BURN-OFF restrictions on small Mornington Peninsula properties will be eased next month so fuel loads can be reduced before the fire season.
Open air burning will be allowed 9am-4pm Fridays and Saturdays on land less than 1500 square metres – but there are conditions. No more than one cubic metre of vegetation can be burnt at any one time; the fire cannot be within 10 metres of any neighbouring dwelling and the General Fire Safety Provisions must be followed at all times.
Open air burning is otherwise banned on properties less than 1500 square metres.
“Residents are reminded that burn-off material should not be wet, or green, and that safety precautions should be taken at all times,” Mornington Peninsula sShire’s acting municipal fire prevention officer Katie McKenzie said.
“This is a great chance to clean up around your property, but ensure you do it responsibly and safely, and keep your neighbours and local authorities informed.”
General fire safety provisions mean giving 24 hours’ notice to adjoining landowners or occupiers of the burn and calling 1800 668 511 at least two hours before to log the fire with the CFA.
Other rules include establishing a fire break of not less than three metres cleared of all flammable material; having an adult supervise the fire at all times; having fire protection equipment handy and ensuring the vegetation to be burnt is dead and dry.
Also, don’t burn off if the wind speed is more than 20 kilometres per hour.
Open air burning rules for land more than 1500 square metres and more than 40,000 square metres are unchanged.
To determine the size of your property go to gisweb.mornpen.vic.gov.au/penmaps.
Details: Call the shire’s customer service centre on 1300 850 600 or 5950 1000 or visit mornpen.vic.gov.au/openairburning
First published in the Mornington News – 20 September 2016
