Firebreaks

Under the Bush Fires Act 1954, all owners and occupiers of land in the City must establish and maintain firebreaks to the following specifications:  

Land with an area of 2,000m2 or more

• a firebreak, not less than three (3) metres wide, must be cleared immediately inside and around all external boundaries of the land. 

Land with an area of less than 2,000m2 

• a firebreak, not less than two (2) metres wide must be cleared immediately inside and around all external boundaries of the land. 

Buildings

• a firebreak, not less than three (3) metres wide must be cleared immediately around all external walls of every building. 

Whenever a firebreak is cleared by burning, the provisions of the Act and Regulations must be observed. 

If mowing or slashing is carried out, then the height of the vegetation must not exceed, as far as reasonably practicable, 20mm over the entire area of the firebreak. 

The use of chemicals is subject to all restrictions imposed by the Department of Agriculture. Your attention is drawn to the regulations made under the Dangerous Goods Safety Act (2004), which requires a site on which flammable liquid is stored to be totally cleared of all flammable material for a minimum distance of five metres surrounding the site.  If it is considered to be impracticable for any reason to comply with the provisions of this notice, application may be made not later than 15 October 2008 to the City for permission to provide alternate fire protection measures. If permission is not granted the requirements of this notice must be complied with. 

For further information please contact the City on 9400 4960.