Let's Get Ready Together

The “Notice” is a legal document under section 33 of the Bush Fires Act 1954 that instructs landowners/occupiers of the actions they must take to prepare their properties for the upcoming fire season. Landowners/occupiers who fail to comply with conditions contained in the Notice by the date of inspection may be issued with a penalty of up to $5,000.00 under the Act.

There are a few options available to you;

Visit https://www.mundaring.wa.gov.au/safety-rangers/bush-fires-and-fire-management/firebreaks-and-fuel-load-notice.aspx.
Contact the Shire of Mundaring on 9290 6666 during office hours, we can mail another copy out to you.
Copies are available to be picked up from the Shire Administration, 7000 Great Eastern Highway, Mundaring.

Please note if you did not receive your Notice in the mail, you are still bound by the requirements of the Notice.

The Shire has a process in place whereby when a settlement agent places a property enquiry with the Shire they are advised of any outstanding works to be completed on the property.

All new landowners are posted rates information, including a copy of the Notice. New (and existing!) property owners are encouraged to contact the Shire’s Fire Hazard Inspection Officers on 9290 6696 or via firesafety@mundaring.wa.gov.au to arrange a free fire hazard inspection to seek clarification on any fire risks on the property.

The Shire asks that landowners/occupiers make sure their properties are compliant with the requirements of the Notice by the due date to reduce the level of bush fire risk for the whole community. However, we do understand that on occasion there might be genuine reasons why the requirements can’t be met by the deadline. As such extension requests will be considered on an individual basis.

Whilst the Shire is unable to recommend any particular contractor we do have a list of local contractors that landowners/occupiers can engage with. Contact the Fire Safety Team on 9290 6696 or via firesafety@mundaring.wa.gov.au to obtain a copy.

If you are having issues with the availability and/or timing of contractors to complete required works on your property, please contact the Shire’s Fire Hazard Inspection Officers on 9290 6696 or via firesafety@mundaring.wa.gov.au.

If you are unable to comply with some, or all, of the conditions contained within the Notice please contact the Shire’s Fire Hazard Inspection Officers on 9290 6696 or via firesafety@mundaring.wa.gov.au. There may be the opportunity for you to apply for a Variation.

Yes, but only around existing assets (houses, sheds, tanks etc) and to the area/dimensions specified in the Notice. For more information visit www.mundaring.wa.gov.au/safety-rangers/bush-fires-and-fire-management/asset-protection-zones.aspx or contact the Shire's Fire Hazard Inspection Officers on 9290 6696.

A firebreak is a strip or area of ground, not less than 3m in width, and 4m in height, immediately inside all external boundaries of a property. It must be constructed to a trafficable surface that is kept and maintained totally clear of all flammable material, including the pruning and removal of any living or dead trees, scrub or any other material encroaching into the vertical axis of the firebreak area.

An APZ is an area of very low fuel levels and managed gardens and vegetation close to a house that lessen the impact of an advancing bush fire. Bush fires spread and increase in intensity by consuming any available fuel in their path. In most cases homes are damaged or lost due to the radiant heat and embers caused by nearby fires, so to minimise the impact on your home your best defence is to reduce the amount of fuel close to your house. For more information visit www.mundaring.wa.gov.au/safety-rangers/bush-fires-and-fire-management/asset-protection-zones.aspx.

Yes, it is the landowner/occupiers responsibility to maintain their firebreaks from the first day of November each year through to the thirty first day of March the following year.

No, an APZ is a 20 metre low-fuel zone around your home. This may include, but is not limited to, under-pruning bushes and trees, removing ladder fuels, thinning out isolated bush clumps, etc. Note, if your house is close to your neighbour’s boundary line, the APZ does not need to extend beyond your property boundary. For more information visit www.mundaring.wa.gov.au/safety-rangers/bush-fires-and-fire-management/asset-protection-zones.aspx.

Reviews of significant bush fires find, generally, that well-prepared properties suffer less damage and loss than those that are not. Reducing the fuel loads around your home means that embers from a bushfire will have less chance to catch fire when they hit the ground. This will also reduce the damage caused by the fire and slow the rate of spread of the fire. The better you prepare your property the higher the chance it will survive a bushfire, even if you are not there!

You can rake and remove the ground fuels, burn them in piles during approved burning times, or compost the leaf litter and use it in other areas of your garden. Under-pruning shrubs and trees close to your home and managing dead and dry material suspended in shrubs is also a good way to reduce fuel loads. Good management of fuel levels does not necessarily mean you have to remove trees and shrubs. In most cases managing ground level fuels and some pruning of shrubs and trees is sufficient.

Firebreaks, when established, need to be a bare earth mineral break. They will then assist in preventing the spread of fire into neighbouring properties and provide suitable terrain for the drivers of firefighting appliances. If erosion or other land use issues prevent a bare earth firebreak being established where required, you will need to apply for a Variation to that requirement.

Breaks are required to be 3 metres wide with 4 metres vertical clearance to allow clear access for firefighting appliances, which are currently up to 3 metres wide and 3.5 metres high. As well as providing the width for vehicles to traverse firebreaks there also needs to be an allowance for negotiating corners, vehicles can be up to 9m long. The vertical clearance is required to limit damage to the firefighting appliance and to ensure that crews on the back deck can work safely, without fear of injury from over hanging tree branches.

Yes, as long as the firebreak area is bare earth by 1 November. Spraying herbicides will kill weeds, plants and but the dead material then creates a flammable fuel source if it has not degraded sufficiently.

Firebreaks can be constructed by one or more of the following methods: ploughing, cultivating, scarifying, raking, burning, chemical spraying or other method as approved by an Authorised Officer.

If you have concerns about other properties within the Shire please contact the Shire’s Fire Hazard Inspection Officers on 9290 6696 or via firesafety@mundaring.wa.gov.au.

Within the context of the Notice, a BMP is a document submitted by developers at the time of creating a new sub-division which provides details of the bushfire mitigation measures that are to be put in place for that sub-division. This may include strategic firebreaks, low threat vegetation, emergency access ways, or fire services routes. A BMP can also be required for individual properties, this would be noted on your Certificate of Title as a 70A Notification.

Fire Control Officers, authorised under the Bush Fire Act 1954, are permitted to enter your property to undertake inspections to ensure compliance with the Shire’s Notice. This includes the Shire’s Fire Hazard Inspection Officers, Fire Protection Officers and Bushfire Risk Management Officer.

Non-compliance with the Notice is considered a serious offence as it can compromise the safety of both the individuals occupying the land and the wider community.

If you fail to meet the requirement stipulated in the Notice, you may receive a warning notice with an additional 10 calendar days to ensure your property is compliant. Your property will then be reinspected and if it still fails to comply with the Notice the Shire is authorised to engage a contractor to carry out the work at your expense. The property owner will receive an invoice for the works plus associated administrative costs.

Reduced ground fuels slow the fires rate of spread. It won’t stop the fire but it does give firefighters more chance to save lives and properties!

Knowing your neighbours can:

create a safer environment
form a local support network
enable a close emergency contact
provide a good base for a Bushfire Ready Group

For more information and resources visit Act Belong Commit's Neighbour Day webpage (Neighbour Day is the last Sunday in March) or click here to receive a "Hello Neighbour" postcard pack.

Bushfire Ready is a DFES program focused on increasing community resilience. Residents are encouraged to form a Bushfire Ready Group within their street or area.

Neighbours support each other whilst they learn how to prepare themselves and their properties. The program is self-managed and community-driven, you decide when, where and how often to meet.

Additional support is offered, including volunteer Bushfire Ready Facilitators and/or local Fire Services personnel.

For more information, download the Bushfire Ready Fact Sheet.

Wooroloo Community Team - a group of open minded people working together to support community initiatives, including bushfire mitigation. Partner, Parky Care, looks after the ‘corporate’ side of things to assit with grant applications and insurance. For more information email wcteaminfo@gmail.com
Roving Rehabilitators - meet like-minded people and explore the local area, learn about environmental sustainability and deepen your connection with nature. For more information email kathrynjohnson@mundaring.wa.gov.au.
Work in progress, additional initiatives to be added.

Visit Insurance Council Australia for general information in regard to property preparation along with "terms to take note of within your policy".

Disclaimer: this external link is provided for general information purposes only. The Shire of Mundaring accepts no liability for the accuracy of the information and disclaims all liability.

Visit the Financial Rights Legal Centre website which has items to consider in relation to replacement vs indemnity cover, along with under or over insurance and a paragraph titled “Understand your policy”.

Disclaimer: this external link is provided for general information purposes only. The Shire of Mundaring accepts no liability for the accuracy of the information and disclaims all liability.

Visit Choice for a summary of “Safety Net” policies which can cover increased rebuilding costs following a natural disaster.

Disclaimer: this external link is provided for general information purposes only. The Shire of Mundaring accepts no liability for the accuracy of the information and disclaims all liability.

Visit Legal Aid for more information on insurance claims.

Disclaimer: this external link is provided for general information purposes only. The Shire of Mundaring accepts no liability for the accuracy of the information and disclaims all liability.

You can visit DFESs Bushfire Recovery page for more information about maing a claim after an incident.

To assist with being able to make a claim, you can undertake the following as part of your preparation process:

Compile and maintain a descriptive list of items you may want to claim, along with when they were purchased and their replacement value.
Include floorings and other furnishings in this list.
Consider having photographic or video evidence of these items.

Should you create this list, ensure that it is saved with your other important documents.

You can visit the Shire website here or call 9290 6696.

You can also register for the Shire of Mundaring Bushfire Safety Information SMS notification service here.
This service enables residents to be directly informed about burning periods, Fire Danger Ratings on days of High or above, Total Fire Bans, Harvest and Vehicle Movement Bans and cancellation of Burning Permits. NOTE, this service is not an emergency warning service.

To be notified of Fire Danger Ratings of High or above, and for other bushfire safety information, follow the Shire of Mundaring Facebook Page here.

and/or

Register for the Shire of Mundaring Bushfire Safety Information SMS notification service here.
This service enables residents to be directly informed about burning periods, Fire Danger Ratings on days of High or above, Total Fire Bans, Harvest and Vehicle Movement Bans and cancellation of Burning Permits. NOTE, this service is not an emergency warning service.

For more information visit the Shire website here.

A Total Fire Ban (TFB) is declared by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) on days when fires are most likely to threaten lives and property. The declaration considers local factors such as the forecast weather, available resources, the number of days since last rain and the amount of vegetation in the area that could burn during a fire.

A Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban (HVMB) can be imposed during the Restricted and Prohibited Burning periods by the Shire of Mundaring Chief Bush Fire Control Officer. This ban restricts activities that are likely to cause a bush fire or contribute to the spread of a bush fire when the expected weather conditions indicate that if a wildfire was to start, it would be dangerous, destructive and difficult to stop once started.

For more information about what you can and can't do, along with how to apply for a TFB Exemption or report a breach during a TFB or HVMB visit the Shire website here.

Head to My Bushfire Plan to see how you can be prepared.

And if you have pets, or large animals, make sure you have an Animal Bushfire Plan too.

An Asset Protection Zone (APZ) is a very low fuel level area (can include managed gardens and vegetation) close to a house that lessens the impact of an advancing bush fire.

For more information click here.

Yes! Burning leaf litter and ground level fuels, mainly sticks and twigs less than 6mm in diameter, is an effective way of managing fire hazards on your property. After a burn off, less fuel exists and this reduces the risk posed by any bushfire that may impact your property.

For more information, including about the Shire's Winter Burning Workshops, visit the Shire website here.

Red Cross have a great preparedness guide here.

You can reduce the impact of emergencies, big and small, by being prepared.

If your life is under threat call 000
Visit the Emergency WA website
Call DFES (recorded emergency information) on 13 33 37
Listen to ABC Radio Perth on 720 AM
Download the ABC Listen app here
Follow the DFES Facebook page here
For community updates, follow the Shire of Mundaring Facebook page here

♦ Black - Incident Area - It is too late to leave and you need to shelter in place. It is essential you follow the information on what to do within the latest warning.
♦ Red - Emergency Warning - You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. Homes and lives are under threat.
♦ Yellow - Watch and Act - There is a possible threat to lives. If you are not prepared or you plan to leave, leave now if the way is clear.
♦ Blue - Advice - Although there is no immediate danger you need to be aware and keep up to date in case the situation changes.

See the current alerts and warnings here.

Warning areas can change rapidly and you may need to evacuate suddenly, you can use the 'locate me' function on Emergency WA to check if you are in a warning area and what action you need to take.

Emergency Alerts are sent from +61 444 444 444 to notify people in affected areas by SMS/landline. You do not need to register to receive these notifications. Do not rely on this system as messages may not be received for multiple reasons, remember that leaving early is the safest option.

For up to date information on incidents and warnings visit Emergency WA or if you are in critical need of emergency services (police, fire, ambulance) call 000.

If you stay to defend your home you need to be prepared to do this alone.

There are simply not enough resources to task an appliance to every property, and a great number of fire fighters will be required on the frontline. It is also highly likely that the water and electricity to your property will be shut off.

Head to the DFES Stay & Defend page to see what you need to consider.

When an Evacuation Centre is activated details will be released via https://www.emergency.wa.gov.au/. The Shire will endeavour to share this information via its normal communication channels.

Pets, and other animals, generally cannot stay at evacuation centres - follow your Animal Bushfire Plan to take them to safer place.

For evacuation venue contact details and a WA Racing Industry Bushfire Emergency Information Kit, visit the Racing and Wagering Western Australia page here.

If you are concerned about the welfare of injured or stranded animals (or residents who cannot return home) can contact the Shire on 9290 6666 and press option 8 to speak to an operator. Shire staff will put you in touch with agencies and/or vets who can help.

Details will be released via https://www.emergency.wa.gov.au/. The Shire will endeavour to share this information via its normal communication channels.

For more general information about returning home after an incident you can visit DFESs

Generally, Rapid Damage Assessment teams perform comprehensive sweeps of the impacted areas to survey damage and identify risks for residents before Restricted Access Permits can be be issued.

During an incident it is difficult to manage an influx of donations or onboard new volunteers, which also brings people unnecessarily into the vicinity of the control point or evacuation centre.

We appreciate your offers of assistance, but the most helpful thing you can do for us is to stay safe by keeping up to date with the latest warning information.

If you wish to donate, please get in touch with a local charity, such as The Good Samaritans, St Vincents or (if open) The Lord Mayor's Distress Relief Appeal.

If you want to volunteer your time to help please register with Emergency Support Volunteering.

If you live in a bushfire affected area your private drinking water could be contaminated from debris, ash, dead animals, aerial fire retardants and water-bombing. To avoid illness, drinking water must be safe to drink. Tap (mains) water may not work due to damaged pipes, or power outages that prevent water being pumped.

You can disinfect small quantities of water in 2 ways:

boiling (the simplest and best)
chemical treatment

For more information see Department of Health

Emergency treatment of drinking water supplies (healthywa.wa.gov.au)

Anyone with an urgent smoke-related health condition should seek medical attention by dialling 000.

People with other medical conditions or who are feeling unwell due to the smoke impact are advised to contact their GP or health direct on 1800 022 222.

Elderly, the very young, and people with respiratory and heart conditions need to take extra precautions to avoid exposure to bushfire smoke and smoke haze as it can worsen asthma and other respiratory conditions, cause coughing, shortness of breath, irritate eyes, nose and throat. People with a heart condition or lung problems, should make sure they always have at least five days’ worth of medication if there is a bushfire nearby.

For more information, find advice from Department of Health here.

Once the area is deemed safe to return to, there are still some potential hazards that you will need to be wary of.

For more information on bushfire hazards on your property see the Healthy WA website here.

If you have a water tank, be aware that the water is most likely to be contaminated either indirectly by ash, smoke, debris or directly by fire and the fire fighting activities. Do not use the water for drinking, preparing food, making ice, washing, bathing or cleaning teeth. Do not provide it to animals.

For more information see Department of Health here.

On-site wastewater systems such as septic tanks, secondary treatment systems, aerated wastewater treatment systems and their land application systems (leach drains, sprinklers and below ground drippers and connection pipes), can be easily damaged during a bushfire.

For more information, see the Department of Health here.

Anyone requiring immediate welfare assistance should contact the Disaster Response Hotline on 1800 032 965.

Support and Wellbeing Services