New shire tact on a burning issue

By Melissa Meehan
YARRA Ranges Council has endorsed a new local law that will see a number of changes in the way residents can burn off for fire prevention purposes.
The law aims to provide a better balance between managing fire risk and addressing environmental and health issues in the shire.
Yarra Ranges councillor Noel Cliff said the new local law was endorsed after an extensive two-year community consultation process, which involved resident surveys, one-on-one interviews with key community groups and the Country Fire Authority (CFA), and the establishment of an Open Air Technical Reference Group.
“Because of the nature of our environment and the fact that parts of the Yarra Ranges are among the most fire-prone areas in the world, burning off in these areas for fire prevention purposes is, and will remain, an appropriate practise,” Cr Cliff said. “The new local law draws widely on the knowledge and views of the community and a range of experts in adopting a commonsense approach to managing fire risk, while addressing environmental and health issues.”
Key changes to the local law include simplifying the days and hours for burning in residential bushland areas to four days a week outside of the declared fire danger period; no burning off permitted on Sundays; banning burning off in residential bushland areas during the main winter months of June and July; and tighter provisions around smoke from fires creating nuisance and hazards.
A wider range of enforcement tools will be available to shire staff to deal with breaches of the local law.
Cr Cliff acknowledged the contribution and expertise of the Open Air Technical Reference Group, which included representatives from the CFA, Environment Protection Authority, Department of Environment and Sustainability, Ranges Community Health, the Upper Yarra and Dandenongs Environment Council and the Mount Evelyn Environment Protection Association.
Changes to the new Open Air Burning Off Local Law will come into effect on 1 July 2008.
Cr Cliff said the shire would embark on a community education program in partnership with the CFA.
Significant penalties can apply to breaches of the local law ranging from $200 for a first offence to $1000 if the matter is taken to court.