Plea to join survey

By Dion Teasdale
THE Shire of Yarra Ranges is encouraging residents to get involved in improving open air burning practices through its Burning Issues survey and regular e-mail and notice board updates.
Shire of Yarra Ranges mayor Monika Keane said the shire was seeking to understand more about burning off from a resident perspective before it put together any options to change the current open air burning arrangements.
“The survey is open to all residents, whether they burn off or not,” she said.
“The Burning Issues survey is an opportunity for residents to tell the council about how they manage their properties, if they burn off how they do it, and what kinds of impacts they experience from smoke.”
Cr Keane said the survey was also an opportunity to express views about the kind of burning off changes residents would like to see in their community.
“I encourage residents to participate in the survey and provide the council with the kind of information we need to make a long-term decision,” she said.
The comprehensive Burning Issues survey, which was launched on Tuesday, 18 July, has more than 50 questions and will run until 31 August.
Residents have the option of entering a prize draw for the chance to win some great prizes to help manage their property.
Yarra Ranges CEO Rob Hauser said the information gathered will be combined with fire safety, health and air quality information as part of developing options for making a new local law.
“The shire will work collaboratively with the CFA, Environment Reference Group and others on redeveloping community education materials about fuel reduction,” he said.
Residents can also sign up for e-mail updates about open air burning online.
The survey and updates are available online and at the shire’s five community links.
For further information find Burning Issues in the News and Your Views section at www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au or contact the project officer, Simone Ryan, on 1300 368 333 or s.ryan@yarraranges.vic.gov.au.