Prepare your property for the fire season

The Country Fire Authority (CFA) will soon declare the Fire Danger Period (FDP) for Cardinia Shire and fire restrictions will be enforced across the municipality.

Notices regarding Council’s Fire Hazard Inspection Program will be sent out to properties identified as high fire risk according to the Victorian Fire Risk Register – Bushfire (VFRR-B), reminding residents to prepare for fire hazards inspections.

Here are some steps you can take to ensure you property is best prepared ahead of the fire season.

Reduce and remove fuel load

All overgrown grass and weeds, fallen branches and dead vegetation on your block should be cleared away to avoid presenting a fire hazard.

For Rural or agricultural properties:

• Slash grass and weeds to less than 10cm to create a firebreak at least 10 metres wide along the external fence lines of larger rural and agricultural properties.
• Slash grass and weeds to less than 10cm to create a firebreak around sheds, houses, haystacks and other infrastructure.
• Consider fuel reduction options such as mulching, stock rotation, baling if appropriate and green-waste drop-off.
• Note: If you are planning to cut paddocks for baling or silage, a fire break is still recommended to manage the fire risk until conditions are suitable for baling.

For Residential and commercial blocks:

• All grass on vacant properties is to be maintained to a maximum height of 10cm to reduce possible impact of fire.
• Fuel reduced areas around houses and other buildings.

Dispose green waste

Green waste can be disposed for free at the Future Recycling Transfer Station (30-32 Exchange Drive, Pakenham), on select days in December:

• Saturday 6 December: 8am - 2pm
• Monday 8 to Friday 12 December: 7:30am - 3:30pm 
• Saturday 13 December: 8am - 2pm

Other ways to dispose of green waste include in your food and garden waste bin, booking in a hard waste collection or purchase a composting and garden mulching bin. Learn more about Managing green waste in Cardinia Shire here.

Burning off

When choosing to burn off fuel loads, a number of conditions may apply depending on your property. You can’t burn off during the declared Fire Danger Period or on a Total Fire Ban day. Before burning off, please follow the steps detailed here: Burning off on your property.
 

In the lead up to the fire season, Council has completed its annual tree pruning and electrical clearance works across Pakenham, Beaconsfield and Emerald. These works help maintain a safe clearance zones around powerlines. Council’s roadside slashing program will begin this month, targeting long grass along Council-managed roadsides to improve visibility and support fire prevention efforts.

To learn more about how you can prepare for the fire season, visit https://www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/fireseason