The WA Government has announced revisions to its bushfire policy that will place a stronger focus on managing risks earlier.

It says it intends to emphasise bushfire requirements within the early planning stages, with new policy provisions added to the map of bushfire prone areas.

The government also says it will introduce an assessment of the broader landscape surrounding a development site, as a way of identifying locations with an unacceptable level of bushfire risk.

The changes will update and continue policy from the government’s 2019 Action Plan for Bushfire Framework Review.

“It is incredibly important that the tools we have at our disposal to map bushfire risk utilise the latest technology and research to ensure the highest accuracy possible,” WA Acting Emergency Services Minister Sue Ellery said.

“I’m confident that changes made to the Map of Bush Fire Prone Areas better reflect bushfire risk across WA – particularly in built-up urban areas.

“We have a draft map that will vastly improve decision making and that may be subject to further changes to form a final position.”

The Bureau of Meteorology indicates that Australia could experience a strong El Nino later in the year, bringing dry and warm conditions and increasing bushfire risk.