Blue Mountains News

While the updated policy applies to most properties that were covered by the previous standing approval, and there are now a significant number of additional properties in outlying areas. 

Council encourages residents to check its interactive mapping site to determine if the approval applies to their land, as a small number of properties that were previously subject to the standing approval are not covered by the revised policy. Anyone eligible needs to download the latest approval document from Council’s website and discard any old versions.

Burning of vegetation for the purposes of waste disposal is regulated at state level and this imposes a general obligation to prevent or minimise air pollution while allowing Council to approve the burning of dead and dry vegetation on the property that it grew.

The following locations are now approved to conduct minor burns of vegetation subject to the approval from Council:

•     All property zoned as RU2 (Rural Landscape) or RU4 (Primary Production Small Lots).
•     Private land zones as C3 (Environmental Management) where at least 1,200m2 of the property is covered by this zoning.
•     Private land zones as C4 (Environmental Living) where at least 20,000m2 (2 hectares) of the property is covered by this zoning.

Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill said: “Council has struck a balance between the varying needs of residents, including those who live in rural areas and those in our more urban centres.

“It’s important to note that Council receives regular concerns about neighbourhood smoke from backyard burning, so we need to consider our commitment to clean and unpolluted air in our urbanised areas, and the impact of smoke on neighbours and the whole community, particularly those who are vulnerable.

“In these areas, we need to restrict the use of fire as a waste disposal technique and consider the other options available, including recycling, re-use and composting of garden waste.”

For material that cannot be managed on the property, Council provides a range of options for green waste, including the residential green bin, kerbside collection, and there is a free kerbside chipping service in August to help residents to prepare for bushfire season (bookings close 30 July). Residents can also drop off material at the Katoomba or Blaxland Waste Management Facilities or use a commercial rubbish removal service.

“However, we live in a bushfire prone area, and it is sometimes necessary for residents in more remote or rural areas to clear vegetation on their property, with the correct Council approval,” Cr Greenhill said.

For more information, mapping and the new approval document, go to: here

For more information on safe burning: here