Preparing properties for the fire season

GOLDEN Plains Shire officers are asking residents to prepare for the upcoming bushfire season with fire hazard inspections conducted on private property last week.

The inspections identified locations which need cutting or slashing to be in line with CFA guidelines.

Owners of land where grass is close to houses or sheds must keep grass on their properties cut to a maximum height of 100 millimetres during the fire danger period.

Properties which were found to be high risk will be given a fire prevention notice and works must be completed by the date on the notice.

“With the fire season fast approaching, we all have an important responsibility to help reduce the risk of fire,” said CEO Shane Walden.

“Good fire safety practices help to protect everyone in our community, and I encourage residents to stay informed by visiting council’s website.”

Smythesdale CFA captain Damian Merrett said there have already been six or seven out of control burn offs in the region.

“If that’s giving any indication of what we’re in for then it’s going to be a bad one,” he said.

“The less ground fuel we’ve got that the fire can burn though, it will lower the intensity of the fire.”

Residents who cannot meet the deadline can contact council by emailing [email protected] with a reason to request an extension.

Landowners who cannot complete the work are encouraged to engage a contractor.

Residents who intend to have stock on their land must contact council via the same email address if they have received a notice and council may request slashing around structures and the boundary.

If the works are not completed and no contact is made with council, contractors may be engaged, and the landholder will be invoiced.

Landholders may also receive an infringement notice of $1923.