Yarra Ranges Open Air Burning by-law review considers banning fires unless wind is under 10km/h

PLANS to ban people in the Yarra Ranges burning off when there’s hardly any breeze to clear smoke have been slammed as a load of hot air.

Yarra Ranges Council is reviewing Open Air Burning by-laws. Picture: David Crosling

PLANS to ban people in the Yarra Ranges burning off when there’s hardly any breeze to clear smoke have been slammed as a load of hot air.

In a bid to bring an Open Air Burning law rule in line with the CFA guidelines, Yarra Ranges Council wants to stop people burning off when the wind speed gets above 10km/h — a reduction of 5km/h.

But Mt Evelyn Environment Protection and Progress Association Frank Smith said it would literally blow smoke in your face, clogging the airways of people with respiratory problems.
Mr Smith said by banning fires when the wind speed is more than 10km/h could see a lot of smoke build up, which would not budge without enough of an airflow.

“It’s not even a breeze. A breeze starts at 14km/h,” Mr Smith said.

He said the changes would only reduce the limited number of days residents could burn.

Mr Smith said people could be facing about 45 days in a year to get rid of vegetation because of how many days burning was banned — including the Fire Danger Period, June and July, and the proposed wind speed reduction.

Other proposed changes to the local law include eliminating fire permits so rural residents will need to follow CFA guidelines and new offences for causing offensive smoke and burning on council land.

Councillor Tim Heenan agreed with Mr Smith and said he was concerned there was not enough time in the lead-up to the bushfire season for Yarra Ranges people to burn off fuel loads.

“We’ve had very strange weather conditions,’’ he said. “A very dry autumn and I know many people who wanted to burn-off but couldn’t because it’s been as soaking as a wet dog,” Cr Heenan said.

“When you get to November it leaves precious little time for those in semi and rural areas to burn off.”

But CFA District 13 operations manager David Rankin said under the proposed changes there was a period of seven days leading up to the Fire Danger Period where people would be allowed to burn off.
Mr Rankin said the CFA had engaged with the council on the proposed changes but could not comment on the recommendations put forward until the draft was finalised.

The council will hear 30 submissions on the draft law at meeting on June 20.