Vol. 18 No. 17
FREE PUBLICATION
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
PROST UND GESUNDHEIT: MIXX FM Wimmera German Fest committee members Tammy McDonald, left, and Jill Walsgott get into the swing of all things German in preparation for Saturday’s celebration at Horsham Showground. While prost means ‘cheers’ in German, gesundheit means ‘good health’. Details about the German fest, which runs from 1pm to 8pm, are on pages 22 and 23. Picture: KELLY LAIRD
Burn-off permit ban C
BY SARAH SCULLY
ountry Fire Authority volunteers are concerned Horsham Rural City Council’s decision to prohibit burn-off permits will leave rural landowners unprepared for a high fire-risk summer.
Former CFA Grampians group officer, Brimpaen farmer and Horsham councillor David Grimble raised the issue at a council meeting on Monday. “It has always been an important element for people preparing their properties to have that window of opportunity to burn under permit,” he said. “The safest way of burning around a property is under permit. The decision to not allow permits this year is
IN THIS ISSUE
a decision that does not stand in good stead with the amount of experience that I have.” Green Lake Fire Brigade member and Burnt Creek resident Russell Peucker, with 45 years experience in the CFA, said the council’s decision was a hot topic at a Municipal Fire Prevention meeting yesterday. “Council has made the decision not to issue permits this year and I’m not sure why,” he said. “Each year we have been allowed two weeks before the Fire Danger Period starts to get permits to burn-off around our properties. It is only ever for grass, not timber, and it is for areas of two hectares or less – usually less. It is usually done around a house or shed to create a burn break.”
After unusually hot temperatures earlier in the month, the CFA brought the Fire Danger Period into effect in the northern part of the Horsham municipality on Monday. The remainder of the municipality will enter the Fire Danger Period on Monday next week. “The Fire Danger Period is earlier this year than it’s ever been – and I absolutely agree with it,” Mr Peucker said.
Strict conditions Mr Peucker said the council could place strict conditions on permits. “The permit can specify you have to have the burn done by a certain time early in the morning, or that it needs to be done when the weather is under
a certain temperature or wind speed,” he said. “They can make it a condition of the permit that the local fire captain has to approve the burn and other things such as the amount of men or water that need to be present.” Mr Peucker said burning off gave property owners confidence they were prepared for the worst. “If you’re really worried about an adjoining property you can nick off and go help – but if you’re not confident your own property is safe you’ll be very nervous,” he said. Council municipal fire prevention officer Martin Duke said the council was concerned about the early onset of the Fire Danger Period. “What Horsham Rural City Council
has done previously is given a twoweek window to allow people with a permit to burn off – with restrictions – to clean up around assets such as houses,” he said. “This year, with the season coming on so fast, we’re extremely nervous about fires getting away during burning off and have decided not to issue permits during the fire danger period.” Mr Duke said council staff conferred with CFA group officers and Region 17 staff each year before making a decision about whether to issue burn-off permits. He said a 90-hectare bushfire at Tooan earlier this month, which broke out from a private burn a day earlier, had added to concerns. Mr Duke encouraged all residents to clean up around their properties.
• Voting on Grampians investment • Horsham’s Tidy Town win • Mates mentoring matters
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