As a landowner, it is your responsibility to prepare your property/properties and take all reasonable steps to reduce the risk of fire starting or spreading through your land. This responsibility is provided for within the Fire and Emergency Services Act 2005.

Don't wait to prepare your property - fire prevention is a year-round responsibility. Most property owners will carry out major clean-ups at the beginning of spring, and then continue to maintain their property throughout Fire Danger Season.

A Hazard Reduction Notice (Section 105F Notice) may be issued if a landowner fails to reduce the fire hazard or to protect a property from fire, or prevent/ inhibit the outbreak of fire or the spread of fire through the land. Your early action and ongoing attention to the condition of your land will ensure your property does not pose a fire danger risk.

As a landowner, preparing your property for Fire Danger Season is important to reduce the risk of fire starting or spreading through your land.

To help protect your property and the wider community, you should:

• Reduce all grass, weed plants and undergrowth to a maximum height of
  10 centimetres across your block
• Rural and large blocks need to establish a fire break (as above) at least 5 metres wide as near as practicable to the boundary and within 20 metres of any dwelling (greater if on a slope) and within 5 metres of any sheds and garages
• Prune low tree branches from ground level up to two (2) metres in height
• If there is a house or other structure on your land, cut back overhanging trees and remove leaves and other debris from gutters
• Remove bark, heavy mulch, woodpiles and any flammable materials close to any structure
• Create fuel management zones to prevent the spread of fire and to allow fire fighters to operate
• Ensure your property allows clear and unimpeded access for fire fighting vehicles.

It's essential that you create a Bushfire Survival Plan and review it regularly. This will help you prepare for days of elevated fire danger.

Council undertakes a roadside vegetation and reserve slashing program that considers fire risk, seasonality and vegetation type. Slashing is carried out monthly for the majority of Council-owned reserves, however some areas are slashed more or less often. All sites are monitored regularly so additional slashing can be undertaken as required.

Council's Fire Prevention Team also conducts inspections in the lead up to and during Fire Danger Season to assess fire danger risks. This involves the inspection of township properties and some rural allotments.

A Hazard Reduction Notice (Section 105F Notice) may be issued if a landowner fails to reduce the fire hazard or to protect a property from fire, or prevent/inhibit the outbreak of fire or the spread of fire through land.

Council's Fire Prevention Team conducts property inspections in the lead up to Fire Danger Season to assess fire danger risks. This involves the inspection of township properties and some rural allotments.

The following timeline provides a general guide for Council's inspection process.

Mid September: Pre-season inspections begin, identifying risk ratings and priorities.

Beginning of October: Official inspections begin and Hazard Reduction Notices are issued accordingly.

Mid-late October: Further rounds of inspections are undertaken.

Beginning of November: Expiations issued for non-compliance.

Throughout the Fire Danger Season: Council will continue to monitor fire hazards and respond to any non-compliance. Property owners must ensure they are maintaining their properties to limit fire risk throughout the season.

Burning as a last resort

Burning in the open is a last resort for fire prevention. Before applying for a permit to burn in the open, have your considered alternatives?

• Garden and general household waste can be taken to the Goolwa Waste and Recycling Depot
• Use your green organics kerbside bin
• Compost green organics in your garden.

A permit may be required

On 1 July 2017, the EPA introduced the EPA Air Quality Policy in South Australia which relates to the burning of dry material in the open within the township residential areas. These new laws aim to minimise the smoke impact on residents while keeping the air clean and  the community safe.

The law means that a burning permit is now required, if you wish to burn in the open in a residential part of the Victor Harbor township. View a map that outlines the township boundary and where permits are required.

No permit is required if you live in a section of the Council which is zoned as Rural or Rural Living. Rural property owners do need to abide by the CFS codes of practice for Broad Acre Burning or Vegetation Rubbish Pile Burning - please see the South Australia Country Fire Service website for copies of these Codes of Practice.

If a permit is issued for burning within the township residential area, burning can only be undertaken during the hours of 10am and 3pm, Monday to Saturday. No Burning is permitted on Sundays.

Applying for a permit

Download and complete the permit application form, or collect a hard copy form from the Council Civic Centre situated at 1 Bay Road, Victor Harbor.

There is no cost to apply for a permit. Please be aware it can take up to seven (7) days to process applications, however Council staff try to process them on a daily basis where ever possible.

Be safe and considerate

When burning in the open you need to take into the consideration:

• Burning must be done in accordance with CFS Codes of Practice for Broad Acre Burning or Vegetation Rubbish Pile Burning
• All vegetation to be burnt should be dead and completely dry – do not burn green vegetation
• Weather conditions must be considered before lighting, preferably choosing a cool and calm day
• Give fires maximum air-flow for efficiency, resulting in less smoke
• Do not cause a smoke nuisance to your neighbours.

Comfort Fires

On total fire ban days, you cannot light a fire for warmth or comfort.

However, if it is not a total fire ban day, you may have a comfort fire providing that:

• The fire is in a 30cm deep trench and no more than one (1) square metre in area
• You have a four (4) metre clearance around and above the fire
• A responsible person is in attendance at all times with water and/or an appropriate extinguisher.

Please note that only charcoal is allowed to be burnt for comfort fires within a metropolitan area or within township boundaries by the EPA Legislation.

The use of above ground fires such as chimineas, fire drums, braziers are only permitted with the use of permits.