New fire safety rules may threaten sensitive areas: Cr says
New fire safety rules may threaten sensitive areas: Cr says
07 October 2014
published by www.northernstar.com
Australia — BYRON Council this Thursday will consider a motion to write to the State Government about perceived shortfalls in the newly enacted 10/50 Vegetation Clearing Entitlement Code of Practice.
Introduced on August 1, the new code of practice allows eligible land owners living within 150 metres of Category 1 and Category 2 Bush Fire Prone Land to remove trees within 10 metres of their home, as well as vegetation within 50 metres, without state or local approval, on their own land.
Cr Duncan Dey, who will introduce the motion, said the new code of practice had the potential to become an issue in Byron Shire
“I have no problem with clearing land for bushfire safety,” he said.
“But with the dense coverage of bush we have here, there may be some ecologically sensitive vegetation within 50 metres of some eligible properties which could be removed without recourse to council.
“We already have mechanisms in place where you can get good advice from the council ecologist and Rural Fire Service (RFS) regarding fire safety and tree preservation.”
