Fire Prevention Notices and Inspections

Prior to the fire danger period, Council's Municipal Fire Prevention Officers conduct inspections of properties throughout the Shire. Owners of properties, where fire prevention works are required, will be contacted by letter seeking their co-operation in ensuring that their property does not present a fire hazard to adjoining properties. 

For the duration of the CFA Declared Fire Danger Period, grass must be managed in the following manner:

• Residential block: If you are an owner of a residential block, vacant or occupied, up to one hectare in size, you must maintain grass to ensure it does not exceed 10 cm in height.
• Property greater than one hectare: If you own land over one hectare in size, you are required to cut all grass, or slash or mow grass around the perimeter of your property (a minimum of 10 meters from the property boundary), where possible and safe to do so.

If we determine that you need to reduce fuel loads on your property to reduce fire risk, we will issue you with a ‘Fire Prevention Notice’, which means you are required to clean up fuel loads on your property. It’s important to note that these works do not authorise you to remove shrubs or trees. If you wish to remove this type of vegetation, you must contact Council’s Planning Unit.

Failure to comply with Fire Prevention Notice by the due date may result in a fine and you could be liable for costs associated with an authorised contractor removing fire hazards on your property. 

To report a property as a potential fire hazard, please do so by completing our customer request form.

Under the Country Fire Authority Act 1958, Council has a legal obligation to ensure the community’s risk associated with bushfire and grass fires is reduced. Council officers have powers to inspect and issue Fire Prevention Notices to residents and ratepayers. Council also has a legal right to remove a fire hazard on private land and recoup the costs.

If you have received a Fire Prevention Notice, it means our Community Safety officers have inspected your property for fire hazards in the lead up to the fire season and determined that you need to reduce fuel loads on your property to reduce the fire risk.

You are required to clean up fine fuels such as leaves, twigs and long grass to reduce the risk to your property from fire as per the Notice. The works must be carried out by the completion date. You must maintain your property in this state for the duration of the Fire Danger Period.

You are required to do the works detailed within the Notice. The Notice does not authorise you to remove shrubs or trees. If you wish to remove trees and shrubs, you must contact Council’s Planning Unit for advice.

If you have already cut your grass by the time you receive the Notice, then you don’t need to worry. Just ensure you maintain your property in this state for the duration of the Fire Danger Period.

Any requests to extend the due date of your Notice must be submitted in writing to the Municipal Fire Prevention Officer before the due date on your Notice. You must have a valid reason to explain why additional days are needed.

The CFA declares the Fire Danger Period for Murrindindi Shire over the summer period each year. During this period residents are required to obtain a permit to burn in the open air. Start and end dates vary from year to year. To find out more visit our Fire Ratings and Restrictions page or the CFA website.

You can submit an appeal in writing to the Municipal Fire Prevention Officer before the due date on your Notice. The procedures to follow are outlined on the reverse of the Fire Prevention Notice.

If you intend to cut your paddock for hay, put stock on your paddock or carry out other works, contact the Municipal Fire Prevention Officer and inform them of your intentions before the completion date on your Notice. You may still be required to cut a fire break or complete other works as directed.

Council officers carry out inspections across the Shire, regardless of whether a complaint is submitted. However, if you are concerned about long grass in a neighbouring property or Council-managed reserve, please contact us on (03) 5772 0333 and bring it to our attention.

Council cannot serve Notices to statutory bodies such as State Government agencies. If you have a concern about potential fire hazards on Crown land, contact the agency that manages the land. Some key contacts for land managers in Murrindindi Shire include:

• Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) - 136 186
• Parks Victoria - 131 963
• Transport Victoria - 133 778
• Ausnet Services - 1300 360 795