Bushfire Information

SHIRE OF NAREMBEEN BUSHFIRE NOTICE – 2022/2023 SEASON

Bush Fires Act 1954

Notice to all owners and/or occupiers of land situated within Shire of Narembeen

As a measure to assist in the control of bush fires, or preventing the spread or extension of a bush fire which may occur, notice is hereby given to all owners and/or occupiers of land within the Shire of Narembeen that pursuant to the powers conferred in Section 33 of the Bush Fires Act, works in accordance with the requisitions of this notice must be carried out before the 1st day of November in each year, or within 14 days of becoming the owner or occupier of land if after that date. All work specified in this Notice is to be maintained up to and including the 30th day of April in the following calendar year.

Definitions

“Town site land” means all land within the boundary of the Narembeen Townsite.

“Rural Land” means all land within the Narembeen District not defined as Townsite.

“Firebreak Period” means that time between the 1st day of November in any year until the 30th day of April in the year following.

“Firebreak” means ground from which flammable material has been removed and on which no flammable materials is permitted during the firebreak period.

All owners or occupiers of land within the Narembeen Shire shall have firebreaks during the firebreak period of the dimensions prescribed within this notice.

If it is considered impractical or undesirable to provide firebreaks as required by this notice, the approval of the Council must be obtained for any variation. Approval will only be granted up to or before the 15th day of October, and will not be granted unless prior consent of the appropriate Fire Brigade Officer has been obtained.

Fire Breaks

Rural Land:

Firebreaks 2.5 metres wide as follows:

· Immediately adjacent to and surrounding all cleared land subdividing all cleared land into areas no greater than 400 hectares. Surrounding each building, haystack, fuel dump or ramp.

Townsite Land:

Firebreaks 2.0 metres as follows;

Vacant lots in excess of 1,025 sq metres as follows;
All lots containing less than 2,025 sq metres on boundaries and immediately surrounding all buildings.
Remove all flammable material from fuel dumps or liquid fuel containers to a distance of 15 metres.

In addition to the requirements of this Notice, you may be required to carry out further works which are considered necessary by an Authorised Officer and specified by way of a separate written notice forwarded to the address of the owner/s as shown on the Shire of Narembeen rates record for the relevant land.

TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Section 33(4) of the Bush Fires Act 1954, where the owner and/or occupier of land fails or neglects to comply with the requisitions of this Notice within the times specified, the Shire of Narembeen may by its officers and with such servants, workmen and contractors, vehicles and machinery as the officers deem fit, enter upon the land and carry out the requisitions of this Notice which have not been complied with and pursuant to Section 33(5) of the Bush Fires Act, the amount of any costs and expenses incurred may be recovered from you as the owner and or occupier of the land.

If the requirements of this Notice are carried out by burning, such burning must be in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Bush Fires Act 1954.

The PENALTY FOR FAILING TO COMPLY with this Notice is a fine not exceeding $5000 and a person in default is also liable whether prosecuted or not to pay the costs of performing the work directed by this Notice if it is not carried out by the owner and/or occupier by the date required by this Notice.

By order of the Council.

Paul Sheedy
Acting Chief Executive Officer
Shire of Narembeen

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Additional Bushfire Information

A. Restricted / Prohibited Burning Period

The following restricted and prohibited burning times are in place for the Shire of Narembeen.

Restricted(Permit Required) 19th September to 31st October
Prohibited 1st November to 31st January
Restricted(Permit Required) 1st February to 15th April

The following additional requirements for burning are also in place.

1st February includes grass and raked cereal stubble and header windrows of non-cereal stubble including canola and legumes.
1st March is header windrows and chaff dumps and cereal stubble fires.

Burning during restricted periods is allowed on Sunday's and Public Holidays with a permit.

Any questions about burning times should be directed to a Fire Control Officer or the Shire Office.

B. Harvest & Movement Bans

When Harvest Bans are instigated they are broadcast over Radiowest and ABC radio. A harvest ban can be in two forms:

A Restricted Movement Ban – means that vehicles are only allowed to move on paddocks to water stock.
A Total Movement Ban – means that there is to be no movement on paddocks at all.

The Shire of Narembeen imposes an automatic Harvest Ban on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Harvest bans are gauged not only on the temperature, but also on humidity and wind velocity and are monitored using scientific methods.

Community members may call the Shire’s Harvest Ban Hotline on (08) 9064 7689 which will provide advice on whether or not a harvest ban is in force.

Text message service – Community members to register their mobile number with the Shire of Narembeen.

Adopted Fire Index rating 32 for harvest bans.

Fire Permit Issuing Officers

The following Fire Control Officers (FCO) are authorised Fire Permit Issuing Officers:

Murray Dixon – Chief Fire Control Officer (08) 9064 5026
William Cowan – Deputy Chief Fire Control Officer (08) 9061 6012
Joel DeLuis - Fire Control Officer (East Sector ) 0427 617 013
Trevor Cole – Fire Control Officer (West Sector) (08) 9064 7038
Mitchell Miolini – Fire Control Officer (North Sector) 0458 000 931
Alan Yandle - Fire Control Officer (Central) (08) 9064 7362
Andy Hardham – Fire Control Officer (Central) (08) 9064 7302

The people listed above are able to issue burning permits and inform you of the laws and dates in regard to burning and required conditions. Community members may also contact the Shire Office (08) 9064 7308 during office hours if you cannot contact the listed Officers.

D. Emergency Bushfire Communications Channel

The dedicated Bush Fire Emergency Communication Radio Channel is 5.

E. Key Dates & Information to Remember for Burning

Grass Burning

Grass Burning is not permitted prior to 1st February
Grass Burning is subject to Permit Conditions
No time restrictions for lighting/burning
Burning permitted on Sundays or Public Holidays under permit

Raked Windrows

Burning of stubble raked windrows is permitted at the commencement of the Restricted Burning Period, provided:

No time restrictions for lighting/burning
Subject to normal permit conditions

Cereal Header Windrows & Chaff Dump

Burning of Cereal Header Windrows & Chaff Dumps is not permitted prior to 1st March under permit.
Chaff Dumps shall be deposited/located no less than 50 metres from the edge of the crop within your property boundary.
Chaff Dumps be pushed out to reduce burning times
Consideration should be given to neighbours regarding wind and smoke directions.
Non-Cereal Header Windrows

Non-Cereal Header Windrows

Burning of Non-Cereal Header Windrows and Chaff Dumps is not permitted prior to 1st February under permit.
Chaff Dumps shall be deposited/located no less than 50 metres from the edge of the crop within your property boundary.
Chaff Dumps be pushed out to reduce burning times.
Consideration should be given to neighbours regarding wind and smoke directions.

1st February includes grass and raked cereal stubble and header windrows of non-cereal stubble including canola and legumes

Stubble Burning

Burning of Stubble is not permitted prior to 1st March in normal season conditions.
No lighting times.
Weather permitting.
Subject to permit conditions.

Welcome to the Shire of Narembeen