Manningham, Maroondah, Yarra Ranges councils threaten fines over fire hazards
Property owners in the Yarra Ranges and a swathe of eastern suburbs who have ignored requests to clean up this fire season face big fines if they don’t act soon.
East
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Property owners of vacant sites in Melbourne’s east could be hit by fines of more than $1600 if they don’t tidy up their fire hazard properties.
Manningham, Maroondah and Yarra Ranges councils are chasing up landowners who ignored notices to clear up ahead of the Fire Danger Period on December 16.
The $1652 fine amount is set by the State Government.
Manningham city planning and community director Angelo Kourambas said the council sent out 1250 letters to owners of vacant properties late last year and then started site visits to check compliance last month.
Mr Kourambas said while most property owners complied, there were 120 properties deemed to be a fire hazard.
“These property owners have been issued a notice advising them that they must clean up their land or they will face a penalty,” he said.
“The majority of these property owners have promptly cleaned up their properties and some land owners have been issued with a penalty notice.”
Mr Kourambas said if properties were not cleaned up, the council could do its own maintenance and then pass those costs on to the property owner.
Neighbouring Yarra Ranges Council sent out 400 warning notices in December, of which 34 land owners had not complied.
Yarra Ranges Council cleaned up those properties and passed the cost on to the owners, who could also face a $1652 fine.
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Maroondah Council issued 200 fire clearance notices since October and inspected 700 properties.
Maroondah Mayor Mike Symon said those people who didn’t comply with the notices could be fined and face court.
“Council will continue to proactively inspect vacant blocks across the municipality during
the fire season to ensure blocks are being maintained,” Cr Symon said.