Fire Break Requirements

BUSH FIRES ACT 1954

NOTICE TO OWNERS AND OCCUPIERS OF LAND WITHIN THE SHIRE OF DOWERIN

Notice is hereby given to all landowners/occupiers within the Shire of Dowerin that you are required : on or before 31st October 2023 to plough, scarify, cultivate or otherwise clear and thereafter, maintain clear of all flammable material up to and including 30 April 2024 as per requirements in relation to Section 33 of the above.

PROPERTIES WILL BE INSPECTED TO ENSURE THEY COMPLY WITH COUNCILS REQUIREMENTS

TOWNSITES

On or before 31st October 2023 all town lots within the townsites of Dowerin and Minnivale are required to be treated as follows;

• Land is 3,000m² (half an acre) or less. Do not require fire breaks, but are required to follow General Fire Hazard Reduction. (e.g. slashed/mowed)
• Land is 3,000m² (half an acre) or more. A fire- break must be provided not less than 3 metres in width inside and along the whole of the external boundaries of the properties owned or occupied and all flammable material must be cleared 3m distance from all buildings and/or haystacks situated on the land and maintained free of such material until the 30 April 2024

FUEL PUMPS (FUEL DEPOTS)

On or before the 31st October all grass and similar material is to be cleared from such places where drum ramps are located and where drums, empty or full, are stored and such areas to be maintained cleared of grass and similar flammable material until 30 April 2024.

FARM BUILDINGS AND UNATTENDED ELECTRIC MOTORS AND HAY STACKS

Fire breaks at least 3 metres in width completely surrounding and not more than 20 metres from the perimeter of any building, group of buildings or haystacks. All flammable material must be removed from an area 3 metres in width immediately surrounding the building. All flammable material must be removed from an area 3 metres in width immediately surrounding an unattended electric motor site.

UNATTENDED FUEL OPERATED MOTORS

All flammable material must be removed from an area 3 metres in width immediately surrounding an unattended fuel operated motor whether the motor is intended to be used or not.

RURAL LAND

Firebreaks must be provided not less than 3 metres in width inside and along the whole of the external boundaries of the properties owned or occupied: where this is not practicable the firebreaks must be provided as near as possible to, and within, such boundaries.

BARBEQUES AND INCINERATORS

Gas and electric barbeques are permitted any time. Solid fuel barbeques and incinerators are PROHIBITED on days of VERY HIGH fire danger warning or above. Residents of the townsites throughout the Shire are reminded that the burning of waste material should be in approved type incinerator. Open drums are not acceptable.

PENALTY

The penalty for failing to comply with this notice is a fine of up to $250 and a person in default is also liable, whether prosecuted or not, to pay the cost of performing the work in this notice, if it is not carried out by the owner or Occupier by the date required by this notice.

HARVESTING BANS

A separate fire fighting fire appliance is required to be present in any paddock being harvested, chaining, raking stubble, straw baling and associated allied activities during restricted and prohibited periods. The fire fighting unit must be in a state of readiness and have a minimum capacity of 400 litres of water, a powered pump and hose. The farm fire fighting unit should be parked on bare ground in or near the harvesting or working area.

A Harvesting and Movement Ban and Use of Internal Combustion Engines (except for the watering and movement of stock) will be imposed when the actual weather conditions reach a Fire Danger rating of forty two (42) on the maximum wind speed at the weather stations of two (2) bush fire brigades All such bans are at the discretion of the Chief Bush Fire Control Officer or a duly appointed person.

It is MANDATORY for all operators of harvesters to be registered on the Shire of Dowerin Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban SMS Notification service. If a ban has been imposed, all persons registered will be sent a text message advising them of details.

HARVEST BAN INFORMATION

Residents can register themselves on the Shire of Dowerin Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban SMS Notification service by contacting the Shire Administration Office on 9631 1202 or at dowshire@dowerin.wa.gov.au

Information regarding Harvest Bans are broadcast over the radio networks of:

A.B.C. Statewide AM

W.A.F.M. 90.9

Radio West 864 AM

HARVESTING IS NOT PERMITTED

• Christmas Day
• Boxing Day
• New Years Day

Note - Attention of landowners is drawn to the fact that this order allows for provision of firebreaks in situations other than immediately with property boundaries subject to approval. The Chief Fire Control Officer and appointed Fire Control Officers have been authorised to act for Council in this matter.

INFRINGEMENT NOTICES WILL BE ISSUED TO OWNERS OR OCCUPIERS WHERE NO OR INSUFFICIENT FIRE BREAKS ARE PROVIDED.

GENERAL FIRE HAZARD REDUCTION

All property owners are required to reduce fire hazards on their property prior to the summer season, by maintaining grassed areas as far is reasonably practicable, to 10cm in height over the entire area, by slashing, mowing, application of chemical or stock. Hazard Reduction orders will be issued where landowners have failed to reduce fire hazards.

A copy of the 2023/2024 Firebreak Order can be found here Fire Break Order 2023/2024