The Shire of Augusta Margaret River provides an annual Firebreak Notice to property owners in the region. The Notice outlines what steps a property owner must take to facilitate easy access for a fire appliance on their land in an emergency.
This page details important information regarding the Notice, including dates, definitions, requirements, inspections, access, variations, and compliance.
The Annual Firebreak Notice is an order issued by the Shire instructing land owners or occupiers to undertake fire prevention work and/or install and maintain firebreaks to assist in the control of fires and reduce the risk of fire to the community. ALL land owners or occupiers must comply.
All fire reduction work must be completed by 30 November and maintained up to including 12 May. Properties with an approved Bushfire Management Plan (BMP) must comply with the requirements of their BMP.
Please note: The dates below are a guide only and can change at short notice due to weather conditions and the fire danger ratings (FDR)
Please refer to Burning Periods for latest dates, monitor the Shire’s website for updates, sign up to receive media releases or check the Shire's Facebook page.
Always call your area Fire Control Officer (FCO) or the Shire Rangers to check prior to lighting a fire.
Firebreaks must be installed on or before 30 November
Firebreaks must be maintained up to and including 12 May
APZs must be maintained all year round
9 November to 22 December. Permit is required.
23 December to 14 March. Burning is NOT allowed.
15 March to 12 May. Permit is required.
For the purpose of the Notice, the following definitions apply:
Asset Protection Zone (APZ) means an area of low fuel load within 20 metres from the external walls of any habitable building.
The fuel loading (or flammable materials) in the APZ must be reduced and maintained to less than 2 tonnes per hectare. Trees must not be closer than 2 metres to a building, and trees must not overhang a building within 4 metres of the external roof.
Please note: APZ requirements apply to all properties (excluding vacant lots), regardless of size, and must be maintained all year round.
Bushfire Management Plan (BMP) is a plan prepared specifically for a property in satisfaction of a development approval or subdivision condition.
Properties subject to an approved BMP must comply with the requirements of their plan in addition to the requirements of the Notice.
Note: At the Shire of Augusta Margaret River's discretion, variations may recognise alternate methods and requirements for compliance in an approved BMP.
All landowners/occupiers must carry out fire prevention work in accordance with the requirements of the Notice on or before 30 November. All land is to be maintained up to and including 12 May.
Please note: Asset Protection Zone (APZ) requirements apply to all properties (excluding vacant lots), regardless of size, and must be maintained all year round.
Clearing in excess of the requirements in the Firebreak Notice or a Bushfire Management Plan will be required to comply with the Local Planning Scheme and Clearing Regulations and may require a Permit.
Property Type | Firebreak Requirements | Asset Protection Zone (APZ) | Grass slashed/mowed to less than 10cm | Driveway/Access way | Gutters and rooftops free of debris |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Lots 4000m2 and under |
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Residential/ Rural Residential Lots 4001m2 and over |
| Yes | Vacant/ cleared land that is not being actively grazed | Yes | Yes |
Rural Lots (excluding plantations, vineyards, orchards and olive groves) |
| Yes | Vacant/ cleared land that is not being actively grazed | Yes | Yes |
Plantations |
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Vineyards, Orchards and Olive Groves |
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Under the powers of the Bush Fires Act, Shire Rangers are appointed as Bush Fire Control Officers and are authorised to inspect properties from 1 December.
Owners and occupiers who would like an early inspection by appointment (due to biosecurity, locked gates and/or dangerous animals) or would like more information should contact Rangers on (08) 9780 5695 no later than 1 November.
To defend your property, fire vehicles need to be able to access your property safely.
This means emergency vehicles need to able to fit through any gates and internal firebreaks should be 3 metres wide with at least 4 metres vertical clearance. The average fire appliance is 9 metres in length.
Find out about the disposal of bulk green waste.
Where compliance with the Firebreak Notice is not practical due to environmental considerations or site specific constraints such as water course or steep gradients, owners may apply to the Shire of Augusta Margaret River for a Variation to the Firebreak Notice.
Variations must provide an alternative means of meeting the objectives of the Notice, including bushfire risk mitigation and property access, taking into account site specific constraints and advantages and not all properties will be able to accommodate Variations.
Applications must be completed on the approved form, which is available upon request or can be downloaded via the Shire’s website. Applications for a Variation have a $30 fee unless they are submitted before 1 November in which case they are processed free of charge.
To apply for a Variation, please complete and submit the form below. Please note
People who do not comply with the Notice or a Variation to the Notice may be issued with an infringement Notice ($250) or prosecuted with a penalty up to $5,000. The Shire of Augusta Margaret River may carry out the required work on the land at cost to the owner/occupier.
If you have any concerns regarding how the requirements may impact you, want to apply for a Variation, or would like more information, please contact the Shire Rangers on (08) 9780 5695, or email [email protected]
