The situation
A landholder is preparing their property for the bushfire season. As part of this, they maintain a firebreak around existing infrastructure. This helps:
- reduce bushfire risk
- protect people, buildings and stock.
The firebreak has been maintained each year since 1995. Over time, some vegetation has grown back within the firebreak area.
Proposed activity
The landholder will:
- re-establish a 20-metre-wide firebreak around existing infrastructure
- carry out work within the same area as the existing firebreak
- remove only minor regrowth since the last maintenance
- make sure the firebreak meets state planning and fire management rules.
Key considerations
- This is routine maintenance, not new development or expansion.
- The firebreak has been maintained since 1995.
- Any clearing is limited to minor regrowth in an already cleared area.
- The work helps protect life and property and aligns with state requirements.
- The activity does not involve new clearing, land use change, or impacts on Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES).
Outcome
No EPBC Act self-assessment or referral is required.
This activity is exempt because it involves ongoing maintenance of an existing firebreak within the same area.
If the landholder plans to create a new firebreak, widen it, or clear land that has not been maintained before, a self-assessment may be needed. If this shows potential impacts on MNES, a referral may be required.