Asset Protection Zones

• Asset Protection Zones (also known as Building Protection Zones) for habitable buildings must extend 20 metres out from any external walls of the building, attached structures, or adjacent structures that are within 6 metres of the habitable building.
• On sloping ground the Asset Protection Zone distance shall increase at least 1 metre for every degree in slope on the sides of the habitable building that are exposed to down slope natural vegetation.
• Asset Protection Zones predominantly consist of managed vegetation, reticulated lawns and gardens and other non-flammable features.
• All grass is maintained at or below 50mm in height.
• Fuel loads must be maintained at 2 tonnes per hectare or lower (almost no leaf litter).
• Clear separation distance between adjoining or nearby tree crowns, or a small group of trees within close proximity to one another may be treated as one crown provided the combined crowns do not exceed the area of a large or mature crown size for that species.
• Trees are to have any growth ‘low pruned’ (or under pruned) to a height of at least 2 metres from the ground.
• No trees, or shrubs, over 2 metres high are to be within 2 metres of a habitable building.
• Tall shrubs over 2 metres high are not to be planted in groups close to a habitable building(s) and there must be a gap of at least three times the height (at maturity) of the shrub away from a habitable building.
• There are no tree crowns or branches over-hanging habitable buildings.
• Paths and non-flammable features should be installed immediately adjacent to a habitable building.
• Wood piles and flammable materials should be stored a safe distance from habitable buildings.