Important fire break information

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Fire Break Notices for the City of Greater Geraldton 2014-2015

It’s that time of year again where the City of Greater Geraldton would like to remind land owners to start looking at preparing their property for the up and coming bush Fire season.

The following Fire Prevention measures are a Minimum Standard Requirement.

GERALDTON

Small lots (under 0.4ha) - regardless of whether the land is vacant or has a building.

5 October 2014 to 1 May 2015:

• Blocks must have flammable material, mowed or slashed to a maximum height of 7.5cm – ploughing and rotary hoeing are not permitted. • All wattle bush must be removed from block unless application is made to retain wattle prior to September 15 and approved. (See exemptions). • All structures and buildings must have a minimum of 3 metres clearance of all flammable material.

Residential and Special Rural/Rural Residential/Rural Smallholding lots between 0.4 and 5ha

5 October 2014 to 1 May 2015:

• Firebreaks must be mineral earth (bare earth) a minimum of 3 metres wide and have a minimum overhead clearance of 4 metres or have flammable material graded, mowed or slashed to a maximum height of 7.5cm over the entire property (excluding managed vegetation such as ornamental trees, distinct islands of vegetation remote from boundaries and assets). • All structures and buildings must have a minimum of 3 metres clearance of all flammable material.

*Structures include power poles.

Broadacre farming or lots over 5ha

5 October 2014 to 1 May 2015:

• Mineral earth firebreaks installed within 20 metres inside and along the whole external boundary of land held in contiguous ownership up to a maximum of 200ha. • Firebreaks must be a minimum of 3 metres in width and have a minimum overhead clearance of 4 metres. • All structures and buildings must have a minimum of 3 metres clearance of all flammable material. *Structures include power poles. Fuel and/or Gas Depots • Owners or occupiers of land on which any storage container is used to contain liquid fuel or gas, including land on which any ramp or supports are constructed shall have a 5 metre flammable material-free area surrounding the container.

MULLEWA DISTRICT

RURAL LAND

Owners and Occupiers of lands, other than within a townsite, shall clear of all flammable material firebreaks of at least three (3) metres width as close as practicably possible inside and along the whole of the external boundary of their property or properties.

TOWNSITE LAND

Owners and Occupiers within a townsite shall: (a) Clear of all flammable material the whole of the area where; (i) The area of the land is 2023 square metres or less or, (ii) The land is used for storage of flammable liquids, or (iii) There is a hotel situated thereon. (b) If the area of land exceeds 2023 square metres (half an acre): (i) Clear of all flammable material firebreaks at least two (2) metres wide immediately inside all external boundaries of the land; or (ii) Have the grass mown to a height of not more than 50mm over the whole of the land, except where the land is used for the storage of flammable liquids.

HOMESTEADS, BUILDING, HAYSTACKS, STACKS OF FODDER, BULK FUEL, DRUMS AND LIQUID PETROLEUM

Owners and Occupiers of land shall: During the period from 1st day of October, 2014 to the 31st day of March 2015, inclusive, have firebreaks at least three (3) metres wide in such positions as are necessary to completely surround the perimeter of any homestead, building, fuel installation (including drums), haystack (where such a haystack is situated within 200 metres of any homestead, building, fuel installation) or group of such structures or installations.

For the full Fire Break Notices please visit the City of Greater Geraldton website.