City urges residents and landowners to ensure properties are bushfire ready
With bushfire season getting underway, Mayor Dan Bull said the City is urging residents and landowners to be proactive in ensuring their properties are fire-safe.
"To protect our community and properties from the potential dangers of bushfires, all residents and landowners must ensure their firebreaks are cleared and maintained between 1 November and 31 March. Firebreaks are a legal requirement.
"For the entire firebreak period, all properties, including the roofs, gutters and walls of buildings, must remain free of flammable material, such as dead plants. Trees and shrubs must be kept pruned, and grass must be mowed or slashed to remain below 5cm.
"Properties on more than 2,000m2 require at least a three metre firebreak inside all external boundaries of the land, around all buildings, and any place where flammable liquids and gas products are kept.
"Burning-off within the City is prohibited all year round."
From 1 November, the City's Rangers and Security team will be inspecting properties to ensure they are fire-safe. Owners of properties that present a fire hazard may be instructed to comply with the City's requirements. In some cases, the City's Rangers may need to enter a property to remove the fire hazard, at the homeowner's expense. Penalties of up to $5,000 may apply if requirements aren't met.
To find out more about your fire prevention responsibilities, please contact the Rangers team on 9272 0972, or visit the fire prevention section of our website.