General News
30 October, 2023
Free green waste drop off ahead of fire season
With fire restrictions in the Central Goldfields Shire expected to come into force next month, the CFA is urging residents to clean up their properties and surrounds before it’s too late. According to local authorities, the shire could find itself...
With fire restrictions in the Central Goldfields Shire expected to come into force next month, the CFA is urging residents to clean up their properties and surrounds before it’s too late.
According to local authorities, the shire could find itself in the midst of the Fire Danger Period in as little as three weeks — which means the community has around 21 days to prepare.
With Victoria currently experiencing an El Niño weather event, characterised by warmer and drier conditions, the state is also at heightened risk of facing a dangerous fire season and residents can potentially safeguard their properties by:
• Clearing undergrowth, bark and fallen branches
• Moving firewood and other combustibles away from their home
• Cleaning out gutters and drains
• Pruning low branches near buildings and fence lines
• Keeping grass and weeds low.
“We think the [area] is about 65 percent cured now so in a couple of weeks it’ll start to get [worse],” CFA Goldfields Group Officer Peter Higgins said.
“If people need to do their clean up, they need do it now because they might only have a fortnight or three weeks left.
“Once restrictions come in, which is expected to happen soon, residents won’t be able to burn-off without a permit — if people leave it till then the panic starts to set in and they start to rush.”
To assist the community in their clean-up efforts, council is offering free green waste drop off at the Carisbrook, Talbot and Dunolly transfer stations from this Saturday, November 4 till Tuesday, November 14.
Mayor Grace La Vella also highlighted the importance of taking the time out to plan sooner rather than later and added that the safety of the community is a priority.
“We all have a responsibility to help reduce the risk of fire to our own property and the entire community. Let’s all play our part in keeping the shire safe this fire season,” she said.
“It’s a time to check you have the right equipment, the right protection or evacuation plan and that you think about people living nearby who could be in more danger, like those who are elderly or living alone.
“If things do get serious later in the season, [think about] who else you need to look out for.”
Council officials will also begin their slashing program from mid-November with fire hazard inspections of private properties also set to be conducted between November and April.
Residents who know of a property of concern can contact council’s compliance team on 5461-0610.
For further information on how to prepare your property for the fire season visit www.cfa.vic.gov.au/ plan-prepare