Harvest Vehicle Movement Ban 

In accordance with the Bush Fire Regulations 1954 (r.24C and r.38A) the Shire of Kondinin Chief Bushfire Control Officer (CBFCO) has the ability to impose a ban on the use or operation of any engine, vehicle, plant, equipment or machinery in the area. This is for the purpose of restricting activities that are likely to cause a bushfire or contribute to the spread of a bushfire when the expected weather condition indicates that if a wildfire was to start it would be dangerous, destructive and difficult to stop once started.

This ban is commonly referred to as a Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban (HVMB).

There are two types of HVMBs:

  • During a Total Fire Ban (r.24C) - when the Fire Behaviour Index (FBI) reaches or exceeds 40, banning off-road, harvesting and agricultural activities.
  • During Restricted and Prohibited Burning Periods (r.38A) – at the discretion of the CBFCO, banning any activity (as determined by the Shire) in its entirety or additional conditions can be imposed not specific to vegetated land.

Further information about recent changes to the Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS) and FBI’s can be found HERE

ACTIVITIES THAT MAY BE BANNED DURING A HVMB

Subject to the type of HVMB declared by the Shire of Kondinin (24C or 38A), the following activities may be banned:

  • Off-road activities
  • Harvesting operations and agriculture activities
  • Use or operation of any engine, vehicle, plant, equipment or machinery in the area likely to cause a bushfire or contribute to the spread of a bushfire (eg. motorbikes, quad bikes or other motorised vehicles in bush or off-road areas including paddocks).

ACTIVITIES THAT ARE ALLOWED DURING A HVMB

  • Movement of vehicles on “gazetted roads”– as described in Bush Fires regulation 24A(1) and Road Traffic Act 1974 section 5.1.
  • Movement of vehicles on a lane, driveway, yard or other areas that provide access to, or a parking facility at, any residential, farming or business premises, if the site has been sufficiently cleared of inflammable material to prevent the escape of fire.
  • Use or operation of a vehicle if it is for the prevention of an immediate and severe risk to the health or safety of a person or livestock, and only if all reasonable precautions have been taken to prevent the activity from creating a bushfire danger.

HOW TO FIND OUT IF THERE IS A HVMB?

There are several ways you can find out if an HVMB has been declared:

  • Read the alerts on this website
  • Listen to ABC Local Radio
  • Through the Shire’s SMS notification system.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHIRE’S SMS NOTIFICATION SERVICE

To subscribe to the Shire’s SMS notification system, email your full name, phone number & email address to eso@kondinin.wa.gov.au.

**Important note: This SMS text is only a notification service. It is your responsibility to determine if a ban has been imposed and to establish whether any planned activity is permitted when a ban is in place**