What is a BAL Assessment?

A Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) Assessment measures the potential risk of bushfire to your property by considering vegetation, slope, and distance to surrounding fuels. The result determines your BAL rating, which ranges from BAL-LOW to BAL-FZ (Flame Zone). This rating is required for building approval in bushfire-prone areas across Western Australia.

Why do I need a BAL Assessment?

If you are building, renovating, or subdividing land in a designated bushfire-prone area, you are legally required to have a BAL Assessment. Local councils in the Southwest region, including Busselton, Margaret River, Dunsborough, Bunbury, and surrounding towns, will not approve development applications without a valid BAL Report.

How is a BAL rating determined?

A BAL rating is based on:

• The type of vegetation near your property.

• The distance from the vegetation to the proposed building.

• The slope of the land that fire could travel across.

These factors combine to produce a rating from BAL-LOW (lowest risk) to BAL-FZ (highest risk).

What are the BAL rating levels?

• BAL-LOW: Minimal risk, no special construction requirements.

• BAL-12.5 / BAL-19 / BAL-29: Increasing levels of bushfire exposure, requiring additional building measures.

• BAL-40 / BAL-FZ: Severe to extreme bushfire risk, requiring significant construction methods or reconsideration of design.

How long does a BAL Assessment take?

Most assessments can be completed within a few business days upon receiving all the documentation required for the assessment to be carried out. We provide a fast turnaround to ensure your project moves forward without unnecessary delays.

How much does a BAL Assessment cost?

The cost varies depending on the property’s location, size, and complexity of the site. Contact us for a free quote tailored to your site.

Which areas do you service?

We provide BAL Assessments across the entire Southwest of Western Australia, including (but not limited to):

• Dunsborough, Busselton, Margaret River, Augusta

• Bunbury, Harvey, Collie, Capel

• Manjimup, Pemberton, Bridgetown

• And surrounding areas.

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