The Shire of Murray has extinguished a proposal to add a new requirement to its bushfire compliance notices, following a vote by the council on June 18.
Proposed Clause Rejected
Shire officers had proposed adding a clause to the compliance notice that would have required owners or occupiers of land larger than 45,001 square metres to either cut all flammable material to 50mm tall or less, or create a mineral earth firebreak within 20 metres of all property boundaries. A mineral earth firebreak involves stripping all vegetation to leave bare earth.
However, the shire's bushfire advisory committee voted 4-3 to recommend against adopting this clause, opting instead to maintain current requirements, which include firebreaks around buildings and removal of flammable materials from gutters.
Committee and Council Decisions
The push to remove the clause was spearheaded by Coolup VBFB fire control officer Douglas McLarty, who also serves as shire president. The council voted unanimously to remove the clause at its June 18 meeting.
The report to the committee stated that the intended change was to reduce bushfire fuel loads and limit the potential spread and intensity of fire on larger rural properties, while also improving access and operational safety for firefighting activities.
Existing Compliance Notices
The bushfire compliance notices are designed to provide information about bushfire preparedness, prevention, and risk mitigation. They can also direct landowners to carry out works for fire prevention. The shire reviews these notices annually to ensure they remain up to date.
Deadlines and Penalties
Fire prevention work must be completed by December 1 this year and maintained through to May 15, 2027. Failure to comply could result in a potential maximum fine of $5,000.
