BAL Assessment Merricks Mornington Peninsula

Merricks Beach settlement is nestled in behind a long linear reserve of Coastal Foreshore reserve comprised of large tracts of windswept Coastal Teatree Working with a well informed architect is such a pleasure when developing a Bushfire Management Statement, as the development can be designed to be responsive to the localised bushfire Hazard.

The way a fire runs across the landscape from a hot Northerly wind or a gusty South Westerly change on a hot Summer's afternoon/night provides insight that can positively influence the design of a house in a Bushfire Management Overlay The positioning of smaller high windows on the north side to let the sun in but also protect form bushfires coming from this NW direction with the use of colourbond steel is one great way to design a house that is responsive to the bushfire risk. Use of landscaping to create defendable space is another. Understanding the bushfire risk for the local site is the foundation for responsive designs to create innovative solutions.