Bushland Reserves - Photos
Monash Residents Prepare For Fire Action Week
28 September 2009
With the start of the fire season only one month away, Monash City Council is urging residents to prepare by participating in Fire Action Week activities between 11 and 18 October.
Monash Mayor Paul Klisaris, who tabled a Fire Management Report at the 15 September meeting, said that Council is actively working with residents, emergency services and the State to minimise the fire risk in Monash.
Since last summer, Council has focused on reducing the fuel loads around the perimeter of Valley Reserve, Damper Creek, Scotchmans Creek and Gardiners Creek due to continuing low rainfall and this will continue into the summer.
Fire Action Week falls during Community Safety Month in October.
Other local activities planned include information stalls and demonstrations at the:
- 2009 Positive Ageing Lifestyles Expo (30 September)
- Wheelers Hill Fire Station Public Open Day (11 October)
- Ashwood Chadstone Family Fun Day (18 October)
- Children's Services Expo at Jells Park (28 October)
- Clearing all ground fuel to create an easily defendable zone around the house
- Clearing all waste material from inner roof areas
- Checking your roof thoroughly for cracks and gaps and fix them permanently
- Making sure your gutters are clean and that you have a gutter plug allowing you to fill the gutters with water if necessary
- Sealing all vents and gaps in roof eaves with steel mesh
- Getting an emergency bush fire cover for any air conditioning units and skylights
- Mowing your lawn regularly during the summer months
Under Local Law 3, each year Council identifies properties within the municipality that propose a fire risk and issues notices to landowners to clear their properties and mitigate fire risk.
Last year, 500 reminder notices were sent to landowners and around 40 people were fined for failure to comply with Local Law 3. In cases of non-compliance Council clears the property and the landowners are billed. The average cost for clearing a property is around $300 and fines of $200 are also issued for non-compliance.
Fire Safety brochures are distributed each year to properties surrounding the bushland reserves. They are also available from the Monash Civic Centre and Oakleigh Service Centre.
Council's website House Fires and Smoke Alarms or Bushland Fire Safety provides further tips on how to stay safe and reduce your fire risk.
Published: 28 September 2009
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