After a dry winter, Golden Plains Shire Council is encouraging residents to ensure their properties are prepared for the fire season ahead of Council’s upcoming Fire Hazard Inspections Program.
Starting next Monday 4 November 2019, Council’s Fire Hazard Inspections will commence identifying properties deemed to be a fire risk to the property owner or their neighbours.
Owners of land in Golden Plains Shire are required to keep grass on their properties cut to a maximum height of 300 millimetres during the non-fire season and then to a maximum height of 100 millimetres during the fire danger period. Properties deemed to be a high fire risk, such as from long, uncut grass will be issued with a Fire Prevention Notice. The Notice will specify what works are required to remove the fire hazard by Sunday 1 December, 2019.
Council will undertake a second inspection in early December to determine if required works have been undertaken in accordance with the Fire Prevention Notice. If works have not been conducted, Council will issue a $1,652 infringement and arrange a contractor to attend and slash the property. Property owners will incur a minimum fee of $267 for this work.
In early October, Council began its own fire prevention works, with contractors commencing the annual roadside slashing program of all sealed roads and strategic fire breaks to reduce fuel loads. Council also conducts burning of selected reserves to remove fire hazards. This program typically commences in the drier south of the Shire before moving north, with the program completed by Christmas.
For more information on Fire Hazard Inspections and Notices, including Frequently Asked Questions, visit goldenplains.vic.gov.au/residents/my-community/fire-prevention/fire-prevention-notices-restrictions