Permit changes

WATTLE Range Council has advised farmers that there will changes to the permit conditions and process for burning standing grass and stubble this year.

Greater conditions will be imposed on permits issued to landholders burning standing grass and stubble as dry weather conditions continue to increase the fire risk throughout the region this Fire Danger Season.

Changes to the permit conditions and process this year were recommended by the Limestone Coast Bush Fire Management Committee working group.

The group was formed specifically to review the permit conditions due to both the increased risk this season, and to achieve consistency in the Schedule 9 permit process across the Limestone Coast region.

The Limestone Coast Bush Fire Management Committee working group recommended the following changes to permit conditions:

Increasing the width of the required fire break from 4m to 8m

Increasing the number of people on site from 2 to 4 people

Increasing the minimum water requirements to 2500L over two vehicles

The added measures will be introduced as extra precautions to ensure that the practice of stubble burning is allowed to continue within the Fire Danger Season in a safe manner.

Wattle Range Council’s fire prevention officer Tim Wilson said the measures taken are to mitigate risks posed by burning practices under current environmental conditions.

“Our region is currently experiencing some of the driest weather on record with rainfall well below annual averages across the state and no significant rainfall predicted in the short or long-range forecasts.,” Mr Wilson said.

“This has influenced a change to the way that stubble burn permits are to be issued and the way that the permitted burns are to be conducted across the Limestone Coast.

“While some of these changes may seem excessive to some landowners, it is important that we ensure the burns are carried out as safely as possible. We will continue to monitor the fuel loads and rainfall across the region and will review the permit conditions imposed regularly.”

Once the Fire Danger Season winds up, council intends to seek constructive feedback from stakeholders.

All feedback received will be communicated to the Limestone Coast Bush Fire Management Committee to inform further review and improve processes into the future.