General News
11 April, 2025
Planned burns: be mindful
The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) is asking all landowners to take the necessary steps to protect paddock trees when burning stubble on their properties.
Landowners have several options when it comes to managing crop stubble. If landowners are managing particular issues in a paddock, burning may be the chosen option when fire restrictions lift in the coming weeks.
Native trees are protected by law and there are ways to avoid damaging them. This includes establishing an adequate fire break around native trees and ensuring there are enough people to monitor, contain and extinguish the burn with adequate water and fire extinguishing equipment accessible.
“It is important to protect native paddock trees. They provide shade to stock, reduce wind impacts to crops, store carbon, and provide habitat to important pollinators and birds that feed on pests,” Loddon Mallee regional manager natural environment programs Aaron Gay said.
“We encourage landholders to be well prepared before beginning a stubble burn.
“Creating firebreaks around trees and having enough people, water and equipment ready to extinguish the fire will ensure you can protect your valued native trees.”
If fire restrictions are in place a permit is required to burn grass, stubble and other vegetation on your property until the Fire Danger Period ends.
Find out more at www.cfa.vic. gov.au/warnings-restrictions/fire-bans-ratings-and-restrictions/can-i-or-cant-i or register a burn by calling 1800 668 511, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Anyone wanting to report the destruction of paddock trees during stubble burning should contact their local council.