Alpine Shire Council notes that the Minister for Planning approved and gazetted Amendment GC267 to the Alpine Planning Scheme on Thursday, 18 December 2025.
The Amendment has applied Schedule 2 (BAL-29) to the Bushfire Management Overlay (BMO) to three areas of land in Bright and three areas of land in Tawonga South. Schedule 1 (BAL-12.5) to the BMO previously applied to these six areas of land.
The application of Schedule 2 to the BMO to these areas means that the construction of new dwellings or the extension of existing dwellings on the land must now meet a BAL-29 construction standard, which will enhance ember protection for development on land considered to have an elevated bushfire hazard level.
The BMO applies to land that has the potential for extreme bushfire risk and was introduced by the Victorian Government in 2017, as recommended by the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission.
The Victorian Government regularly reviews BMO mapping to ensure it remains relevant, accurate, and commensurate with the bushfire hazard
This change forms part of the Victorian Government’s most recent review.
Alpine Shire Mayor, Cr Sarah Nicholas, said that these changes have implemented key findings and recommendations from the Alpine Shire Bushfire Planning Assessment 2024.
"It is a fact that Alpine Shire is prone to significant environmental hazards and risks," she said.
"Even in the last five years, we have experienced bushfires, floods, storms, and landslips that have impacted members of our communities.
"We are currently seeing communities across Victoria experience the real and devastating impacts of bushfires, similar to those we experienced here in 2019/20, and my heart goes out to the people who have lost their homes and other dwellings."
Cr Nicholas emphasised the importance of increasing safety measures, particularly in light of recent events.
"This change to the Alpine Planning Scheme ensures the planning controls on these six parcels of land are proportionate to the bushfire hazard and can appropriately guide their future development," she said.
"One of our highest priorities across our region is to increase resilience, and this helps do just that."
Amendment GC267 follows the inclusion of Myrtleford as a Bushfire Prone Area earlier this year.
The three areas of land in Bright can be viewed by visiting: https://stfpbsprodapp01.blob.core.windows.net/amendmentfiles/Alpine%20GC267%20002bmoMaps09_10%20Approval%20Gazetted_f52d35d3-b350-f011-877b-7c1e5262f875_f03f3588-528b-47a8-a5a9-eb95b3ed36d8.pdf
The three areas of land in Tawonga South can be viewed by visiting: https://stfpbsprodapp01.blob.core.windows.net/amendmentfiles/Alpine%20GC267%20004bmoMaps11_12_14%20Approval%20Gazetted_f52d35d3-b350-f011-877b-7c1e5262f875_6328dc5a-196a-4bdc-a7d6-208b40c6768e.pdf
More information about the Alpine Planning Scheme can be found by visiting https://planning-schemes.app.planning.vic.gov.au/Alpine/ordinance?f.Scheme%7CplanningSchemeName=
The Alpine Shire Bushfire Planning Assessment 2024 can be accessed online via Council's website: https://www.alpineshire.vic.gov.au/building-business/strategic-planning/strategic-planning-projects/alpine-shire-bushfire-planning