The NSW Government is helping to keep communities safe from natural disasters by working closely with councils to prepare and plan for extreme weather conditions and natural hazards.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes today released a Strategic Guide to Planning for Natural Hazards in NSW, to help councils build more resilient communities by considering the potential natural disaster risks more effectively in the early stages of the planning process.
"The impacts of climate change are already being felt in Australia with fire, drought and floods having devastating impacts on people, homes and businesses," Mr Stokes said.
"This new guide will help make sure NSW homes and businesses are built in the right places, to help protect against the destruction of natural disasters.
"It is about planning for the future and minimising the impacts of natural disasters."
Minister for Emergency Services David Elliott said the guide builds on a suite of work that has already been done to help councils and other planning authorities plan for natural hazards.
"Our emergency service personnel are ready to respond to natural disasters, but they need every council to be equally prepared," Mr Elliott said.
"Tools like this will assist councils to better plan and prepare by identifying things like flood and bushfire prone areas and the impacts of landslides early in the planning process."
The guide was finalised following community consultation and:
- Identifies natural hazards councils should consider in development applications, or proposals to change planning rules;
- Explains key concepts related to natural hazard risk management; and
- Discusses the connection to existing policies, acts, regulations, guidelines and responsibilities.
For more information and to view the guideline, visit Strategic planning for natural hazards in NSW.
