Notice to Owners and/or Occupiers of land situated within the City of Kalamunda
Landowners and/or occupiers are required to comply with the 2020/2021 Fire Hazard Reduction Notice by 1 November 2020 through to the 31 March 2021.
NOTE: The onus is on the landowner and/or occupier to ensure their property is maintained to the standard outlined in the notice throughout the compliance period.
Select the required property size below for compliance requirements
PERSONS WHO FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE NOTICE MAY BE ISSUED WITH AN INFRINGEMENT NOTICE PENALTY ($250.00) OR PROSECUTED WITH AN INCREASED PENALTY (MAXIMUM PENALTY $5,000). ADDITIONALLY, THE CITY OF KALAMUNDA MAY CARRY OUT THE REQUIRED WORK AT COST TO THE OWNER/OCCUPIER.
DFES: Prepare your home
Dead flammable matter including dead grass, shrubs and plants shall be slashed, mowed or trimmed down to a height no greater than 50mm across the entire property.
This includes slashing between parkland, includes weeds, all grasses and hay.
All material as a result of slashing must be removed from the property to maintain a fuel load under 8t/ha.
All Dead Flammable Material (DFM) is any material such as wood, leaves and grass that is likely to be ignited and capable of burning. This is the leaf litter on the ground inclusive of leaves, twigs (up to 6mm diameter) and bark. Mulch piles, stored firewood and burn piles contribute to fuel load and must be maintained to a standard of no greater than 8t/ha across the entirety of the property or be stored safely or removed from the property.
A litter depth of 15mm from the top of the layer to the mineral earth beneath is indicative of approximately 8t/ha.
Ensure the roofs, gutters and walls of all buildings are free of flammable matter.
(may be required)All properties that are subject to a Bushfire Management Plan as a result of a subdivision, development application or a City approved treatment plan must comply with the requirements of such plans in their entirety.
In addition to the requirements of this notice, regardless of land size, you may be required to carry out further fire prevention works on your land to reduce any hazards considered necessary by the duly Authorised Officer of the City of Kalamunda. If required, these requirements will be outlined in a ‘work order’ sent to the address of the owner and/or occupier. Such Additional Works are necessary to prevent the outbreak and/or the spread of a bush fire.
The firebreak must be a minimum of 3m wide to accommodate for the width of emergency vehicles and have a minimum height clearance of 4m to allow for the height of emergency vehicles.
Bare, mineral earth is essential for the safety and effectiveness of all firebreaks and is considered a safe passage for Emergency Services to travel along. If a firebreak contains combustible material, it could potentially set vehicles alight and facilitate the growth of a fire.
A firebreak standard are –
An Asset Protection Zone (APZ) is a buffer zone of area extending for 20 metres around a building where there is reduced flammable material. Creating a minimum 20 metre reduced fuel load area (building protection zone) will increase the protection of the building. By utilising fuel management options it will also be possible to reduce the potential radiant heat impact on the building
To create and maintain a fuel reduced zone clear all rubbish, long dry grass, bark and materials that may catch fire to no more than 2t/ha.
Trees over 5m in height must be under pruned to a height of 2m from the ground. Trees and shrubs 2m from the asset must be pruned to a height no greater than 2m.
Ensure gutters, roofs and walls of buildings are free of flammable matter and tree branches do not overhang the building
If you consider, for any reason, that it is impractical to meet the requirements as per the current Notice, you may apply to request authorisation to employ other methods of fire prevention on your land. Find out more here about variations here.
Firebreaks are intended to minimise the spread or extension of a bushfire and provide safe access on your property for emergency vehicles.
Contact City of Kalamunda on (08) 9257 9999 or email us at enquiries@kalamunda.wa.gov.au
Important Dates
Variations