By ANEEKA SIMONIS
RESIDENTS who failed to clear bushfire hazards from their properties during last year’s land inspections were left burnt, paying tens of thousands in council fines.
Cardinia Shire Council has warned more than 40,000 properties will be inspected over the coming high-risk fire season – and non-compliant residents will be fined without exception.
Last year, council handed out 480 Fire Prevention Notices to those deemed to have significant fire hazards on their property following just under 42,500 land inspections.
Property owners were given 28 days to clear fire risks before council officers re-inspected the hazardous property.
Council issued 57 Fire Prevention Infringement Notices against property owners who did not comply with the clean-up notices, totalling $86,450 in fines.
But it wasn’t the only cost they bore.
Council-assigned contractors were then sent to complete required fire prevention works at the properties at the expense of the property owner.
Council’s Community, Risk and Emergency Management manager Myles O’Reilly said a number of these infringements were currently proceeding through the court system.
According to council figures, 25 per cent less infringement notices were handed out during last year’s bushfire season and more property owners complied with clean-up directives.
Mr O’Reilly said the figures indicated more residents were taking greater responsibility for their property which helped improve community safety.
“The figures show the message is getting through. More people are taking care of their property and more are complying when they get a notice,” he said.
“We are trying to drive down the number of notices and infringements issues to get to the stage where people are managing their property. At the moment, we are heading in the right direction.”
Greater responsibility from property owners will be key to surviving the likely “severe” bushfire season ahead.
“Land looks green now but it’s changing very quickly. We have information that we will have warmer and dryer temperatures this year … it’s looking as if we are in for a fairly severe fire season,” he said.
Fifteen planned burns are scheduled for the Cardinia Shire region over the next three years.
Council, which recently reviewed its Municipal Emergency Management Plan, will also undertake roadside slashing works to reduce fuel loads.
