Grass must stay under 100mm during fire danger

GOLDEN Plains Shire staff are reminding residents and landowners that grass must be kept below one hundred millimetres during the fire danger period.

Although property owners may have undertaken work to meet required standards following fire hazard inspections, grass may re-grow due to weather conditions.

Further maintenance may be required before the due date of fire prevention notices, and property owners who did not receive a notice in November may receive one in December if their grass is not below 100 millimetres.

“Landowners and occupiers of land are legally required to keep their grass below 100 millimetres throughout the fire danger period,” a Golden Plains Shire spokesperson said.

“Council took the opportunity this year to remind residents that the recent weather pattern has likely caused more regrowth, and that even if they’ve ensured to complete the work promptly when receiving the notice, their ongoing responsibility to keep grass short remains.

“This is particularly important for absentee landholders who do not regularly attend to their vacant land.”

For properties over two hectares, grass must be maintained 100 under millimetres for at least 20 metres around houses and outbuildings, and fire breaks near neighbouring properties may be required.

“The ongoing responsibility to keep grass short also means that a fire prevention notice can be issued if grass is not below 100 millimetres, even if it is evident that work has been completed earlier in the period,” the spokesperson said.

“The preference is to not issue second notices and instead ensure we continually provide information to the community about everyone’s responsibility during the fire season.”

For more information, visit the Golden Plains Shire website.