Council ready for 2024/25 fire season

Published on 01 November 2024

Gannawarra Shire Council is ready for the 2024/25 fire season, with restrictions coming into effect as of 1am Monday, 4 November.

During the past month, efforts have occurred to reduce potential fire risks on public and private properties.

“We all play a role in reducing our fire risk, with our wet start to the year and recent warm weather creating the ideal conditions for the development of potential risks, such as dry, overgrown weeds,” Council Acting Chief Executive Officer, Amanda Wilson said.

“These factors have led emergency authorities to determine the start of the Fire Danger Period, which places restrictions on when you can conduct burn-offs for the safety of residents and the community.”

As part of Council’s commitment to reduce the Gannawarra’s fire risk, staff have spent the past 4-6 weeks:

• Slashing roadsides along Council-managed sealed roads to reduce vegetation growth;
• Slashing Council-managed properties to reduce vegetation growth;
• Spraying weeds along Council-managed roadsides to reduce future vegetation growth; and
• Undertaking fire hazard inspections, identifying properties which need to be cleared of fire risks and issuing Fire Prevention Notices to landowners, instructing them to carry out works to reduce fire risks.

Council has also worked with other agencies, including VicRoads, to ensure that fuel loads are reduced on properties and roads managed by these departments.

“We all play a part in reducing fire risks locally. Acting now is better than not acting at all, especially if any out-of-control fires occur during the next six months,” Ms Wilson said.

For more information regarding fire management within the Gannawarra Shire, please visit www.gsc.vic.gov.au/fires

ABOVE: Slashing of roadsides along Council-managed sealed roads is occurring to reduce the municipality's fire risk.