Firebreak Notice

BUSH FIRES ACT 1954 FIREBREAKS ORDER (SECTION 33)

Firebreak Notice and Bushfire Information

Applies to all Owners and Occupiers of Land in the Shire of Carnamah

PURSUANT to the powers contained in Section 33 of the above Act, you are hereby required on or before the 01 October each year to plough, scarify, cultivate or otherwise clear and thereafter maintain free from all flammable material until 15th March, firebreaks in accordance with the following:

RURAL LAND

Owners and Occupiers of lands, other than within a townsite, shall clear of all flammable materials firebreaks of at least three (3) metres width as close as practicably possible inside and along the whole of the external boundary of their properties.

TOWNSITE LAND

Owners and Occupiers within a townsite shall:

a. Clear of all flammable material the whole of the area where:

i. The area of land is 2023m² or less; or
ii. The land is used for storage of flammable liquids, or
iii. There is a hotel situated thereon.

b. If the area of land exceeds 2023m² (half an acre):

i. Clear of all flammable material firebreaks at least two (2) metres wide immediately inside all external boundaries of the land, or
ii. Have the grass mown to a height of not more than 50mm over the whole of the land, except where the land is used for the storage of flammable liquids.

HOMESTEADS, BUILDING, HAYSTACKS, STACKS OF FODDER, BULK FUEL, DRUMS AND LIQUID PETROLEUM

Owners and Occupiers of land shall:

During the period from 17th September to the 15th March inclusive, have firebreaks at least three (3) metres wide in such positions as are necessary to completely surround the perimeter of any homestead, building, fuel installation (including drums), haystack (where such haystack is situated within 200 metres of any homestead, building, fuel installation) or group of such structures or installation.

HARVESTING

A fully operational mobile fire fighting unit complete with a container with at least 400 litres minimum capacity of water is to be readily available to any paddock being harvested.

GENERAL INFORMATION

If for any reason it is considered impractical to comply with any provision of this notice, a written application for a variation may be made to Shire Council and must reach the CEO by the 17th September.  Any such application must bear the signature of the Fire Control Officer of the area signifying his agreement to the variation.

If permission for variation is not granted, the terms of this notice must be complied with, or as the Council directs.

REGISTRATION

It is in the interest of all residents to be registered members of the Bush Fire Brigade covering the area in which they own land.  Membership of a Brigade is the safest way to ensure cover under the Shire’s Fire Insurance policy which covers personal injury and damage to equipment resulting from fighting bush fires under the direction of a Fire Control Officer.

FLAMMABLE MATERIAL

This is defined for the purpose of this order to include bush (as defined in the Bush Fire Act), boxes, cartons, paper and like flammable materials, rubbish and also combustible matter, but does not include green standing trees or growing bushes or plants in gardens or lawns.

The penalty for failing to comply with this notice is a fine of $250 by infringement notice or not more than $5000 if prosecuted, and a person in default is also liable, whether prosecuted or not, to pay the cost of performing the work directed in this notice if it is not carried out by the owner or occupier by the date required by this notice.

Harvesting is not permitted during Christmas, Boxing or New Years Days.