We bought a block of land which included a plan with preliminary council approval. People in same development on block next to us have started building their house with a Bush Fire Approval rating = Low. I got a BFA rating Low report and submitted it with everything else for the Building Permit, and now the council are saying thats not good enough they had to send one of their own guys down to assess the block. He has judged that it is too close to an area of vegetation which may bump us into a higher rating zone. We are practically in the middle of a seaside town, with at least 3 existing older houses between us and this area, which is council land anyway, and exacrly the same distance as the house next door. They say just because that house was wrongly approved doesnt alter our reading. They have put it to the standards board to define certain wording on the bushfire ratings, but can't tell me when they meet, whether it is once a month or whenever. I am absolutely furious over this as it will bump the cost of our house through the roof if we have to put in all this ridiculous bushfire stuff that is meant for highly vegetated areas. Evidently the people in Marysville etc. arent rebuilding because of the cost of the new regulations.