Harvest & Vehicle Movement Ban

What is a Vehicle and Harvest Movement Ban?

Harvest and Vehicle Movement Bans are issued by local governments under the Bushfires Regulations 1954.

It is your responsibility as a harvester operator to be aware of any bans in place before harvesting as you could be fined for breaching a ban.

A Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban is a ban that individual local governments are responsible for issuing under the Bush Fires Regulations 1954 Section 38A, and/or Section 24C.

The Shire of Denmark will impose the ban when the Chief Bush Fire Control Officer and Community Emergency Services Manager is of the opinion that the use of engines, vehicles, plant or machinery during the prohibited burning times or the restricted burning times or both is likely to cause a fire or contribute to the spread of a bushfire.

A Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban may be imposed for any length of time but is generally imposed for the ‘heat of the day’ periods and may be extended or revoked by the local government should weather conditions change.

The responsibility remains on the individual to ensure that any activity undertaken is not likely to start a fire and that a Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban is currently not in place in their local government area.

To find out if a Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban has been imposed:

  • Contact the Shire during business hours on (08) 9848 0300
  • Contact the Community Emergency Services Manager after hours on 0428 913 937
  • Tune in to  ABC Radio 630AM at 10:05am, 12:35pm and 2:05pm for live notifications
  • Local businesses can request an SMS alert from the Shire (08) 9848 0300 by nominating a mobile telephone contact. (One Mobile per business only)

Activities NOT PERMITTED during a Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban

  • Harvesting operations are not permitted,
  • Any “hot works” (e.g. welding, grinding, cutting, heating, lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, combustible engines etc.) in the “open air” are not permitted.
  • Other – Use or operation of any engine, vehicle, plant, equipment or machinery in the area likely to cause a bush fire or contribute to the spread of a bush fire.

Activities PERMITTED during a Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban

  • Movement of Vehicles on “gazetted roads” (as described in Bush Fires regulation 24A(1) and Road Traffic Act 1974 section 5.1)).
  • Movement of vehicles on a lane, driveway, yard or other area that provides access to, or a parking facility at, any residential, farming or business premises, if the area has been sufficiently cleared of inflammable material to prevent the escape of fire.
  • Use or operation of a vehicle if it is for the prevention of an immediate and serious risk to the health or safety of a person or livestock, and only if all reasonable precautions have been taken to prevent the activity from creating a bush fire danger.
  • Use or operations of vehicles and undertaking of “hot works” by those persons holding a current Exemption under Bush Fires Act 1954 s. 22C (Exemption from Total Fire Bans)

Penalties

You could be fined up to $5,000.00, if you breach a Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban.

More information

More information on Vehicle and Harvest Movement Bans can be obtained by contacting the Shire of Denmark on (08) 9848 0300 during business hours.

Harvester Fire