Published on Friday, 14 September 2018 at 12:00:00 AM
2018/19 Fire Season
The 2018/19 fire season is nearly upon us, have you begun preparations to make your property compliant? The Restricted Burning Period begins on 19 September to 31 October 2018 permits may be issued during this period. All properties must be compliant by the end of this period, infringements will apply from 1 November 2018 if your property does not comply.
Please note that there have been changes to the Shire of Pingelly’s Fire Control Order for Townsite Land & Rural Residential Land as follows:
Townsite Land
On townsite land, where a property or adjoining properties having the same ownership or control and are used as a single holding, the owner or occupier, shall:-
- a) where the holding is under 2024m² in area have all flammable material likely to be conductive to the outbreak, spread or extension of fire removed, and the grass maintained to a height not greater than 10cm and all slashed material removed or
- b) where the holding is under 2024m² in area clear by burning all flammable material likely to be conductive to the outbreak, spread or extensions of a fire from the whole of the land subject to prior approval from the Shire of Pingelly.
- c) All townsite properties over 2,024m2 in area are required to be fire hazard reduced by:
i). Construction and maintenance of a 3 metre wide bare mineral earth unobstructed trafficable firebreak within 10 metres of the boundary; and
ii). Reduction of the vegetation fire hazard to a maximum height of 100mm including the removal of slashed material, unless an exemption is granted by the
Chief Executive Officer in consultation with the Chief Bush Fire Control Officer/VFRS Captain and Ranger Services.
iii). Firebreak must be constructed on and contained within the property: footpaths and roads or road verges will not be accepted as firebreaks.
- d) Trees, bushes, shrubs are to be trimmed back over driveways and access ways to all buildings to three (3) metres width with a clear vertical axis over it of four (4) metres.
This is to afford access for emergency services to all structures and points of the property.
RURAL RESIDENTIAL LAND (including Moorumbine, Dattening, Pingelly Heights & Pingelly Townsite)
On rural residential land, where a property or adjoining properties having the same ownership or control and are used as a single holding, the owner or occupier shall:
- a) Comply with the requirements of townsite land, where the holding does not exceed 2024m² in area; or
- b) where the holding is over 2,024m2 in area and not greater than 10ha in area is required to be fire hazard reduced by:
i). Construction and maintenance of a 3 metre wide bare mineral earth unobstructed trafficable firebreak within 10 metres of the boundary; and
ii). Reduction of the vegetation fire hazard to a maximum height of 100mm including the removal of slashed material, unless an exemption
is granted by the Chief Executive Officer in consultation with the Chief Bush Fire Control Officer/VFRS Captain and Ranger Services.
iii). Firebreak must be constructed on and contained within the property: footpaths and roads or road verges will not be accepted as firebreaks.
- c) Trees, bushes, shrubs are to be trimmed back over driveways and access ways to all buildings to three (3) metres width with a clear vertical axis over it of four (4) metres.
This is to afford access for emergency services to all structures and points of the property.
There are other minor changes to the following sections of the Shire of Pingelly’s Fire Control Order:
APPLICATION TO VARY FIREBREAK REQUIREMENTS
If it is considered impracticable to clear firebreaks or remove flammable material from the land as required, application may be made in writing to the Council or its duly authorised officer by 1 October prior to upcoming season for permission to put in place alternative fire hazard reduction measures. If permission is not granted, the requirements of this Order shall be complied with.
The penalty for failing to comply with this notice is a fine not exceeding $250 and a person in default is also liable whether prosecuted or not to pay costs of performing the work directed in this notice if it is not carried out by the owner and/or occupier by the date required by this notice.
By Order of Council.
Primary Fire Fighting Units
During any period when harvesting operations are being conducted there shall be provided in the same paddock or within close proximity of that paddock,
an operational independent mobile firefighting unit having an engine driven pump and a water capacity of not less than 600 litres; the tank of the unit shall be
kept full of water at all times during harvesting, and the responsibility to supply the unit is that of the landholder. Harvesting operations include the use of mobile
augers and seed cleaning units. Firefighting trailers for fire suppression are regarded as out dated and dangerous — both to their operators and to other fire fighters
on a fire ground. Their use at wild fires is not encouraged.
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