Fire Management Notice
Managing the risk of bushfire is a shared responsibility: local government, state government agencies and the community all need to do their part. This page contains important information on what you need to do to ensure your property is well prepared for the threat of bushfire.
Every year the City of Albany issues a Fire Management Notice that outlines the minimum requirements for all land owners and occupiers to prepare for the bush fire season. The Fire Management Notice is issued under Section 33 of the Bush Fire Act 1954 and the requirements contained within are required by law. Non-compliance with the notice may result in penalties up to $5,000 per offence.
The notice is published in the local paper and the state Government Gazette.
SIGNIFICANT DATES
NORTHEAST SECTOR
3 October 2026 - 14 November 2026 - Restricted Burning permits required
15 November 2026 - 15 February 2027 - BURNING PROHIBITED
16 February 2027 - 30 April 2027 - Restricted Burning permits required
SOUTHWEST SECTOR
1 November 2026 - 14 December 2026 - Restricted Burning permits required
15 December 2026 - 14 March 2027 - BURNING PROHIBITED
15 March 2027 - 14 May 2027 - Restricted Burning permits required
VARIATIONS TO RESTRICTED OR PROHIBITED BURNING PERIODS
No variations currently in effect
*All other conditions under the Bush Fire Act 1954 and Fire Management Notice must be maintained.
Don't forget to register your burn 9395 9209
Fire Management Notice 2026-2027
Download Fire Management Notice 2026-2027
Fire Break Information
Fire Breaks
A continuous trafficable access track that has standard dimensions of 3 metres wide with 4 metres vertical clearance, located within 20 metres of the property boundary.
It can be created by:
- ploughing
- cultivating
- scarifying
- burning; or
- clearing, including slashing and maintaining vegetation length below 50mm.
Provisions of a trafficable area must be maintained for the duration of the fire season.
Hazard Specific Fire Breaks
Are a 3 metre low fuel area around inflammable hazards with vegetation maintained below 50mm. Includes but is not limited to; haystacks, non-dwelling sheds, green electricity power domes, electricity power poles and fuel storage areas.
Variation to Requirements of the Notice
The City recognises that in some instances, land owners or occupiers may not physically be able to meet all of the fire management measures listed in the Fire Management Notice.
If you cannot meet these Fire Management Notice requirements, you must apply for a variation or submit an approved Bush Fire Management Plan (BFMP).
Applications for variations must be submitted to the City of Albany by the 01 October 2026.
Variation Considerations
A variation may be considered for the following reasons:
- Property is steep and inaccessible and the installation of firebreaks or other fire mitigation measures would be dangerous or impractical.
- Areas of rocky outcrops or cap stone naturally reduces the fire risk or prevents fire breaks from being installed.
- Parts of the property is permanently water logged. (If only seasonally water logged, the Fire Management Requirements must be met as soon as the area has dried out sufficiently.)
- Clearing of vegetation is likely to impact upon areas of declared rare flora or environmentally sensitive areas as defined under the Environmental Protection (Clearing of Native Vegetation) Regulations 2004.
- Building positioning on block prevents the installation of an Building Protection Zone of the required size.
- For properties over 50ha that are bona fide agricultural operations:
- the grazing of stock that results in grassland being maintained at a height of 50mm or less;
- seasonal cropping that results in low fuel load being maintained. (Please note that the fire management requirements relating to Agricultural and Machinery Operations must be complied with.).
Where a variation has been approved, any special conditions that have been placed on the variation must be complied with. Any requirements stipulated in the Notice for which a variation has not been granted must still be met.
How to apply for a variation:
- Fill in a Variation to the Fire Management Notice (incomplete applications will not be processed.)
- Include a detailed, legible current map showing alternative fire mitigation measures
- Applications can only be made by land owners or by a person authorised to act on their behalf.
- The City will notify the applicant in writing of the outcome of the application.
- Where a fire management plan is provided as part of the application, it must be completed by an accredited Bushfire Planning and Design (BPAD) practitioner. Visit the Fire Protection Association (FPA) Australia at http://www.fpaa.com.au/bpad/practitioners.aspx to contact a BPAD practitioner.
- Applications submitted to City of Albany, North Road Administration Building or email [email protected]
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