November 29th, 2024Fire restriction season has arrived for Hepburn Shire, Macedon Ranges

The Fire Danger Period officially started in both the Hepburn Shire and Macedon Ranges Shire areas this Monday.

The CFA declared the Fire Danger Period for both local municipalities became effective from 1am this Monday, November 25 and is scheduled to end on May 1 2025, unless otherwise advised.

This means no fires can be lit in the open air without a permit during this period.

In its long-range forecast for December to February shows, the Bureau of Meteorology has forecast
an increased chance of warmer than average days and nights across most of Australia and that
above average rainfall is likely for large parts of eastern Australia.

The Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s CEO, Bernie O’Sullivan, said several shire-wide fire prevention initiatives were already well progressed to cut grass along council-managed roadsides, keep trees clear from powerlines and reduce fuel loads on private properties.

“We know fire does not discriminate and so it is important for us to complete annual programs we’re
responsible for, while working closely with the community to collectively reduce the shire’s fire risk,”
he said.

“I encourage residents to either review their existing fire plan or take the time to create one, drawing
from the range of useful resources available online through trusted authorities such as the CFA.”

Annual fire prevention activities in council-managed areas to date have included:

• a roadside grass slashing program on Council-managed roads, with contractors starting in the
  north of the shire and working their way south to provide initial coverage of the shire (the
  Department of Transport and Planning undertakes its own program to maintain state-managed
  roadsides)
• an electric line vegetation clearance program within declared areas of Gisborne and Kyneton,
  to keep trees a safe distance away from powerlines (Powercor is responsible for pruning
  vegetation within the shire outside of Gisborne and Kyneton, with Jemena responsible for
  Gisborne South)
• inspections of private properties, checking for fire hazards such as unmaintained long grass,
  excessive woodpiles or other debris.
  One standard trailer-load of residential green waste can be disposed of for free at Council’s resource
  recovery facilities in Kyneton, Romsey and Woodend, via a redeemable voucher in the Winter 2024
  edition of Council’s ShireLife newsletter publication delivered to mailboxes locally.
  For more information on:
• preparing for fire and heat – visit mrsc.vic.gov.au/fire-heat
• Fire Danger Ratings and the Fire Danger Period – visit cfa.vic.gov.au
• applying for a permit – visit firepermits.vic.gov.au
• the latest information on current incidents and alerts – visit emergency.vic.gov.au
• Council’s resource recovery facilities, inc. green waste voucher – visit mrsc.vic.gov.au/RRF