Variation to Firebreak & Fuel Management Notice

The Shire acknowledges that in some instances, land owners or occupiers may not be able to meet all of the fire management measures listed in the Firebreak & Fuel Management Notice. In this case, you must apply for a Variation to Firebreak & Fuel Management notice to seek approval to implement alternative fire mitigation measures. 

A Variation may be considered for the following reasons:

  • Property is steep and inaccessible and the installation of a low fuel boundary access or other fire mitigation measures would be dangerous or impractical.
  • Areas of rocky outcrops or cap stone naturally reduce the fire risk or prevents a low fuel boundary access from being installed.
  • Parts of the property are permanently water logged. 
  • Low Fuel Boundary Access (LFBA) can't be installed as close as practicable to the boundary.
  • Clearing of vegetation is likely to impact upon areas of declared rare flora or environmentally sensitive areas as defined under the Environmental Protection (Clearing of Native Vegetation) Regulations 2004.
  • Building positioning on block prevents the installation of an Asset Protection Zone (APZ) of the required size.
  • Properties that have an alternative Fire Management Plan developed by an accredited Bushfire Planning and Design (BPAD) practitioner. 
  • For rural properties that are bona fide agricultural operations:
    • actively managed pastures, forming part of an agricultural pursuit, may exceed a 100mm height, if seasonal cropping results in a low fuel boundary being maintained;
    • if livestock grazing occurs as part of a managed agricultural pursuit at commercial stocking rates as per the Department of Agriculture & Food guidelines, pastures may exceed 100mm; and
    • heavy machinery available on the property to prevent the spread of fire (e.g. bulldozer, grader, plough, scarifier or front end loader).

A Variation may be:

  • approved, declined or approved subject to special conditions being met
  • approved for a portion of a property only, with the requirements of the Notice applying to the remainder of the property
  • approved "in perpetuity" in place even when the property changes ownership
  • approved for a limited time One (1), Three (3) or Five (5) years
    (where the variation includes an expiry date, it is the applicant’s responsibility to note this date and submit a new application prior to the expiry date)
  • be declined (the applicant is to comply with requirements of the notice).

Where a variation has been approved, any special conditions that have been placed on the variation must be complied with. Any requirements stipulated in the notice for which a variation has not been granted must meet the specifications of the current Firebreak and Fuel Management notice. 

How to apply:

  • Complete a Variation to Firebreak & Fuel Management application form and include a detailed, legible map showing alternative fire mitigation measures. (Please note that incomplete applications will not be processed.)
  • Applications can only be made by land owners or by a person authorised to act on their behalf.
  • The  applicant will be notified in writing of the outcome of the application.
  • Where a fire management plan is provided as part of the application, it must be completed by an accredited Bushfire Planning and Design (BPAD) practitioner. Visit the Fire Protection Association (FPA) Australia at http://www.fpaa.com.au/bpad/practitioners.aspx  to contact a BPAD practitioner.

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