NSW has tougher development restrictions in bushfire prone areas than Victoria and there is no

need for a blanket ban on development applications, according to the Urban Taskforce.

The NSW Local Government and Shires Associations called for development to be halted

while the royal commission into the Victorian bushfire tragedy takes place.

The Urban Taskforce's chief executive, Aaron Gadiel, said there was no evidence that NSW's

robust bushfire standards were inadequate.

"NSW learned lessons from its own bushfire disasters in 1994 and 2002," Gadiel said.

"The high severity and frequency of bushfire events in NSW has already led to tough rules on

new development in bushfire prone areas - rules that Victoria is now moving to adopt."

In 2002 NSW implemented its own bushfire standards. These standards are more stringent than

the benchmarks set by the national building code.

"NSW specific rules require new developments to withstand bush fire attack in the form of

wind, smoke, embers, radiant heat and flame contact.

"NSW rules assume that when a bushfire hits a house the average flame temperature is 1,090

Kelvin (817 degrees).

"Victoria has assumed a lower flame temperature and is only now is it moving to adopt the

same higher standard set by NSW."

The assessment criteria for potential development sites in areas prone to bushfires considers

vegetation type, slope and separation distance.