Mornington Peninsula council cracks down on long grass, weeds and dead trees
As Mornington Peninsula Council pushes property owners to clear their land of fire hazards, a firefighter is pleading with everyone to help prevent deadly blazes. And the council has now revealed the next step in its crackdown on stubborn locals.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
Mornington Peninsula property owners have been fined more than $80,000 for ignoring orders
to reduce fire risks on their land.
The council has fined 51 people for failing to comply with a Fire Prevention Notice and that number could rise as inspections continue.
Municipal Fire Officer Katie McKenzie said about 2500 properties were inspected late last year as part of the council’s annual fire prevention program.
Each property was inspected individually for a range of fire hazards including long, dry grass, fallen and dead vegetation, weeds and vegetation close to neighbouring assets.
A total of 670 Fire Prevention Notices were issued detailing the work required and setting a deadline for it to be completed.
The council is now reinspecting those properties.
“Property owners that fail to comply with a Fire Prevention Notice are issued an infringement notice with a penalty of $1652, and the Shire arranges for its contractors to enter private property and undertake the required works at the owners’ expense, this is a swift process to ensure correct hazard mitigation is achieved,” Ms McKenzie said.
She urged community members to phone the shire’s Environment Protection Unit on 59501050 to report concerns about fire hazards.
Rosebud Fire District Community Safety Portfolio Manager Mark Bruechert said the brigade often received complaints from people worried about overgrown and untended properties.
“It’s not our role to deal with that. We have to pass it on to the shire,” Mr Bruechert said.
MORE NEWS
PENINSULA SUBURB TOPS CANCER RATE
PERVERT PREYS ON GIRLS AT FAMILY BEACH
MORNINGTON HOLIDAY PROGRAM SCRAPPED
He urged all property owners, especially those who did not live in the region full time, to check their land for any fire hazards.
“It’s really important that they get onto it, especially at this time when our resources are so stretched supporting other fire-affected communities across the state.”
Mr Bruechert, who is also the senior station officer at Rosebud, said half of his platoon were currently in Gippsland and other members were helping fire fighters in the northeast of the state.
“At any one time we have four paid fire fighters on duty from a pool of about 20. They can also be called out to an (Emergency Medical Response) EMR job for the ambulance service,” he said.