Firebreak and Fire Hazard Reduction

Firebreaks/Reduction Measures must be installed by 1 October and remain until 30th April in the following year.

The Fire Break Notice is published in the Government Gazette and Public notice section every year before September prior to the commencement of the bushfire season.

The below information outlines how to reduce the hazard of bushfires through Firebreaks and hazard reduction

What do you need to do?

All owners and/or occupiers of land within the district of the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder must clear all flammable matter from the land in accordance with the following requirements:

  • Land which is 5,000m2 or less in area, shall be required to follow the general fire hazard reduction measures as stated in this Notice.
  • Land which is 5,001m2 or greater in area, shall have a trafficable firebreak three (3) metres in width cleared immediately inside all external boundaries of the land to mineral earth or to the satisfaction of an authorised person.

Fire hazard reduction measures you can take

All owners/occupiers are required to reduce fire hazards on their property as far as reasonably practicable over the entire area of land. This can be achieved by clearing all “flammable matter” to a height of no more than 50mm, or to the satisfaction of an authorised person and all clearing must be done in accordance with the Act. Fire Hazard Reduction Orders will be issued where owners/occupiers have failed to reduce fire hazards on their property to a satisfactory state in the opinion of an authorised person.

Compliance Requirements

Notice to all owners and occupiers of land situated within the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder

As a measure to assist in the control of bush fires, and to prevent the spread or extension of a bush fire which may occur, all owners and/or occupiers of land within the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder district are required before the 1st day in October each year, or within 14 days of becoming the owner or occupier of land if after that date, to clear firebreaks or take measures in accordance with this Notice and maintain those firebreaks and measures up to and including the 30th day of April in the following year.

Definitions

Act - means the Bush Fires Act 1954;

Authorised Person - means a person authorised in accordance with Section 9.10 of the Local Government Act 1995 by the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder.

City - means the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder.

Flammable Matter - includes all form of vegetation both living and dead, and any other flammable materials and combustible matter;

Firebreak - means ground which is cleared to a mineral earth standard in which all flammable material (which includes vegetation and with all overhanging branches, trees, limbs, etc. to be trimmed back clear of the Firebreak area) has been removed and on which no flammable material (which includes vegetation) is permitted during the Firebreak period and the Firebreak must be the required width.

Firebreak Period - means the time from 1st October in any year until 30th April in the year following;

Trafficable - means able to be driven around, unhindered, in a standard four-wheel drive vehicle.

Actions the City may take

  1. In addition to the requirements of this Notice, further works which are considered necessary by an authorised person may be required as specified in writing in a subsequent Notice addressed to the land owner as recorded by the City.

  2. Where the owner or occupier of the land fails or neglects to comply with the requirements of this Notice or a subsequent Notice addressed to the land owner, an authorised person may enter onto and upon the land with any workmen, contractors, vehicles and machinery as required to carry out the requisitions of the Notice at the expense of the land owner. Where the City is required to act in default, the land will be cleared in accordance with this Notice or at the discretion of an authorised person.

  3. Failure to comply with this Notice and subsequent written Notices may result in penalties being issued or court action and the liability for any costs incurred by the City in relation to works undertaken on behalf of the land owner.

    Can the requirements be amended?

    If a landowner or occupier within the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder is unable to meet the requirements of this Notice, they may submit a written request to the City. The request should outline proposed alternative measures.

    These alternatives may be accepted if, in the opinion of an authorised person, they provide an appropriate means of compliance with the Notice.

    More information and enquiries

    For further details please contact our Ranger Services team on (08) 9021 9600 or submit an enquiry form here. 

    Quicklinks

    Firebreak Notice

    Firebreak Notice Brochure