About bushfire-prone land
Bushfire-prone land means land recorded as bushfire prone on a map that has been certified by the Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service.
The Richmond Valley Council Bushfire Prone Land Map was certified by the Commissioner for NSW Rural Fire Service on 16 December 2025 and immediately replaced the previous map dated 17 February 2015. This map identifies vegetation categories 1, 2 and 3 along with a vegetation buffer (being 100 metres around Category 1 vegetation and 30 metres around Category 2 & 3 vegetation).
The Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 requires development on bushfire-prone land to conform with the requirements of Planning for Bushfire Protection 2001. However, Development Applications for subdivision of land, which could lawfully be used for residential or rural residential purposes, or development of special fire protection purposes on bush fire prone land are held to higher standards and are considered to be Integrated Development requiring a Section 100B Certificate from the NSW Rural Fire Service.
Bushfire issues for planning and development
The bushfire requirements for planning and development control can be simplified into a five step process:
- Is the land bushfire prone?
- Is a draft local environmental plan (LEP) required for the intended land use?
- Is the development ‘high risk’ and requires a Bush Fire Safety Authority from the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS)?
- Does the development conform with the specifications and requirements of Planning for Bushfire Protection 2001 Guideline? If not, then consultation must occur with the RFS.
- Does the building conform with the Building Code of Australia (BCA), including NSW variations? If not, then the building must conform with the conditions of development consent following consultation with the RFS or in accordance with the terms of a Bush Fire Safety Authority.
Bushfire-prone land mapping for Richmond Valley area
The Richmond Valley Council Bushfire Prone Land Map was certified by the Commissioner of the NSW RFS on 16 December 2025 and immediately replaced the previous certified map dated 17 December 2015.
The new map was prepared in accordance with updated RFS Bushfire Prone Land Mapping guidelines and includes a third category of bush fire vegetation which includes grassland incorporating grazing land, cropping land, orchards, and sugar cane.
Bushfire Prone Land mapping identifies bushfire prone vegetation as either
- Bushfire Vegetation Category 1 (Red)
- Bushfire Vegetation Category 2 (Light Orange )
- Bushfire Vegetation Category 3 (Orange), or
- Buffering (Yellow) of 100 metres (to Cat 1) or 30 metres (to Cat 2 and Cat 3)
Download a full copy of the map.
The map is also available in four quadrants to enable faster download.
- Bushfire Prone Land North East Quadrant (download map)
- Bushfire Prone Land North West Quadrant (download map)
- Bushfire Prone Land South East Quadrant (download map)
- Bushfire Prone Land South West Quadrant (download map)
Rural Fire Service links
The following PDF documents may be freely downloaded from the Rural Fire Service website:
- Building in a Bushfire-Prone Area Well planned developments in bushfire-prone areas make homes and families safer from bushfires.
- Planning for Bushfire Protection This document outlines the planning guidelines necessary for building in bushfire prone areas. It was developed jointly by the NSW Rural Fire Service and Planning NSW.
- Construction of Buildings in Bushfire-Prone Areas – AS 3959 Three different levels of construction are required for buildings in bushfire prone areas depending on whether the development is in a flame zone or areas of extreme, high, medium or low risk.
- Fire Management Consultants This document is a list of consultants who believe they have the ability to provide advice on fire management and planning issues. They are not accredited or vetted by the RFS.
- Bushfire-Prone Land Mapping Guideline for Councils This guide provides councils with details for mapping bushfire prone land.
- Bushfire-Prone Land Mapping Guideline for Councils Attachment to guide that provides councils with details for mapping bushfire prone land.
Fact Sheet – Fire Management in National Parks
Fact Sheet – Fire Management in National Parks
