City of Cockburn - Wetlands to Waves

1. LAND WHICH IS LESS THAN 2,032M2 IN AREA AND ZONED RESIDENTIAL 1 OCTOBER 2011 and maintained to 31 MAY 2012.

The owner or occupier shall clear, to the satisfaction of Council or its duly authorised Officer, all inflammable matter from the whole of the land except living trees, shrubs, and plants under cultivation and lawns. This is required to be cleared by 1 October 2011 and kept clear until 31 May 2012.

The vegetation may be cleared by mowing/slashing or other approved methods as close to the ground as possible and not allowing it to re-grow any greater than a depth of 50mm. This to be completed to the satisfaction of Council's Authorised Fire Control Officer.

AREAS ZONED RESIDENTIAL NO BURNING ALLOWED.

2. LAND WHICH IS GREATER THAN 2,032M2 IN AREAS SHALL HAVE A TRAFFICABLE FIREBREAK MINIMUM OF THREE (3) METRES WIDE - 30 NOVEMBER 2011 - 31 MARCH 2012.

(i) immediately inside all external boundaries of the land, (four sides);
and

(ii) immediately surrounding all buildings (if any) situated on the land and

(iii) immediately surrounding all fuel dumps and ramps (if any) on the land.

"Trafficable Firebreak" means ground from which all flammable material (which includes vegetation and with all overhanging branches, trees, limbs, etc to be trimmed back clear of the firebreak area) has been removed and on which no flammable material (which includes vegetation) is permitted during the period between 30 November 2011 and 31 March 2012. The area of the firebreak must be able to be transversed by a fire unit or truck carrying fire crew on the back so as not to cause them any injury.

AREAS ZONED RURAL AND OTHER AREAS

Fire Permits are required ALL YEAR ROUND.  No permits will be issued during the prohibited burning period. All residential & industrial areas no burning allowed all year round.

PERMITS TO BURN MUST BE OBTAINED PRIOR TO BURNING

PERMITS ARE CURRENTLY BEING ISSUED

Ensure you have a permit. The City usually issues up to three (3) fire permits per year for up to 14 days each, but if there is vegetation that cannot be reasonably burnt within a one square metre pile further permits may be issued.
 

3. ALTERNATIVE SITUATIONS - FIREBREAK VARIATION.

If for any reason an owner or occupier considers it impractical to clear their land in accordance with the above, the owner or occupier should apply in writing to Council no later than 31 October 2011 for a Variation of Firebreak for approval to construct a firebreak in an alternative position on his or her land. If Council, or its duly Authorised Fire Control Officers do not approve the application for an alternative firebreak, then the owner or occupier shall comply with all the requirements of this Fire Control Order.

An approval to construct an alternative firebreak shall only remain in force until a change of ownership of the land following the date of the grant of the approval. If having been granted approval, the owner or occupier fails to comply with the variation order by the due date, then the provisions of this Fire Control Order shall apply. Council reserves the right, at any time, to revoke, alter or add to the provisions of this variation order.

Where an owner or occupier of land fails or neglects to comply with any requirements of this Fire Control Order within the time specified. Council's Authorised Fire Control Officers' with such employees and/or contractors, vehicles and machinery as the officer deems necessary, enter upon the land and do all such things as necessary pursuant to this Fire Control Order and may recover costs and expenses of doing so in the relevant Court from the owner or occupier of the land in accordance with Bush Fires Act 1954 (as amended) in addition to any penalty which might be imposed and may include a penalty not exceeding $1000. Fines, which can be levied, are in the sum of $250 for each offence.

PLEASE NOTE restricted and prohibited burning periods can be varied at the discretion of Council due to weather conditions. Permit holders are responsible to verify the current dates with the Council.

PERMITS TO BURN MUST BE OBTAINED PRIOR TO BURNING

WITHOUT ANY EXCEPTION, NO FIRE may be lit on a day
when the fire danger is declared as:
VERY HIGH - SERVERE - EXTREME - CATASTROPHIC

For further Info : http://www.fesa.wa.gov.au/totalfirebans/Pages/default.aspx