Notice to Owners and/or Occupiers of land situated within the City of Kalamunda
Landowners and Occupiers are required to comply with the 2019/2020 Fire Hazard Reduction Notice by 1 November 2019 through to the 31 March 2020.
For further information on how the City administers the Fire Hazard Assessment notice refer to Fire Hazard Assessment Plan, which is reviewed annually.
The onus is on the Landowner and Occupier to ensure that their property is maintained to the standard 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: Are you Ready?
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) must be maintained to a standard of no greater than 8t/ha across the entirety of the property. This is the leaf litter on the ground inclusive of leaves, twigs (up to 6mm diameter) and bark. 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 the Notice, regardless of land size and location, you may be required to undertake additional fire prevention works on your property to improve access and/or undertake further hazard reduction considered necessary by an Authorised Officer. Such Additional Works are necessary to prevent the outbreak and/or the spread of a bush fire.
Install and maintain a 3m Wide by 4m high clearance, bare mineral earth, trafficable firebreak immediately inside the entire perimeter of the property. A reticulated and maintained green lawn may be accepted in lieu of a fire break. The firebreak must be in a drivable, continuous form meaning that any emergency service vehicle is able to drive the fire break from the entry point to the exit point without leaving the firebreak.
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.
Create and maintain a fuel reduced zone around buildings or an asset of value which extends 20m from the outermost point of the asset by clearing all rubbish, long dry grass, bark and materials that may catch fire.
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.
Fuel loads within the 20 meters surrounding the Asset Protection Zone must be no more than 2t/ha.
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