Maps show bushfire risk - mayor's property in fire-prone area

Initially, there was some confusion when he found out his property, which backs on to a national park, was exempt from new maps of shire properties that are on bushfire-prone land when neighbouring properties were included.

"My next door neighbour is fire-prone; I am not fire-prone. People would ask why," he said at Monday night's council meeting.

"I genuinely don't now why I am not fire-prone.

"It is a question people might ask."

Further checking found that his property was on the new maps of bushfire-prone properties.

The council is required to review its bushfire-prone land map every five years.

Technological advances in mapping have increased precision and 56 new properties are now recognised as bushfire-prone while 1000 properties were removed from the map.

Bushfire risk can also be altered by subdivision proposals. New fire trails or changes to vegetation can also reduce the level of bushfire risk.

The housing development at Greenhills Beach has reduced the bushfire risk in that area.

But new residential subdivisions of large lots in Menai at Mill Creek have resulted in an increase in the number of lots subject to bushfire risk.

Vegetation category corrections at The Crescent and Thorp Road, Woronora, and at Hammersley Road and North West Arm Road, Grays Point, increased the number of properties recognised as being subject to bushfire risk.

Under Environmental Planning and Assessment Act requirements, planning certificates for the properties affected by the changes were updated to include or remove a bushfire-prone notation.

Letters will be sent to the owners of the affected properties to inform them that their land is now considered prone to bushfire risk, which must be considered in any future development.