A Bushfire Hazard Level Assessment (BHLA) for the proposed Gnarabup resort now available
A Bushfire Hazard Level Assessment (BHLA) for the proposed Gnarabup resort site has been prepared and sent to the State Development Assessment Unit (SDAU), which is currently reviewing the development proposal.
Council requested the report at its August meeting, after considering deputations made by several community members. The BHLA was prepared by an independent bushfire consultant and covers Lot 783 Mitchell Drive, Lots 501, 502, and 504 Reef Drive, and Lot 503 Seagrass Place. The report can be downloaded via this link.
The SDAU will consider bushfire risk in its decision making and recommendation to the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC), which will make the final decision on whether the development goes ahead.
While the decision is out of our hands, the Shire will continue to ensure issues are clearly communicated to the decision makers.
What is a Bushfire Hazard Level Assessment (BHLA)?
The BHLA provides a high-level review of a development site against the Planning for Bushfire Protection Guidelines – a set of rules and recommendations used in Western Australia to help manage bushfire risks when planning new developments.
The guidelines focus on three main areas:
- Siting and design: making sure buildings are located and designed to reduce bushfire risk, such as maintaining safe distances from vegetation.
- Vehicle access: ensuring residents and emergency services have safe entry and exit routes during a fire.
- Water supply: ensuring adequate water is available for firefighting purposes.
A development can meet the guidelines by either meeting a series of ‘acceptable solutions’, or by using alternative approaches that achieve the same level of safety.
Findings of this report
- Siting and design: the consultant looked at both the current proposal, which includes clearing surrounding reserves, and an alternative scenario without clearing (which reduces the development footprint). In both scenarios, the site is likely to meet some ‘acceptable’ solutions. Alternative approaches will most likely be required to demonstrate compliance with the overall outcomes of the Guidelines.
- Vehicular access: the site is unlikely to meet the Guidelines for safe vehicle access. and likely require an acceptable alternate solution to meet the Guidelines objectives.
- Water supply: the site is likely to comply with the acceptable solutions for water availability.
What is the Shire’s position on the proposed development?
Council carefully considered the development application in March 2022 and did not support the proposal as it was presented.
Why was the BHLA assessment done?
After considering deputations from several community members, in August 2025 Council resolved:
That Council request the CEO to engage a qualified consultant to undertake a Bushfire Hazard Level Assessment (BHLA) for Lot 783, Mitchell Drive, Gnarabup, Lot 501, 502 and 504 Reef Drive Gnarabup, and Lot 503 Seagrass Place, Gnarabup, as soon as possible, and that the BHLA be published by the Shire upon completion, and forwarded to the SDAU for their consideration as part of the decision making process relating to development of the above sites.
The preparation of the BHLA goes above and beyond the Shire’s obligations under current legislated planning processes. Under existing rules, anyone submitting a building or development application must prepare a Bushfire Management Plan that meets current guidelines. To be clear, this is the developer’s responsibility, not the Shire’s.
In May 2025, we wrote to the SDAU requesting that the developer prepare an updated Bushfire Management Plan in line with current Guidelines before any final decision is made. We also asked that the updated assessment be independently reviewed and shared with both the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) and the Shire for further input.
It’s hoped that by preparing the BHLA and providing it to the SDAU, Council can offer additional reassurance that bushfire safety is being fully considered as part of this development.