Harvest, Vehicle Movement & Hot Works Ban

The Harvest, Vehicle Movement & Hot Works Ban, once declared by the Shire of Toodyay, prohibits all harvesting operations, all vehicle movements on a property (some exceptions apply, as listed below) and all hot works - such as welding, grinding and the use of abrasive tools - within the Shire. These bans are issued under Bush Fires Regulations 1954 38A, 38B and 38C; or where a Total Fire Ban is in effect, Bush Fires Regulations 1954 24C.

When a ban is declared, it is advertised on ABC local radio and via the Shire’s Harvest, Vehicle Movement & Hot Works Ban SMS Notification Service.

Any of the abovementioned operations already underway when a ban is declared must cease immediately.

A Harvest, Vehicle Movement & Hot Works Ban remains in place until midnight on the day declared, or until lifted (revoked) by the Shire.

A ban may be declared for the following reasons:

• Unfavourable fire weather conditions
• Depletion of firefighting resources due to existing firefighting commitments
• Public holidays (e.g. Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and Australia Day)

During a Harvest, Vehicle Movement & Hot Works Ban, the Shire permits:

• Vehicle movement on a road or driveway that provides the safest, most direct access to or a parking facility at any residential, farming or business premises - if the area has been sufficiently cleared of inflammable material to prevent the escape of fire
• Vehicle movement for the purpose of prevention or attendance of an immediate and serious risk to the health or safety of a person or livestock, where all reasonable precautions have been taken to prevent the use or operation from causing a bush fire – this includes, but is not limited to, the presence of sufficient firefighting resources and use of diesel-powered vehicles only
• Vehicle movement involved in direct firefighting operations
• Vehicle movement and works by Western Power or approved contractors undertaking essential service restoration, where all reasonable precautions have been taken to prevent the use or operation from causing a bush fire – this includes, but is not limited to, the presence of sufficient firefighting resources and use of diesel-powered vehicles only