Inspecting Properties for Fire Hazards

Prior to the fire danger period, Council's Municipal Fire Prevention Officers conduct inspections of properties throughout the Shire. Owners of properties, where fire prevention works are required, will be contacted by letter seeking their co-operation in ensuring that their property does not present a fire hazard to adjoining properties. 

For the duration of the CFA Declared Fire Danger Period, grass must be managed in the following manner:

• Residential block: If you are an owner of a residential block, vacant or occupied, up to one hectare in size, you must maintain grass to ensure it does not exceed 10 cm in height.
• Property greater than one hectare: If you own land over one hectare in size, you are required to cut all grass, or slash or mow grass around the perimeter of your property (a minimum of 10 meters from the property boundary), where possible and safe to do so.

If we determine that you need to reduce fuel loads on your property to reduce fire risk, we will issue you with a ‘Fire Prevention Notice’, which means you are required to clean up fuel loads on your property. It’s important to note that these works do not authorise you to remove shrubs or trees. If you wish to remove this type of vegetation, you must contact Council’s Planning Unit.

Failure to comply with Fire Prevention Notice by the due date may result in a fine and you could be liable for costs associated with an authorised contractor removing fire hazards on your property. 

To report a property as a potential fire hazard, please do so by completing our customer request form.

Under the Country Fire Authority Act 1958, Council has a legal obligation to ensure the community’s risk associated with bushfire and grass fires is reduced. Council’s Community Safety team have powers to inspect and issue Fire Prevention Notices to residents and ratepayers. Council also has a legal right to remove a fire hazard on private land and recoup the costs.

If you have received a Fire Prevention Notice, it means our Community Safety officers have inspected your property for fire hazards in the lead up to the fire season and determined that you need to reduce fuel loads on your property to reduce the fire risk.

You are required to clean up fine fuels such as leaves, twigs and long grass to reduce the risk to your property from fire as per the Notice. The works must be carried out by the completion date. You must maintain your property in this state for the duration of the Fire Danger Period.

You are required to do the works detailed within the Notice. The Notice does not authorise you to remove shrubs or trees. If you wish to remove trees and shrubs, you must contact Council’s Planning Unit for advice.

If you have already cut your grass by the time you receive the Notice, then you don’t need to worry. Just ensure you maintain your property in this state for the duration of the Fire Danger Period.

Council’s Community Safety team carry out inspections across the Shire, regardless of whether a complaint is submitted. However, if you are concerned about long grass in a neighbouring property or Council-managed reserve, please contact our Community Safety team on 5772 0333 and bring it to our attention.