Homeowners on the Mornington Peninsula told to prepare for dangerous bushfire season
As Australia fire seasons start earlier and grow longer, Mornington Peninsula homeowners are warned to get ready now to reduce the risk.
South East
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Residents on the Mornington Peninsula are reminded to get ready for another long and dangerous bush fire season.
New research from the CFA and Bureau of Meteorology shows climate change is the most likely driver behind Australia’s earlier and longer fire seasons.
CFA research and development manager Sarah Harris and BOM scientist Chris Lucas studied the Australian fire season between 1973 and 2017 and found that climate change was playing a role.
“We should not expect every bushfire season to be worse than the last as a result of climate change. Similarly, a few milder bushfire seasons among a string of record high seasons does not mean climate change should be dismissed,” Dr Harris said.
CFA CEO and chief officer Steve Warrington welcomed the research.
“As firefighters, we see the effects of these longer and more severe fire seasons and CFA is proud to play its part, both through its robust research program, but also initiatives aimed at reducing greenhouse emissions, such as increasing our use of solar and the number of hybrid vehicles in the fleet,” he said.
Katie McKenzie, Municipal Fire Prevention Officer at Mornington Peninsula Shire said the council was doing their bit to get a head start on bush fire season by offering free green waste disposal at all Resource Recovery Centres from October 25-27.
Locals can also use the last weekend in October to make use of eased open air burning restrictions. Open air burning will be permitted on Friday and Saturday between 9am and 4pm on land less than 1500 square metres, provided no more than one cubic metre of vegetation is burnt at any time, the fire is not within 10 metres of neighbouring dwellings and general fire safety provisions are followed.
Ms McKenzie said properties should have a 10m clear zone around them and that all grass should be kept below 100mm. She said the council could also send fire prevention officers out to inspect properties in the lead up to summer and during the fire period to assess risks.
“Where a fire hazard is identified, the landowner will be sent a Fire Prevention Notice issued under the Country Fire Authority Act to remove the fire hazard by a set date,” she said.
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Upcoming CFA open days and information sessions include the Tyabb CFA open
day on October 27 from 10am to 2pm, the Rye CFA open day on November 2 from 10am to 2pm and the Mt Martha CFA open day on November 10 from 10am to 2pm.
A CFA spokesperson said preparing properties was crucial, as was having a plan.
Details: cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare/how-to-prepare-your-property