Burning off
Burning off during the fire danger period
During the fire danger period, burning off is not allowed unless you have a permit to burn. Permits are limited for Agricultural
or Quarantine purposes. Applications are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Burning off outside the fire danger period
If your land is 4,000 square metres or less
You must apply for a permit to light a fire in the open air on land, including in an incinerator, if your land is 4,000 square
metres or less, unless:
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you are using a barbecue, pizza oven or other properly constructed appliance for cooking food
you are using a fire in a brazier or chimenea for heating
you are using a tool of trade for the purpose for which it was designed
a member of a fire and emergency services agency lights a fire during the course of their duty
the Council grants you a permit to light a fire because the circumstances of the case allow it to provide an exemption to
the land size restriction of 4,000 square metres or less.
If your land is above 4,000 square metres, but less than 40,000 square
metres
You don't need a permit to light a fire in the open air on land, including in an incinerator, if:
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you do not light a fire or allow it to remain alight before 9am or after 6pm on any day.
you do not burn more than 10 cubic metres of vegetation at any one time
the fire is not within 50 metres of any neighbouring dwelling
the fire is not offensive and does not cause any nuisance to another person in the vicinity or outside of the property
boundary.
If your land is above 40,000 square metres
You don't need a permit to light a fire in the open air on land, including in an incinerator, if:
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you do not burn more than 100 cubic metres (e.g. 5 metres wide x 5 metres long x 4 metres high) of vegetation at any
one time
the fire is not within 100 metres of any neighbouring dwelling
the fire is not offensive and does not cause any nuisance to another person in the vicinity or beyond the property
boundary.
Applying for a permit
To apply for a permit to burn, complete an application form and submit it to the Council. See attached form in New Farmers
Information Pack.
Requirements to reduce nuisance from burning off
Even if you have a permit to burn, you must ensure that:
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the fire is not offensive or a nuisance to another person in the area or outside of the property boundary
the fire does not cause a hazard to any person's health
the fire does not affect visibility outside of the property boundary, this includes reducing visibility for motorists and other
users of a public road
the fire does not create a hazard on or near a public road
the fire is supervised by an adult at all times
sufficient fire protection equipment is available to extinguish the fire if required
the vegetation to be burnt must be dead and dry before you light it
the wind speed at the site of the fire must not be more than 15 kilometres an hour (8 knots).
You must not burn or cause to be burnt any:
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green or wet material
non timber based building materials
rubber or plastic, including plastic mulch, plant pots and packaging materials
furnishings and carpets
manufactured chemicals
petroleum or oil products
paint, including any container in which paint is kept
food waste
manure and straw
household waste
other offensive, noxious or toxic matter.
Sourced: 9 September 2015