Rubber Stamp Approval For Black Saturday Bushfire Victims
SURVIVORS of Victoria’s Black Saturday bushfires will be able to rebuild their homes, without a permit, under a “radical planning overhaul”.
The Brumby Government said bushfire victims will be able to gain approval over the counter instead of going through the usual costly and time consuming planning process. In most cases, a rubber stamp can be obtained on the spot, for a site plan approval.
Builder Grocon is reported to have cleared about a third of all blocks devastated by the bushfires, with tore through on February 7, 2008.
Planning Minsiter Justin Madden told the Herald Sun “Given the scale of devastation caused by the bushfires and the number of people who lost their homes, initiatives such as this are now needed with people ready to rebuid.”
“Understandably many of those seeking to rebuild will simply want to on the same location, so the need to obtai new approval will be now necessary.”
It is reported 1008 properties have been cleared – 34 per cent of those damaged. Marysville, which was almost completely wiped out because of the bushfires, is expected to be the last areas cleaned up.