Maroondah Council bans outdoor fires for heating

UPDATE:A FAMILY in Melbourne’s outer east spent $220 on a fire pit, only to be told later that day to extinguish it or face a $1200 fine.

If you own one of these and live in Maroondah, you face a fine of up to $2000 if you use it.

UPDATE: A CROYDON mother has told of her surprise after a Maroondah Council local laws officer turned up at her house on a Saturday evening asking she extinguish her new outdoor fire pit or face a fine.

It comes amid hundreds of complaints from people in Maroondah slamming the council’s new law banning any outdoor fire if not used for cooking, including chimeneas and fire pits.

Sue Daniel said her family had bought a pit worth $220 and were preparing it for the evening.

“We added some twigs and two red gum pieces at about 5pm,” Ms Daniel said.

“There was hardly any smoke and no bad odour but an officer turned up at 6.30pm saying there had been a complaint.

“We showed him the fire pit and were told … we had to put it out.”

Ms Daniel said she had no idea it was against the law but was told if she didn’t shut the fire pit down she would face a $1200 fine.

Councillors voted to “remove the exemption for outdoor burning for heating purposes” last October, as part of several local law revisions.

The changes were released for public comment, but no submissions were received and the law was put into force recently.

The decision has been met with anger from locals, who took to Facebook to vent.

Nick said: “This is ridiculous! Maybe Maroondah City Council will have to have a chimenea buy back scheme for the hundreds of dollars I’ve invested in mine!”

Eddie said: “This is a disgraceful decision by the council, surely they would realise there is a lot more smoke around from chimneys every night for 6 months than someone having a fire for warmth outside on a few occasions during the year? I suppose they will have to raise rates now to enforce it!”

Allowed.

Not allowed.

Tori said: “Hello Nanny State!!!! Since when was having a camp fire or keeping warm using a fire pit such an issue. Grow up Maroondah Council.”

Many councillors have now vowed to reword the law to allow chimeneas and fire pits.

They say they “misread” the initial document and did not realise it referred to those items, despite it clearly stating all outdoor heating would be banned.

Cr Nora Lamont said the issue first came to her attention on Monday night, after thinking the change referred only to incinerators.

“I take responsibility for my oversight ... and am now seeking to rectify this. If I had known it referred to the use of private burning in a fire pit or chimenea I would never have voted for it,” she said.

Cr Rob Steane said it was an error in the wording of the local law, but “it would be fixed” and Cr Mary-Anne Lowe is also advocating for the law to be reversed.

Maroondah Leader has sought comment from the mayor.