Thank you to all residents who have begun preparing their property for the upcoming fire season.
Council’s Fire Hazard Inspection Program will commence on Monday 5 December to identify properties deemed to be a fire risk to the property owner or their neighbours. Due to recent wet weather, the Fire Hazard Prevention program has been delayed by five weeks.
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 or unless a Fire Prevention Notice is issued.
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 8 January, 2023.
Residents that receive a Fire Prevention Notice but believe their property is still too wet to complete the works by the due date must inform Council via email to [email protected] or phone 5220 7111.
If the works are not completed and no correspondence is received, Council will undertake fire hazard reduction works and invoice the landholder.
If you can’t get to your property, arrange a contractor or if you plan to have stock on your land, please email or call Council to request an extension of time.
Failure to undertake the works listed on the Fire Prevention Notice may result in an Infringement Notice ($1849.00) and Council undertaking fire hazard reduction works at the expense of the landholder.
Under State Government legislation, Council must conduct fire hazard inspections on private property. This includes issuing Fire Prevention Notices and arranging contractors to slash non-compliant private property. Council engages contractors to conduct roadside slashing of all of Council’s sealed roads and strategic fire breaks, which have been approved by the CFA. Council also conducts burning of selected reserves to remove the fire hazard and for ecological purposes.
Due to the wet weather, Councils roadside slashing was also delayed by a number of weeks. It is hoped that the first round of slashing will be completed by early January 2023.