Frequently Asked Questions

 

The Fire Hazard Reduction Notice is sent out with the annual Rates Notice. The Notice is also advertised several times leading up to the season via the City of Kalamunda Webpage, Facebook and local print media.

The City does not provide extensions for work orders unless; A) a contractor has been engaged to complete the works on your behalf - NOTE: Contractor will need to notify the City on your behalf, advising of when the prescribed works are to be completed. The prescribed works must be completed as soon as possible; or B) The resident is waiting on a skip bin from the City, in which case they will have to provide the City with an email copy of Cleanaway’s confirmation. These extensions will only be granted via written confirmation from the City.

Under S39(1) Special powers of bush fire control officers, Subject to the provisions of this Act a bush fire control officer appointed under this Act by a local government may, in the exercise of his functions and the performance of his duties under this Act, do all or any of the following things — (b) enter any land or building, whether private property or not; and (d) cause fire-breaks to be ploughed or cleared on land, whether private land or not, and take such other appropriate measures on the land as he may deem necessary for the purpose of controlling or extinguishing a bush fire or for preventing the spread or extension of the fire.

The City recognises that Australia Post will sometimes be delayed and has worked this into the 14-day requirement.

If you refuse to do the work, you may be issued with an infringement. The City may employ a contractor to carry out the prescribed works on High Risk, non-compliant properties, which will be charged to the property owner. Additionally, the City may prosecute you under the Bush Fires Act 1954 in Court, were you may face up to $5,000 in penalties and associated costs.

To ensure a safe and resilient community and to help control and prevent the spread of fire.

The entire City is subject to the annual Notice. We have multiple Fire Hazard Inspectors that conduct the inspections simultaneously across the City of Kalamunda. These inspections commence on 1 of November annually.

Please go to the City’s website where you can lodge an online request. A Fire Hazard Inspector will then investigate the request and if deemed to be a fire risk, the appropriate action will be taken.

Please refer to the City Bushfire Management information provided under City Assets Maintenance section of the website.

For further information on verges please refer to the City’s Residential Property Verge Landscaping Conditions - Appendix 1 or contact the City Parks Team on (08) 9257 9809

If you wish to object to the infringement that you received, please lodge a request via enquiries@kalamunda.wa.gov.au. This request will then be reviewed via the appropriate procedure. This has to be submitted to the City of Kalamunda within a 28-day period of the infringement being issued, otherwise the objection may not be considered.

The City does not provide a Contractors List to residents. Contractors for the area can be found online via search engines (such as Google, Bing) and within local directories (such as yellow pages).

A Variation is an exemption to the conditions outlined in the notice

If you consider a requirement set out in the notice to be impossible to comply with, then you may require a variation.

To apply for a variation, you must submit an online form on the City’s website, outlining the reason/s as to why a variation is required and what alternative mitigating measures have been implemented. Variations will be assessed by the Chief Bush Fire Control Officer and approved on a case by case basis. Variations are only valid for the season and are not automatically renewed.

Once you have applied for a variation, the City will send a confirmation letter advising the outcome and conditions.

A firebreak is a 3 metres wide, bare mineral earth, cleared strip/track. A firebreak must not have any combustible materials present and must have a height clearance of 4 metres minimum. A firebreak is used for firefighting techniques and access for fire appliances in the event of an emergency incident. These breaks must be in a continuous, trafficable form meaning a large vehicle can drive continuously and safe in one direction within the perimeter of the property and end up where they started.

There are many ways to achieve the desired outcome. The City suggests seeking professional advice from a Contractor.

In relation to overhanging branches, the Dividing Fences Act 1961 and the Citizens Advice Bureau provides residence assistance in these instances. Local Government is generally not involved in relation to trees on boundaries of private property as there is existing legislation and mechanisms in place to manage these issues. The City’s Overhanging Branched and Tree Root fact sheet contains more information and is available to all residents.

 

The Use of Solid Fuel BBQ, Pizza Oven and Smokers during the prohibited Fire Season fact sheet outlines when these can be used during Total Fire Bans and Harvest and Vehicle Bans. Solid Fuel refers to the product used to fuel the fire, examples are dry wood, dry paper, synthetic char or charcoal type fuel. Solid fuels doesn’t include gas or liquid.
YOU CAN USE:

• There is NO Total Fire Ban or Harvest and Movement Ban currently active in the City.
• Fire danger forecast by the Bureau of Meteorology is set to “low-moderate” or “high”
• Clearance around site of fire is at least 3 metres i.e. NO debris or inflammable materials within 3 metres of fire. (Bushfire Act 1954 section 25)
• Suitable precautions must be taken so that no nuisance smoke arises.
  Causing excessive smoke is a prosecutable offence under the City’s Health Local Laws

YOU CAN NOT USE

• During a Total Fire Ban or Harvest and Movement Ban currently active in your designated locality.
• No open fire is permitted while a ban is in place. This includes cooking outside using an open fire under verandas and patios.
• Fire danger forecast by the Bureau of Meteorology is set to “catastrophic”, “extreme”, “severe” or “very high”

Total Fire Bans are declared by the Department of Fire & Emergency Services (DFES) during times of extreme weather conditions or when the possibility of widespread bushfires may impact heavily on resources.
Harvest and Vehicle Movement Bans are declared by the City (by the Chief Bush Fire Control Officer) and limits the operation of machinery and plant equipment likely to cause a fire when operated over or near flammable material, dry grass, stubble or bush.

The responsibility remains on the individual to ensure that the activity undertaken will not cause a fire, and that a ban is not currently in place.

PENALTIES APPLY IF YOU IGNORE OR COMMIT AN OFFENCE DURING AN ACTIVE BAN IN YOUR LOCALITY.

Refer to the Fire Definitions section for full details including prohibited activities.