The City of Greater Bendigo is encouraging residents to be fire conscious and clean their properties of dried grass and similar flammables before the CFA declares a fire danger period.
City of Greater Bendigo Municipal Fire Prevention Officer, Darren Masters, said current weather conditions will cause spring grass growth to dry out quickly and become a fire risk.
“This summer we are expecting drier and hotter conditions and it’s important to start preparing your property now before the fire danger period hits,” Mr Masters said.
“The City’s fire prevention officers will commence property inspections in early to mid-October to ensure property owners are maintaining their properties in preparation for the fire season.
“Properties that pose a fire danger risk with vegetation higher than 10cm will be issued with a Fire Prevention Notice.”
Mr Masters said that a Fire Prevention Notice is issued to the property owner, who must comply by removing the identified hazard within a defined period of time.
“This is typically three weeks from the date of inspection to ensure works are completed before the peak of the summer period.
“If property owners fail to comply with a Fire Prevention Notice the City can engage a contractor to undertake mitigation works. However, the cost of these works, plus an administration fee, will be passed onto the property owner. In some circumstances an infringement of ten penalty units ($1,923.31) will apply.”
“The City encourages property owners to apply for an extension if they are having difficulty completing the works before the specified date.”
The City’s Fire Prevention Program is undertaken annually from October to February with property inspections commencing in the northern and western parts of the municipality, before progressing towards the southern areas.
The City reminded its residents that they can dispose of their green waste for free all year round at the City’s Eaglehawk Landfill and the Heathcote and Goornong Transfer Stations.
