BURNING IN DISTRICT COUNCIL OF COOBER PEDY
The Environment Protection (Air Quality) Policy 2016 which was created by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) came into effect in July 2016. This provides a legislative basis for air quality regulation and management throughout the state to regulate air emissions, including those from wood heaters and burning in the open.
The intent of the Air Quality Policy is to better protect and improve the health of South Australians and the environment through improved air quality.
The introduction of this Policy has resulted in a number of changes to controls relating to burning in the open.
Most notably, there has been a change to Burning in Townships where smoke and burning in the open is an issue of concern to the community and its impact on air quality and amenity are well recognised.
The Country Fire Service (CFS) (Personal Comfort and cooking fires Code of Practice) provide that fires in the township which usually don’t require a permit are:
- Cooking food or heating drinks.
- Outdoor heating using a brazier, chiminea, or fire pit burning clean, dry timber, charcoal, or plant matter only
- Small recreational campfires where permitted.
- Even where burning is allowed, you must never burn plastics, rubber, painted/treated timber, wet vegetation, or general garbage
For any other fires in the township outside of the bushfire season a PERMIT is required and the following conditions must be adhered to:
Contact the Council before lighting the fire –
Only burn between the hours of 10am and 3pm Monday to Friday and Saturday. Sundays and public holidays are not permitted
Ensure a space immediately around and about the fire is cleared of all flammable material to a distance of at least four (4) metres
Ensure a sufficient supply of water to extinguish the fire is on hand at all times
Ensure a person (over the age of 16 years) who is able to control the fire is present at the site of the fire from the time it is lit to the time it is completely extinguished
Only dry timber, timber derivative, dried garden cuttings or dried weeds may be burnt. No rubbish or other materials are permitted
Don’t burn timber with any chemical preservatives (eg permapine, creosote). Burning any prohibited substances is also illegal. These substances include manufactured wood products, plastics and rubber, household refuse and rubbish, chemicals and paints, green or wet vegetation. If unsure check the EPA website
Consider your neighbours and let them know of your intention prior to lighting the fire where smoke is likely to cross their property. People’s health may be adversely affected by smoke.
If asked by the CFS or Council officers to extinguish the fire you must comply
Remember, no fires are permitted on a total fire ban day under any circumstances
Before burning off, check the CFS and EPA websites for any further conditions in your area
In an emergency contact 000