Property inspections advance
Wimmera, Mallee and Grampians councils are urging people to clean-up their properties and remove fire hazards.
Council staff are undertaking annual roadside slashing programs and supporting the completion of strategic fire breaks in rural areas – and leaders have encouraged property owners to undertake their own preparedness programs as the fire danger period begins across the region.
Municipal officers will also conduct fire hazard inspections on private property in coming weeks and will issue fire prevention notices where property owners have not taken appropriate measures to reduce the risk of a fire.
In the Northern Grampians inspections begin this week.
Mayor Kevin Erwin said people should mow or slash grass and weeds to less than 10cm high, rake leaves and bark in the immediate area around buildings, prune low branches from buildings and fences, and remove rubbish and garden waste.
“Under the Country Fire Authority Act 1958, council has a legal obligation to ensure the community fire risk is reduced,” Cr Erwin said.
“Our municipal fire prevention officers have powers to inspect properties and issue a fire prevention notice, where necessary.
“Council also has the legal right to act on and remove a fire hazard on private land and to recoup the costs if the landowner fails to comply.
“This is to keep our community safe and to protect the exceptional natural beauty and wildlife we live among.” shire,
Local laws officers are also inspecting properties across the Horsham Rural City municipality.
Horsham council acting chief executive Kevin O’brien said property owners were responsible for keeping their property from becoming ‘overgrown or unsightly’.
“If we identify a fire hazard on a property, a fire prevention notice will be issued outlining the work that’s needed to be done and by what date. The property will be re-inspected to ensure the hazard has been removed,” he said.
“If the property owner does not comply with the conditions on the notice they may be issued a $1923 infringement.”
Mr O’brien called on people to take care when passing council staff undertaking roadside slashing, which will continue until the end of the year.
Further slashing will be arranged as required during summer.
“Slashing vegetation along roadsides reduces the risk of grass fires when cars pull over onto the side of the road. It also improves safety for road users by creating clearer lines of sight,” Mr O’brien said.
“This week they are operating on roads between Noradjuha and St Helens Plains. From there, they’ll move on to the area from Clear Lake to Laharum.
“Please take care if you see the teams out and about as they are operating heavy equipment. We encourage you to drive carefully as you overtake, and of course give them a wave when you see them.”
In Hindmarsh shire, residents had
a chance to clear green waste, at no charge, at transfer stations from midSeptember to mid-october.
Acting chief executive Monica Revell said property inspections were underway, and would also be completed when the council received a complaint about a property.
“If a property receives a fire prevention notice, they are generally given 21 days to comply with the notice,” she said.
“If they do not apply for an extension to the notice, appeal the notice, or comply with the notice within the required timeframe, an infringement notice is issued to the owners of the property.
“As well as issuing an infringement notice, council will engage a contractor to bring the property up to the standard required on the fire prevention notice and issue the landowner a tax invoice for the costs of the works.”
A West Wimmera Shire Council spokesperson encouraged people to also consider disused machinery when cleaning up their property.