AS BALLARAT prepares for a hot, dry summer with the threat of fires, the Victorian government has declared much of the region as bushfire-prone. New bushfire mapping released this week shows areas from Bunninyong to Burrumbeet and Learmonth at increased risk from fires and subject to new building regulations. Following recommendations from the Black Saturday Bushfires Royal Commission, the standardised maps will cause new homes around much of Victoria to require roofs, windows and walls which meet new minimum standards. Only limited areas of the municipality, including central Ballarat, Sebastopol, Mount Clear and Wendouree, are not considered bushfire-prone. Planning Minister Matthew Guy said the new maps and regulation zones will provide greater certainty and protection for the state.Highly populated metropolitan areas are excluded from the regulations due to a low bushfire risk.Mr Guy said the new building regulations will decrease risk from ember attack, the predominant bushfire attack mechanism in previous fire events including Black Saturday. “Until now assessments were required on every new dwelling in Victoria but the new bushfire-prone mapping clearly shows which areas now require the assessment. “The mapping uses the best available science, responds to bushfire threat in a state-wide approach and ensures the lives of Victorians are of primary concern,” Mr Guy said. The maps were released as the Bureau of Meteorology forecasts hotter-than-average temperatures in the early summer period for southeast Australia. Bureau meteorologists believe there is an 80 per cent chance of temperatures exceeding long term averages. CFA commander for the Grampians Region Philip Beasley said increased rainfall brought the potential for grassfires in and around Ballarat. “Certainly there is potential for this year to have significant grassfire activity around Ballarat and the Grampains region. “High rainfall from September right through the year will increase the amount of grass around and that poses a risk,” he said. Mr Beasley said as spring rain causes further grass growth, the risk could increase. He warned residents to begin clearing property and maintaining grass height to below 100mm, to deny fires fuel where possible.Follow @TomMcIlroy