Our BAL assessments are undertaken in accordance with:

• AS 3959 – Construction of Buildings in Bushfire-Prone Areas

• Relevant State Planning Policies

• Local government bushfire overlays and mapping requirements

• Fire authority guidelines (e.g. RFS, CFA, DFES, CFS)

Our BAL reports:

• Determine the applicable Bushfire Attack Level for buildings and infrastructure

• Assess vegetation classification and effective slope

• Map distances to classified vegetation

• Provide construction requirements based on BAL rating

• Support Development Applications (DA) and planning approvals

• Provide clear recommendations for compliance and risk mitigation

We work closely with project designers and engineers to ensure that substation buildings, control rooms, O&M facilities, and associated infrastructure meet bushfire construction standards without unnecessary cost escalation.

For larger-scale renewable energy developments, a comprehensive Bushfire Hazard Management Report is often required to support planning approval.

Risc Consult prepares detailed bushfire risk assessments that:

• Identify bushfire hazards and site constraints

• Assess landscape and regional bushfire context

• Evaluate asset protection zones (APZ)

• Provide defendable space strategies

• Recommend water supply and firefighting access provisions

• Address emergency access and egress requirements

• Integrate bushfire mitigation into project layout and design

• Demonstrate compliance with state-based bushfire planning frameworks

Our reports are structured to align with authority requirements and are designed to streamline approval pathways.

Risk Consult can develop comprehensive, site-specific Emergency Response Plans (ERPs) for renewable energy projects including wind farms, solar farms and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). Our plans are aligned with HIPAP No. 1, AS 3745 and relevant State WHS and emergency service requirements, ensuring both regulatory compliance and operational practicality. We undertake detailed emergency risk assessments to identify credible scenarios such as bushfire, BESS thermal runaway, transformer fires, hazardous material incidents, severe weather events and medical emergencies, and translate these into clear, actionable response procedures tailored to the site layout, infrastructure and staffing model.

Our approach integrates emergency management structures, evacuation planning, emergency services consultation and training frameworks to ensure the plan is fully implementable. We establish Emergency Control Organisation (ECO) roles in accordance with AS 3745, define communication and escalation protocols, and develop site emergency diagrams and contact registers. The result is a robust, renewable-specific emergency response framework that protects personnel, safeguards critical infrastructure, supports insurer expectations, and strengthens overall project resilience.