All Fire Hazard Abatement Notices will comply with the requirements of section 200 of the Local Government Act 1993.
A notice will state:

• The nature of the nuisance.
• The action required to abate (resolve) the nuisance.
• The timeframe within which the action is to be completed.
• The person or persons responsible for ensuring the action is completed.
• That Council may act under section 201 of the Act if the abatement notice is not complied with.

Under the Local Government Act 1993 (the Act) one of Council’s functions is to provide for the health, safety and welfare of the community. Under the Act Council is required to take action to abate nuisances, which includes anything that is, or is likely to be, a fire risk.

Fire Risk is defined as anything that an Authorised Council Officer is satisfied may pose, or is likely to pose, a risk of causing or exacerbating the effects of a fire. This may include (but is not limited to) overgrown grass, vegetation, weeds or scrub, the presence of rubbish or flammable material on a property or the proximity of a property to bushland.

Authorised Council Officers will inspect all properties where community concerns of potential fire risks are raised.

Considerations when assessing fire risk may include:

• The amount, density and type of vegetation, and whether or not it has been maintained.
• The amount and type of other materials stored on the property, which may serve as fuel for a fire.
• The location of the property and the characteristics of surrounding properties, including the level of risk posed to surrounding properties and life.
• Past weather conditions, future weather predictions and current soil moisture content.
• Topography, access and accessibility of the property.

Council will issue a Fire Hazard Abatement Notice to the owners of any property on which it is satisfied a fire risk exists.

Property owners may determine for themselves how to manage their properties up to the point where it becomes a fire risk to their neighbours. Authorised Council Officers are trained by the Tasmanian Fire Service on how to recognise and abate fire hazards.

If you are concerned there may be a fire hazard on a property that presents an immediate risk to life or property, please let Council know by completing a fire hazard inspection request on our website, emailing hvc@huonvalley.tas.gov.au, calling (03) 6264 0300, or in person at our Customer Service Centre at 40 Main Street, Huonville.

Where a property owner fails to comply with a Fire Hazard Abatement Notice within the specified timeframe Council will undertake the works.

If Council acts to rectify the Abatement Notice the property owner will be charged an administration fee, plus the cost of the contractor and may be issued with an infringement notice for failing to comply with an abatement notice.

Phone the Huon Valley Council’s Compliance Unit on (03) 6264 0300 for advice.

Council can provide you with a list of suitable private contractors for hazard clearing works in
your area.

You will need to contact Council’s Compliance Unit before the deadline on the abatement notice and request an extension of time. Each case will be assessed according to the circumstances.

1. Create a Bushfire Plan and talk about bushfire preparedness with your family, friends and neighbours. www.bushfire.tas.gov.au
2. Prepare your property. Know your bushfire risk and proactively maintain a fire hazard management area around your house. www.bushfirereadyneighbourhoods.tas.gov.au/bushfire-ready-property
3. Form a Bushfire-Ready Neighbourhood Group and know your Community Protection Plan. Talk with your neighbours and community to establish a telephone tree/email list, organise community working bees, work together to plan a shared response to bushfire threat and share information and resources. www.bushfirereadyneighbourhoods.tas.gov.au/bushfire-ready-neighbourhood-groups
4. Visit the TFS website www.fire.tas.gov.au for more information on community and bushfire safety.