'The Heath' - Langwarrin.

Annemc1 · May 03, 2012 1:15 pm

I think someone should point out that this is only required if you signed a contract to build with a registered builder after Oct 1 last year. I would suggest speaking to your builder before engaging anyone to prepare bushfire management statements. Then shop around.... lots of people prepare them

hjam · May 03, 2012 4:53 pm

Annemc1, can you explain why this is? My understanding is that even if you have signed a building contract you would have to go through town planning with the WMO/BMO on the area.

Vegimite Toast · May 03, 2012 9:27 pm

I thought the same, Hjam. I understand that the BMO requirements are applicable to all applications submitted to town planning after 18 November 2011. Before that, you would have had to apply for a permit under the WMO.

It shouldn’t matter when you signed a contract to build, only the date you apply for the permit. The CFA Website confirms this.

tcorn · May 14, 2012 8:03 pm

Settlement went through without a hitch today!
We now officially own the block of land.............

cblorac · May 15, 2012 7:06 am

congratualtion tcorn, I got a reply from harcourts regarding out land title which was that (The titles will be through six weeks after Stage one settles (This coming Monday 14th May. Settlement will take place two weeks after the titles are released.) So looking at around 9th July. We are hoping that our landlord will let us go month to month when our rental lease is up in November as I can not see us been in new home until after christmas

Skyzie85 · May 24, 2012 8:56 am

Hi,
I am also new to this site. We are planning to build in newstead, which is 10 minutes west of castlemaine. A BMO applies to our block, but thankfully, the EMO finishes on the house just north of us. Our land isn't in a news subdivision; the houses around us are around 20 years old & we have a great 1/2 acre block with bush land all around us. We've been given a BAL 29.
Starting work on our statement earlier this week with a company from bendigo..: was quoted around $3500 for the job, plus $500 to submit to council.
My older sister though (who is a town planner in another council) thinks, after reading all relevant paperwork, that we only need to supply answers to a particular clause & we'll be fine?

tcorn · May 24, 2012 10:44 am

Hi all,
It looks like one of the overlay conditions is that everyone building in the Heath will require a 10,000L steel water tank. Has anyone else heard this yet?

Vegimite Toast · May 24, 2012 8:46 pm

Hi Tamara,

We have spoken to the council about the water tank requirement and are planning to put forward a case of a 5000L tank considering the size of the block. Hopefully the CFA are pragmatic. A 10000L seems overkill for a residential block our size, if you ask me.

Has anyone in the first stage started the Bushfire planning process yet?

Interested to see what’s involved and whether you are getting a consultant to undertake the Bushfire management Statement.

Cheers,

Luke

tcorn · May 24, 2012 9:46 pm

Hi Luke,

With help of Rawdon Hill we have had our assessment done by a consultant. Cost was $1000.
That's where we heard about the water tank.
We are just waiting for the final report which could take another couple weeks.
The cost to meet the BAL requirements has been quoted about $5000. Then another $4000 for the water tank.
It just seems to keep adding up!
I'll keep you posted.
Tamara

hjam · May 25, 2012 8:55 am

tcorn - $4000 for the water tank is excessive, source it yourself. I would suggest talking to www.kingstontankswatertanks.com.au, you shouldn't spend in excess of $3000 installed. The tank itself, inclusive of cfa fittings should be around $2500 for a colorbond/aquamax 10000lt round tank.

Luke, you will be doing very well if you are granted an exception to the 10000lt although the volume of water is set by CFA not the planning scheme so they may be reasonable. (http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/firesafety/bu ... in_bmo.pdf)

leshutton8 · Jun 10, 2012 7:53 pm

cblorac

congratualtion tcorn, I got a reply from harcourts regarding out land title which was that (The titles will be through six weeks after Stage one settles (This coming Monday 14th May. Settlement will take place two weeks after the titles are released.) So looking at around 9th July. We are hoping that our landlord will let us go month to month when our rental lease is up in November as I can not see us been in new home until after christmas

Hi cblorac we are looking at block 36 so I think we will back onto you. We are moving from Narre Warren and are keen to purchase the block. Hope we can secure the block and be neighbours! We will keep you up to date. We are members of the Caledonian Association so you can guess, we are from Scotland originally, you may hear the occasional set of bagpipes being played but dont worry, we dont play them that often.

cblorac · Jun 13, 2012 12:50 pm

Hi Leshutton8 that is brilliant news fingers crossed all goes well, love the bagpipes.....lol should be a good knees up, has anyone else heard anything more about the water tanks

I have noticed after a walk down the heath some one has a water meter already....the time is getting really exciting can not wait for our build

Vegimite Toast · Jun 14, 2012 7:14 am

Our builder (Rawdon Hill) has arranged for a planning consultant to undertake an assessment and draft the Bushfire Management Statement for us.

It’s still unclear as to whether we need a 10,000L tank. The regulations and CFA guidance is pretty clear on the subject: everyone needs a minimum 10,000L tank. However, I have spoken to some BMO consultants, who have advised we can (and they have) apply for a smaller tank, as long as it can be justified. According to those same consultants, the static water requirements are currently being reviewed by the CFA because of situations like our (residential 1 developments in BMO). I just hope that if the requirements change, they do before we all apply for a planning permit. I’m not holding my breath.

Personally, I don’t have any concerns with having a tank and think it will come in useful. However, I think it is impractical for all blocks in the estate, regardless of size and proximity to the bush, to have 10,000L tanks for fire fighting purposes. That’s 1,090,000 liters of water available for fire fighting purposes for a residential estate of 109 houses! Anyway, off my soapbox for now.

Has anyone got their site costs yet?

danvdc · Jun 15, 2012 6:51 am

Hi all
I'am also building in The Heath estate i'am building on lot 4. I think i'am a couple of weeks behind some people as i have only just got my contract back from the builder, which im still to sign and hand back. Not looking forward to going through all the bmo paper work hopefully the Bal rating doesn't come back very high

tcorn · Jun 15, 2012 8:06 am

Hi all,
Luke for your info, I don't think we will be able to actually use the water tanks!! My consultant gave me the impression they have to be there for the fire brigade to access in case of emergency but otherwise can't be used.
Has anyone else heard this?
Tamara

hjam · Jun 15, 2012 10:12 am

Hi Tamara, the static water supply requirements of CFA within BMO areas require that the supply is for firefighting purposes only. In other words, you shouldn't hook up a toilet cistern or similar, energy rating water requirements need to be met with another tank. I would be surprised if CFA doesn't review these requirements for estates such as The Heath though as it is becoming very impractical and it is very unlikely in the event of a wildfire that CFA appliances would utilise each individual tank from deep within the estate.

leshutton8 · Jun 17, 2012 4:44 pm

Well its all go now, Block 36 is ours so the Estate should have a Tartan Influence to it now. On the subject of Water Tanks we are planning on installing a 5000 ltr Tank & the other 5000 ltr we are having installed Bladder Water Bags under the House. We will probably use these for a Pool/Spa topup in the Summertime. Anyone else getting a pool/spa installed we havent made our mind up yet.

danvdc · Jun 19, 2012 11:56 am

Hey all was down at the heath estate today and there were two cfa guys walking around the reserve of the estate taking notes, from what i understand they were probably doing the review of the estate and will be issuing the bal rating on the estate on which our houses will have to comply to. will soon find out how much more $$ it's going to cost us

Vegimite Toast · Jul 24, 2012 6:26 pm

Finally got confirmation on settlement for the second stage – two weeks yesterday! We can’t wait to get started, although it is unlikely to be any time soon due to the planning process.

cblorac · Jul 25, 2012 8:26 am

yep got our settlement date too this is now getting exciting......we were really panicing as we go away on the 11th Aug for 5 weeks so really happy the date has come through, therefore we can now enjoy ourselves......has anyone heard anything about the water tank requirements as yet?