Fined for ignoring ‘fire’ notice

THE owner of a vacant Lynbrook property was fined and placed on a good behaviour bond after of failing to comply with the directions of a fire prevention notice.
Casey council successfully prosecuted the owner of Lynbrook Residential Investments in the Dandenong Magistrates’ Court in April.
The defendant was found guilty of one charge of failing to comply with the directions of a fire prevention notice.
After pleading guilty, he was sentenced without conviction and placed on a good behaviour bond for 12 months.
He was also ordered to pay council’s costs of $3069 and donate $1000 to the CFA.
City of Casey mayor Sam Aziz said the large property was covered in excessively long, dry grass and adjoined a high dependency palliative care facility that was potentially vulnerable in the event of a fire spreading across this property.
Cr Aziz said the prosecution served as a reminder to all property owners of their obligations to regularly check and maintain their vacant blocks.
“It is a requirement under council’s City of Casey Community Local Law that grass be kept below 30 centimetres in height throughout the year, with the only exception being when the land is otherwise utilised for feeding livestock.
“Long grass not only poses a significant fire risk in the warmer months, but is also unsightly and can harbour vermin all year round.
“Now that the fire season has ended, residents with vacant property need to ensure they continue to maintain their blocks to a standard that is not detrimental to the general amenity of the neighbourhood, and that won’t encourage vermin in built up areas.
“Council is frequently asked by concerned residents to investigate long grass and unsightly property complaints, and will take compliance action where breaches of the Local Law or Country Fire Authority Act are detected.
“Council urges vacant property owners to develop their own maintenance program that prompts them to regularly inspect and treat their properties when they see the grass getting too long, particularly throughout the warmer months.“