Golden Plains Shire will enter the Fire Danger Period (FDP) from 1am Saturday 24 December 2022.
Fire restrictions will be in force until the Country Fire Authority (CFA) announces the end of the season.
Each year, the CFA introduces Fire Restrictions for the Golden Plains Shire over the summer period. Fire restrictions are determined by the CFA in response to weather and fuel curing in the lead up to summer.
The return of a La Nina weather pattern has led to widespread rainfall and flooding in parts of Victoria, particularly in October, however that doesn’t mean communities can become complacent about the increasing fire risk this season.
During the Fire Danger Period, there are a number of restrictions that residents must adhere to and landowners are required to maintain the levels of fine fuels on their properties. Landowners in Golden Plains are required to keep grass on their residential properties cut so it is no higher than 100mm during the Fire Danger Period. On properties more than two hectares, grass must be kept below 100mm, up to a minimum of 20 metres from a house or outbuilding.
Council encourages residents to make sure any burn offs are completed well ahead of the start of the Fire Danger Period. If you are planning to burn off your garden waste pile, make sure you have:
- Checked the fire danger rating.
- Logged the burn off on 1800 668 511 or online at Fire Permits Victoria – it is a breach of Council’s Local Law to not register your burn off.
- The means to immediately extinguish the fire.
- Cleared all around your burn pile.
- Due to the wet ground, ensure that any vehicles/water tanks that you use to assist in extinguishing the fire have the ability to enter and exit the area without getting bogged.
Residents must be in attendance of their burn offs at all times and must ensure the fire is fully extinguished before leaving it unattended.
To find out what you can and can’t do during the Fire Danger Period, and on days of Total Fire Bans, visit the CFA’s website cfa.vic.gov.au.
Council has commenced its Fire Hazard Prevention Program and has so far issued 380 Fire Prevention Notices. Please click here for more information.
Due to the wet weather, Councils roadside slashing was also delayed by a number of weeks. Slashing has commenced in the north and central regions of the Shire, and it’s hoped that the first round of slashing will be completed by early January 2023.