Smoke Free Sundays
Below is an except from the Policy which forms part of the Local Law 12. The full details are on Cardinia Shire Webpages. You, the resident, have to be proactive in addressing those residents who disregard the Local Law and also report to the Shire’s 1 300 787 624 service line. There is a Local Laws Enforcement Officer on duty at the weekends.
These maps have been prepared on the basis of population density as the criteria for imposing open air burning restrictions and apply to the following towns, Beaconsfield, Bunyip, Cockatoo, Emerald, Garfield, Gembrook, Koo Wee Rup, Lang Lang, Nar Nar Goon, Officer, Pakenham and Upper Beaconsfield.
The maps delineate three zones for each of these towns, as follows,
Zone one: No open air burning with out a permit.
(This includes all commercial and industrial property)
Properties larger than 2 hectares are exempt.
Zone two: Open air burning for fuel reduction or fire prevention permitted on Thursday, Friday and Saturday between the hours of 9am to 5pm
(excluding CFA declared Fire Restriction Period, declared Total Fire ban days or EPA declared smog alert days.)
Open air burning in this zone may only be undertaken in accordance with the general guidelines for zone two
Zone three: is designated as all other areas not included in zones one or two where burning can occur, during daylight hours any day except Sundays
(excluding CFA declared Fire Restriction Period, declared Total Fire ban days or EPA declared smog alert days.)
Open air burning in this zone may only be undertaken in accordance with the general guidelines for zone three
1. General Guidelines for Zone TwoThese guidelines apply for open air burning on private land other than during the fire danger period, total fire bans or smog alert days. This document must be read in conjunction with Cardinia Shire Council Local Law No. 10 and relevant town map.
1. Burning must be for fire prevention reasons
2. Days allowed for burning is Thursday, Friday and Saturday between 9 am and 5 pm.
3. The fire must be greater than 10 meters from any neighbouring dwelling.
4. Before commencing a burning operation a fire break must be prepared around the perimeter of the area to be burnt. This fire break shall be cleared of all flammable materials for a minimum distance of three (3) metres around and above the area and material to be burnt.
5. If in the vicinity of the area to be burned the shade temperature exceeds an actual or is predicted to exceed 32 degrees Celsius or the average wind or the actual wind or predicted speed exceeds 20 kilometres per hour then:
(a) burning operations must not be commenced; or
(b) if burning operations have commenced all fires must be extinguished as soon as possible.
Some signage arranged by Council in key locations throughout Ranges Ward would go a long way to promote Smoke Free Sundays! Places such as community/township notice boards, Emerald Library, the Mobile Library, Emerald Community House, Cockatoo Neighbourhood House, Gembrook Community Centre , Upper Beaconsfield Community Centre, notices in the school newsletters, the list can and should go on and on until such time as EVERONE understands that Sunday are smoke free.
I believe that flyers, and other forms of printed notices are very effective and are needed – don’t let any bureaucrat at Council suggest otherwise!
On a similar matter – Ranges Ward SHOULD not have Buning Off in June & July and be in line with the Shire of Yarra Ranges policy in this regard – in the Dandenong Ranges it is absurd to have some areas allowing burning off and others not – come on these two Councils need to work together on environmetnal issues – including this one!!!!!
Dear Lee,
Let’s see if the sign and flyers idea has supporter, irrespective that thread; I wil talk the Communication Manager to increase the Couincil’s publicity of the problem.
Yarra Ranges and Cardinia did start off together looking for a common approach, but the feeling in our Council was that we needed to have a local law in place for this 2009 winter.
You believe it is not restrictive enough, does anybody have similar or opposing views?
Remember our local law for burning off is now by Zones, see the Cardinia web site for details.
Thank you for the comments.
Ed C.
I have to comment about burning off in general including Sundays. I live in a zone 3 area and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen people burning off on Sundays, and during fire restriction periods as well! I’ve stopped and spoken to people and advised them to check the council web site for up-to-date info on burning regulations. People just don’t get it or just don’t care. Personally I think signs should be erected in the township, not every one reads notices boards or local papers. Also I’ve emailed the CFA regarding fire restiction periods and asked them to consider erecting signage with dates to show the restricted periods, again people do not inform themselves. Next time I won’t just stop and talk or call the CFA I’ll ring the council hotline as well.
Dear Jennifer,
To obtain help and report the burning off on a Sunday, use the Shire’s telephone number 1 300 787 624 and get a Merit System ID and action.
Anybody else believe that signs would help?
Ed C.
I’m in Zone 3 also Jennifer, and I know exactly what you are saying regarding either the ignorance or apathy or people who insist on burning off when it suits them. I wonder how many of them use their green waste bin!
A great idea about notices put up in townships – the list of where notices should and could be placed is a long one.
Hi Ed,
This is the second winter season that Yarra Ranges has had no burning off in June & July – it can’t possibly be a difficult task for both Councils to work together on this issue – how can it be achieved for it to be introduced for the 2010 winter season?
I don’t support the smoke free winter months in Cardinia. The gap between bushfire seasons is already very small and we struggle to find time to prepare for the coming bushfire season. The days we have off to carry out this task are often wet or windy and not ideal for burning. Further reduction in times would be a hinderance.
Dear Jennifer,
I support Smoke Free Sundays. We have a difference of opinion, to ensure that your view is registered telephone 1 300 787 624 and get a Merit ID number.
Ed
Hi Jennifer,
I appreciate the concern regarding the shortened timeframe between prescribed fire seasons, and the necessity to prepare our properties from one fire season to the next; however, burning off isn’t the only option, although most people, understandably, burn off.
The take up by residents of the Green Waste bins is a start, there is also the hope that Ranges Ward will have a weekly Green Waste collection during the prescribed fire season – but that will require some creative management from Council, and further lobbying from residents. What about a regular mulching service from Council also? That would be a win-win situation for residents and the garden.
Burning off during June and July causes far more smoke than during other times of the year – which is one of the reasons why DSE does little to no fuel reduction during this time – the fuel is wet, green and becomes much smokier when burnt.
I suspect that over the next few years burning off will become more and more restricted, so, in my opinion, we all need to work out far better ways to deal with fuel reduction; and by working together I am certain we will achieve this.
I am happy to talk more to you about this when we next meet.
Cheers, Lee
Dear Lee and Jennifer,
Great dialogue, this is the purpose of the Blog. Do not forget to record your talk for the widier community.
God Bless,
Ed C.
Hi Lee, Perhaps there needs to be a multi-angled approach to clearing debris. Dead blackberry vines, fallen branches out on acreages cannot be easily carted away or mulched. However, in the business areas of the townships I see people burning off leaves and creating volumous amounts of smoke (usually on a Sunday). Now these are the types of things that CAN be disposed off using alternative methods. Unfortunately I don’t think there is one measure that suits all. Also, alternative measures, if provided by council, need to be in place before you can start any bans. Regards Jennifer.
Jennifer.
Hello Ed,
Congratulations on the site, most informative, especially for your constituents, I would like all Councillors to consider doing the same. But, then again it is probably too time consuming for some. Of real value is the provided opportunity for on line dialogue between Councillor and ratepayer.
Keep it going and perhaps encourage others to follow suit.
Dear Ray,
Thank you for your comments. It, the Blog, is time consuming and requires much attention to detail.
Ed C.
You’re right Jennifer – one option does not fit all circumstances……there are several people working on getting many options in place – if only they were able to be up and running already! Cheers, Lee
Congratulations on easier reading blog.I had given up on earlier one!
We like to burn heaps of rubbish just as light rain begins to fall and on our larger property that helps to control spread. No green rubbish bins out here. Regarding publicity: there will always be selfish people who don’t read. One person I heard about recently twice burned on days of gale force winds and called fire brigade for help.