Banyule residents urged to clear properties of fire risks

People living in Melbourne’s east have been given a two-week deadline to clean-up their properties and remove fire hazards- and those who ignore it face harsh fines.

Fires have gone through Banyule before, in 2014 and council is urging residents to clear their homes of fire hazards.

More than 220 homes in Banyule were found to be at high risk of fire in a sweeping inspection by the council.

Inspectors have issued 225 clean-up notices to residents already this year.

Banyule Mayor Alison Champion said the council carried out pre-fire season inspections each year.

“If property owners have not commenced the required works within 14 days of the notice issue date, council will appoint a contractor to complete the work and invoice the property owner,” Ms Champion said.

Banyule Mayor Alison Champion said residents issued with notices have 14 days to remove fire risks from their properties. Picture: Andy Brownbill

The council also responds to complaints from residents about other properties.

Friends of Banyule community group member Michelle Giovas said many residents were fearful of fires in the Yarra and Banyule Flats.

“Parts of Banyule are subject to bushfires, even though we are in suburbia,” Ms Giovas said

She said the inspections were a proactive and helpful step.

“Heading into another period of catastrophic fire weather it’s important to prevent the spread of property fires,” Ms Giovas said.

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Diamond Creek CFA bushfire management co-ordinator Fiona Macken advised people to keep grass to less than 10cm, especially within the first 10m around the home.

“Keep gutters clean around the home, clean up wood piles, flammable materials and other flammable debris,” she said.

“Trim vegetation so there are no continuous lines of vegetation which would act as a conduit and bring fire to the home.”

She also urged landowners to remove any tree limbs hanging over roofs and use nonflammable mulch around the house.

In the wake of fires that threatened homes near Plenty Gorge and Greensborough, Nillumbik Council is also racing against time to make hundreds of stubborn property owners clear their land. During December, 300 clean-up notices were issued but last week mayor Karen Egan said 208 landowners had still not complied with the warnings.

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