A great outcome from the 2020/21 Fire Inspections Program

The council’s 2020/21 fire inspections program has been a resounding success with 80% overall compliance with Fire Prevention Notices issued achieved. During the program council officers inspected private properties within townships across the whole shire to identify fire risks and issued notices on any properties deemed to pose a potential fire risk to life or property with instructions to clean up the property in question.  

Property owners in the townships of Halls Gap, Navarre and Glenorchy should be particularly proud, achieving 100% compliance with notices issued by undertaking works to prepare their properties and to do their part to reduce the risk of fire in their townships and surrounding districts.  

Council asks that the community keeps up the good work to maintain their properties all year round which will make it more manageable leading up to the next fire season.  One of the best ways to reduce the risk of bushfire reaching structures such as houses is by mowing or slashing grass and weeds and removing rubbish and garden waste.  

Council will again this year declare a burn permit fee exemption period of two weeks in both Autumn and Spring (dates for Autumn yet to be announced).  This is for open air permits to burn under the council’s Local Law and you will be able to apply for a permit following the end of the Fire Danger Period in the shire on Tuesday 6 April 2021. Find out more about these permits on our website.  

Cr Murray Emerson, Mayor of Northern Grampians Shire Council, said, “This is a great result for our community. Well done everyone on maintaining your properties and doing your part to reduce the fire risk across our shire. 

 “Keep up the good work and keep your property well maintained all year around.  Let’s aim for an even better result next season, keeping in mind that if properties are well maintained ahead of fire season our officers would not have to rely on enforcement to keep our shire safe.”