Authorities in the Geelong region have issued urgent fire prevention notices to more than one thousand local residents and property owners. The directive mandates the clearance of flammable vegetation from their land to mitigate the threat of bushfires during the upcoming high-risk season.
Widespread Compliance Orders Issued
The City of Greater Geelong, in collaboration with the Country Fire Authority (CFA), has formally served more than 1000 fire prevention notices across the municipality. This significant enforcement action targets properties identified as having an unacceptable level of fire hazard due to overgrown grass, scrub, and other combustible materials.
Property owners who have received a notice are legally required to take action. They must slash grass, remove dead vegetation, and clear other potential fuel sources to reduce the risk of a fire starting or spreading from their land. The council has confirmed that these notices are a critical part of its pre-summer bushfire preparedness strategy.
Deadlines and Potential Penalties for Non-Compliance
The clock is ticking for those who have been served. Recipients are given a strict deadline to complete the necessary works. Failure to comply by the specified date can result in substantial fines. Furthermore, if the work is not completed by the owner, the council may intervene and arrange for contractors to clear the property, with the full cost then billed to the landowner.
This proactive approach is not new but has been intensified this year. Council officers and CFA personnel conduct regular inspections, particularly in areas known to be high-risk. The goal is to protect not only individual properties but entire communities by creating defensible space and reducing the overall fuel load in the urban-bush interface.
Community Response and Safety Focus
While receiving a notice can be daunting for residents, authorities stress that the primary motive is community safety. The Geelong region has experienced devastating bushfires in the past, and lessons from those events heavily inform current policy. The clearance of vegetation is one of the most effective measures property owners can take to protect their homes and assist firefighters.
Residents who are unsure about their obligations or need assistance can contact the City of Greater Geelong or the CFA for advice. The message from officials is clear: preparing your property is a shared responsibility. Taking these steps now is essential for safeguarding lives, homes, and the wider environment as the warmer, drier months approach.
