Approval for Seaview house despite high bushfire risk

A couple's heartfelt plea to build their dream home in Seaview has been granted despite belief the property is a high bushfire risk.
"Please don't let an opinion stop us from building our dream home and raising our family in the country," property owner Amanda Fazzani said in an emotional appeal to Baw Baw Shire councillors.

"We have both grown up and lived in bushfire prone areas," Ms Fazzani said. "We know the risks involved in living in these areas."
"We do know what we are getting ourselves into."
Planning officers recommended councillors refuse a planning permit for a house and shed on the 40-hectare farm property on Grand Ridge Rd, Seaview due to its location "within an area of extreme bushfire risk". It borders both the Mt Worth State Park and Allambee Pine Plantation.
"Granting the application may result in risk to human life due to the bushfire risk of the subject site," the report said.
However, Ms Fazzani and fellow applicant Rick Miles, argued they had gone "above and beyond what is required by us to try to please the shire and the CFA".
Councillors agreed, unanimously granting the planning permit with a long list of conditions, including the need to amend some aspects of the plans.
Ms Fazzani said they had owned the property for four years and the planning applicant process spanned the past two years.
It is currently vacant but their plan is to build their home, raise their family and run some sheep.
She said four neighbours lived within a 300m radius, the house would be built to a high BAL 40 standard, a refuge bunker would be installed and the Trida CFA was located one kilometre away.
"Being a part of the local community matters to us," Ms Fazzani said. "And, the fact that we are only one kilometre away from our local fire authority, is a wonderful opportunity for us to be a part of the fire safety in our local area."
A referral response was received from the CFA "which was neither a consent or refusal" as part of the application process.
It stated the broader landscape presented an "extreme risk" and evacuation options were limited or not available.
The officer report also raised concerns that insufficient information had been provided to accurately assess the environmental significant and erosion management overlays.
Moving the alternate motion, Cr Peter Kostos said granting the permit with 28 conditions attached would alleviate issues raised.
"They already have considered a severe fire season and the options that they would have then to evacuate," Cr Kostos said. "I'm happy that, with these conditions here, when they build the house that it will be in a much safer position."
Whilst he understood the officer reluctance to approve this development given the wording "to protect life and property", Cr Darren Wallace seconded due to the BAL 40 design and other bushfire considerations.
"They don't need the nanny state, through the planning scheme, to make an informed adult decision," Cr Wallace said.
"The owners, over time, will no doubt improve the 40 hectares of farm zone land into productive farming land, thus lowering the fire risk for not only for them but their surrounding properties," he added. "The statement to protect life and property shouldn't be used to bring forward planning paralysis, it should be used as a guide."
Cr Danny Goss said the bushfire risk was "the big issue" but the CFA's decision to neither consent or refuse showed "they didn't have a big issue with it".
"If the CFA had objected, I probably would have objected to this application as well," Cr Goss said. "They (the owners) accept the risk and they know the risks, and they've done their best to mitigate the risk."
Cr Michael Leaney said people had a choice of where to live and vague city centric rules shouldn't dissuade these decisions.
"I'm a strong believer that if people want to live in the bush, they should be allowed to live in the bush," Cr Leaney said. "People who live out in the bush are not stupid. They understand the risk from bushfire."
Cr Leaney called a division. Crs Wallace, Leaney, Goss, Kostos, Tricia Jones, Joe Gauci, Annemarie McCabe and Keith Cook voted for. Cr Jazmin Tauru was absent.