Greater Shepparton City Council is reminding farmers and landholders of the importance of protecting paddock trees during stubble burns, ensuring compliance with legal requirements and best practice land management.
In Summary
- Council reminds farmers and landholders to protect paddock trees during stubble burns and comply with legal requirements.
- Paddock trees provide vital benefits including livestock shelter, improved productivity and habitat for native wildlife and pollinators.
- Precautionary measures include creating firebreaks, following Council, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action and CFA regulations, and registering burns with Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority.
- Landholders are responsible for fire management on their property and must ensure burns are properly controlled to prevent damage.
Paddock trees play a crucial role in the agricultural landscape, providing livestock with shelter from extreme temperatures, improving productivity, and supporting biodiversity. These trees also serve as vital habitat for native birds, bats, and pollinators, which contribute to pest control and crop production.
Council's Manager Environment, Sharon Terry, urged landholders to take necessary precautions when planning and conducting stubble burns.
"It is illegal to remove, lop or destroy native vegetation, including paddock trees and standing dead trees without a planning permit" she said.
"These iconic trees are vital to a healthy environment, and their protection during stubble burns is essential."
To minimise the risk to paddock trees, landholders should:
- Establish a firebreak of at least three metres from the drip line of each tree.
- Adhere to all Council, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) and CFA regulations.
- Avoid conducting burns on Total Fire Ban days.
- Check the weather forecast for the burn day and subsequent days.
- Notify neighbours before conducting a burn.
