their bushfire survival plan, think about the preparations that need to be made to reduce risk to their home and property, and consider whether their home and contents insurance is adequate,” Cr Bisset said.
Landowners can contact Murrindindi Shire’s Planning Unit for more information on 5772 0317.
Text & Images ©COPYRIGHT 2017 Kinglake Ranges News.
With Murrindindi Shire Council.
