IMPORTANT INFORMATION RELATING TO YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A LANDOWNER IN THE CITY OF MANDURAH –
Pursuant to the powers contained in Section 33 of the Bush Fires Act 1954 you are required to carry out fire prevention work on land owned or owned and occupied by you in accordance with the provisions of this Notice, to the satisfaction of Council or its duly authorised officers.
This work must be carried out by 17 November 2021 OR WITHIN 14 DAYS OF BECOMING THE OWNER OR OWNER OCCUPIER, SHOULD THIS BE AFTER THAT DATE and kept maintained throughout the summer months until 31 May 2022.
Persons who fail to comply with the requirements of this notice may be issued with an infringement notice or prosecuted. Where the owner fails to comply with the requisitions of the notice, Council or its duly authorised officers or contractors will carry out the required work at the cost of the owner or owner occupier.
In addition, you may be required to carry out further works which may be deemed necessary and specified by way of a separate written notice forwarded to the address shown on the City of Mandurah rate records for that land.
If it is considered for any reason impractical to clear firebreaks as required by this Notice, or if natural features render firebreaks unnecessary, you may apply in writing to the City of Mandurah or its duly authorised officers, not later than 1 November 2021, for alternative positions, or other methods of fire prevention on your land. If permission is not granted, you must comply with the requirements of the Notice.
WHAT YOU ARE REQUIRED TO DO:
OCCUPIED OR UNOCCUPIED LAND LESS THAN 4000m²
Where the area of the land is less than 4000m² remove all flammable material on the land except living standing trees, growing bushes and plants in gardens and/or lawns from the whole of the land by either mowing, slashing, ploughing, cultivating, scarifying, chemicals spraying (followed by slashing down to 40mm) or other approved method by an officer of Council authorised for this purpose.
If mowing or slashing is carried out, then the height of the vegetation must not exceed, as far as is reasonably practicable, 40mm over the entire area of land.
A four (4) metre firebreak is not acceptable.
Note: Properties with dense vegetation will also need to be thinned out to reduce any significant fire risk to the satisfaction of the City’s authorised Bush Fire Control Officer.
OCCUPIED OR UNOCCUPIED LAND 4000m² AND OVER
Where the area of land is 4000m² and over, provide a trafficable mineral earth firebreak at least
4 metres wide, with a vertical height clearance of 4.2 metres:
- Immediately inside all external boundaries of the land
- Immediately surrounding all outbuildings erected on the land
- Immediately surrounding haystacks, fuel storage or other flammable substances or material
- A vertical height clearance of 4.2 metres must be maintained on driveway access.
ASSET PROTECTION ZONES (APZ)
Properties zoned rural residential under the City of Mandurah Town Planning Scheme No. 3, and on all land 4000m² and greater are required to:
- Maintain a minimum 2 metre gap between trees, shrubs and any building or infrastructure
- Ensure that no trees overhang any building or infrastructure.
An authorised Bush Fire Control Officer may issue a variation from Asset Protection Zone requirements where it is considered that adequate risk mitigation measures have been implemented, such as the reduction of fuel loads and appropriate management of understorey vegetation. Property owners are encouraged to contact the City to discuss the installation of an APZ.
Applications can be made to the City to remove trees or vegetation in order to create an Asset Protection Zone within a tree preservation area as designated in the City’s Town Planning Scheme No 3.
FIRE MANAGEMENT PLANS
Where land is subject to an approved Fire Management Plan the management plan must be fully complied with for the land.
BURNING DURING THE PROHIBITED AND RESTRICTED BURNING PERIOD
This section relates specifically to fuel hazard reduction burns or running burns. Fuel hazard reduction burns or running burns are generally not permitted within the district of Mandurah.
Any exemption is based on a full assessment of the hazard by a City authorised Bush Fire Control Officer in consultation with the City’s Chief Bush Fire Control Officer. Full demonstration of appropriate risk mitigation planning is required and a Permit to Burn must be issued by an authorised Bush Fire Control Officer prior to commencement of any fuel hazard reduction or running burn.
The following sets out the Prohibited and Restricted Burning Periods
RESTRICTED PERIOD - PERMIT REQUIRED:
01/04/2021 – 30/11/2021
PROHIBITED BURNING:
01/12/2021 – 31/03/2022
RESTRICTED PERIOD - PERMIT REQUIRED:
01/04/2022 – 30/11/2022
BURNING GARDEN REFUSE
In accordance with the requirements of Section 24G of the Bush Fires Act 1954, the City notifies that it prohibits the burning of garden refuse or rubbish at all times within the district of Mandurah with the following exemptions:
- Properties zoned rural residential under City of Mandurah Town Planning Scheme No. 3;
- on all land 4000m² and greater.
For these properties a Permit to Burn is required and permits will only be issued between 1 May and 31 October inclusive.
Any other exemption is based on an assessment of the hazard by a City authorised Bush Fire Control Officer.
NOTE: Only those properties that are 4000m² or greater are able to obtain permits to burn, all other sized properties are unable to have a fire to burn garden waste.
SOLID FUEL FIRES FOR COOKING OR HEATING
Solid fuel barbecues and fire apparatus such as fire pits/brazier/chimineas or other recognised equipment used for heating or cooking can be used at home but not
- during the prohibited burning period, or
- on days of very high, severe, extreme or catastrophic fire danger; or
- during a total fire ban
Under no circumstances can any type of fire, whether in an appliance or not, be lit on beaches, reserves or any public land within the City of Mandurah.
By order of the Council
Mark R Newman
Chief Executive Officer
