The New South Wales Government has launched the Strategic Guide to Planning for Natural Hazards, which aims to help councils minimise the impacts of natural disasters through effective planning processes.
Community consultation helped to finalise the guide, which:
- Identifies natural hazards councils should consider in development applications, or proposals to change planning rules
- Explains key concepts related to natural hazard risk management
- Discusses the connection to existing policies, acts, regulations, guidelines, and responsibilities
New South Wales Planning and Public Spaces Minister, Rob Stokes, said the guide will help make sure New South Wales homes and businesses are built in the right places, to help protect against the destruction of natural disasters.
“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.
“It is about planning for the future and minimising the impacts of natural disasters.”
Emergency Services Minister, 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.
