Harvest Safety 

Protecting Our Community During Bushfire Season

Harvesting plays an important role in our local economy, but it also coincides with the year’s highest bushfire risk period. Hot, dry and windy conditions, combined with machinery, vehicles and field operations, can quickly lead to accidental ignition and fast-moving fires.

As the Shire enters the bushfire season and the Prohibited Burning Period, it is essential that landowners, contractors and operators remain vigilant, understand their responsibilities, and follow harvest safety requirements, including monitoring Fire Danger Ratings and any Harvest and Vehicle Movement Bans that may be declared.

By adopting safe harvesting practices, staying informed, and taking preventative measures, we can safeguard lives, livelihoods, and our volunteer emergency services throughout the summer months.

 

Firefighting Capacity Requirements for Harvesting

The requirement for the ratio of harvesters to firefighting units was a resolution endorsed by the Shire’s Bushfire Advisory Committee in April 2015 and formally adopted by Council in May 2015. The approved ratios and minimum firefighting capacity are:

Number of Headers or Harvester

Equivalent Fire Fighting Capacity

1

1 x mobile fire fighting unit (minimum 600 litre water capacity)

2

1 x mobile fire fighting unit (minimum 600 litre water capacity)

3 or more

2 x mobile fire fighting units (minimum 1200 litre capacity)

or;

1x mobile fire fighting  unit (minimum 600 litre capacity) and 1 x trailer mounted unit of at least 600 litre capacity)