Since July 2017 over 100 small private property burns have resulted in bushfires requiring response from emergency services in the Lower South West.
The heat intensity and spread of a bushfire is determined by the amount of fuel (vegetation) on your property available to burn. If you can reduce the fuel load then a bushfire will burn cooler and slower and will be less likely to impact your home. Additional ways of reducing fuel loads:
You should contact your Local Government for more information before undertaking fuel reduction and be mindful of the concepts below: Prohibited burning period – Prohibited burning times are declared by Local Government stipulating the times of the year that it is unlawful to set fire to bush. This is separate to a Total Fire Ban that is declared for a day when a fire is most likely to spread rapidly (because of extreme fire weather) or if there are already widespread fires and resources are stretched. Restricted burning period - The Restricted Burning period requires a person to obtain a permit if they wish to set fire to the bush. The permit is a risk management tool that imposes situationally appropriate conditions to each burn including resources and required notifications. The permit is issued by a legally authorised officer (Bush Fire Control Officer or Ranger) under the Bushfires Act. Unrestricted (open) burning period - Once local governments lift the restricted burning period, landowners and managers are able to legally burn without the approval of local government i.e. a permit. It is vital to assess the risks and weather in this period to prevent escapes. Prohibited and Restricted burning dates are set according to seasonal conditions and may be adjusted. Your local government provides information in the Bushfire Management or Firebreak Notice which sets out the responsibilities residents and visitors have to manage fuel loads and prevent bushfire escapes. Shire of Augusta Margaret River - www.amrshire.wa.gov.au/services/community-safety/bush-fire-management-information-booklet-20182019 Shire of Boyup Brook – www.boyupbrook.wa.gov.au/services/emergency-services/bushfire-control.aspx Shire of Bridgetown Greenbushes - www.bridgetown.wa.gov.au/services/bush-fire-control.aspx City of Busselton - www.busselton.wa.gov.au/Environment-Waste/Fire-Emergency-Information Shire of Donnybrook Balingup - www.donnybrook-balingup.wa.gov.au/our-services/ranger-services/fire-control/ Shire of Manjimup - www.manjimup.wa.gov.au/our-services/fire-and-emergency-management/Pages/default.aspx Shire of Nannup - www.nannup.wa.gov.au/Fires-and-Emergencies.aspx Before you plan a burn in the unrestricted period it is vital that you check the wind speed on the day of your burn. To carry out a controlled burn the wind speed should ideally be less than 15 kilometres per hour. Ensure you have prepared the area so that your burn is secure and do not leave the fire until it has gone out or you have put it out. For more tips on burning check out the DFES Winter Burning Guide Please ensure you are aware of the requirements for your land, and assist your local government and volunteer fire brigades by undertaking fuel reduction works at the correct time and safest manner. Remember your fire, your responsibility! Wishing you a Safe and Happy Easter. The Minister for the Environment, Hon Stephen Dawson MLC, has recently launched the Let’s not draw the short straw – reduce single-use plastics issues paper. The McGowan Government understands that many in Western Australia are concerned about single-use plastics and the Minister is interested in hearing views from the community on further actions to reduce their use.
The Government has already taken actions to reduce single-use plastics with the ban on the supply of lightweight plastic bags from 1 July 2018, a container deposit scheme due to commence in early 2020 and has issued a Premier’s Circular instructing government agencies to avoid purchasing single-use plastic items. You and your community are invited to respond to a survey or provide a written submission to share your views on options to reduce single-use plastics. The 12-week public consultation closes at 5pm on Friday 12 July 2019. Workshops will be held in Perth and regional areas in May, June and July. Information on dates, locations and how to register is available on the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation’s website: https://www.dwer.wa.gov.au/single-use-plastic-issues-paper or download here. I encourage you to support this initiative by sharing this information. To make this easier, download social and web media tiles and accompanying text so that it can be shared by you using these platforms. Further social media content will be provided on the Department’s website for each workshop closer to their date. Thank you for supporting efforts to improve the Western Australian environment. Mike Rowe Director General |
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