Residents are being urged to prepare their properties by cutting grass and undergrowth near assets to less than 100 millimetres in height, ensuring trees are not overhanging buildings and removing leaf litter from roofs and gutters.

A Fire Prevention Notice may be issued to the owner or occupier of any land for the removal of fine fuels deemed necessary to protect life and property from the threat of fire.

If residents fail to comply with a Fire Prevention Notice the infringement penalty is $1586 with the possibly of being charged the cost of clearing work as well. 

Recommendations for rural and rural residential allotments are a six metre bare earth break or 20- metre wide slashed or grazed area around dwellings and other assets including neighbour’s dwellings.

Boundaries should also be cleared on larger allotments.

Ararat Rural City mayor Glenda McLean said the annual fire prevention brochure would soon be hitting letterboxes across the municipality.

“Council has once again prepared the Fire Season Advice brochure, which has lots of helpful information heading to what is expected to be another dry, hot summer in our patch,” she said.

“This includes two free waste vouchers to visit your local transfer station in the municipality to assist the community to clean up around their homes and property in preparation.

“Council’s depot staff commenced its fire preparation maintenance program in September and is continuing to adhere to its own mowing and upkeep obligations, however it is everyone’s responsibility to maintain the environment around them.”