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How do I identify native vegetation in my area and remove it responsibly?
Can I clear tree limbs overhanging my house and shed?
How much native vegetation can I clear around my house, shed or other buildings?
If I have a large eucalypt tree within 20 metres of my house can I clear it?
If I have a large pine tree within 20 metres of my house can I clear it?
What if I want to clear a large tree located 20 to 50 metres from my house?
I have a large tree on my property. How do I know if it is significant? Can I clear it for fire prevention?
What if I want to clear beyond what is allowed by the native vegetation regulations?
Can I clear vegetation by burning?
What is a fire-break?
I would like to create a fire-break around my property boundary. What do I need to consider?
How do I go about undertaking more extensive fuel reduction works on my property?
Where can I find information on fire protection works involving the clearance of native vegetation?
Where can I get advice on fire protection works on my property, including the clearance of native vegetation?
I am planning some fuel reduction works on my property. How can I find out which plants are native and if I need approval under the Native Vegetation Act?
What do I need to consider when landscaping or planning a garden for fire protection?
Can you recommend a list of plants that can reduce the impact of bushfire on my property?
What do I need to consider when starting to prepare my family and property for bushfire?
How can I identify potential fire hazards around my home?
What is a Bushfire Action Plan?
What is a Property Bushfire Prevention Plan?
Where can I get further information?
If you require assistance identifying native vegetation contact the Native Vegetation Council who can assist and provide advice on its responsible removal.
Click here for the Native Vegetation Council’s contact details.
Need more information?
Visit the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation’s website.
Download guidelines detailing the requirements of Regulations 5(1)(k) and 5(1)(ka) for the clearance of native vegetation associated with fire prevention around dwellings and other buildings.
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Yes, you can clear tree limbs overhanging your house or shed provided that you meet the following requirements of Regulation 5(1)(la), which are as follows:
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Information about how much native vegetation you can clear around your house (Regulation 5(1)(k)), shed or other property buildings (Regulation 5(1)(ka)) can be found on the
Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation's website.
Need more information?
Download an information sheet about the requirements of Regulations dealing with clearance around houses and sheds [5(1)(k) and 5(1)(ka)].
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Yes, but you need written advice from the SA Country Fire Service (CFS) - Development Assessment Unit stating that the removal is necessary for fire safety.
To access the relevant CFS contact information for your property click here and select your Region.
Need more information?
Visit the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation's website.
Download guidelines detailing the requirements of Regulations 5(1)(k) and 5(1)(ka) for the clearance of native vegetation associated with fire prevention around dwellings and other buildings.
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It depends on the type of species of pine tree. Pinus radiata, the most common type of pine tree, is not protected by the Native Vegetation Act 1991, but some individual trees may be considered
‘significant’. In some of the drier parts of the state some pine trees may be native. More information on significant trees can be found on the Planning SA website.
Not sure what type of pine tree is on your property? Send the Native Vegetation Council some photographs. Officers in the Native Vegetation Council will let you know whether they can identify the tree or whether more information is required.
Click here for the Native Vegetation Council’s contact details.
Need more information?
Download the guidelines detailing the requirements of Regulations 5(1)(k) and 5(1)(ka) for the clearance of native vegetation associated with fire prevention around dwellings and other buildings.
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Consult your local CFS Regional Prevention Officer, your local council’s District Bushfire Prevention Committee or the Native Vegetation Council for approval to clear native vegetation more than 20 metres
from around your house or to clear large trees that are a fire risk.
For permission to undertake clearance of native vegetation beyond what is allowed by these regulations, prepare a Property Bushfire Prevention Plan and submit it to the NVC. Contact the NVC for further information.
To access the relevant CFS contact information for your property click here and select your Region.
Need more information?
For more information on the clearance of native vegetation around houses and sheds visit the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation's website.
Download guidelines detailing the requirements of Regulations 5(1)(k) and 5(1)(ka) for the clearance of native vegetation associated with fire prevention around dwellings and other buildings.
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South Australia's significant tree controls came into effect on 20 April 2000 through amendments to the Development Act 1993 and the Development Regulations. More information can be found on the
Planning SA website.
Your local council will also be able to provide advice about significant trees. Visit the Local Government Association of South Australia's website to find the contact details of your local council.
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You will need to develop a Property Bushfire Prevention Plan.
To develop a Property Bushfire Prevention Plan you will need to fill out the following form and template:
Available to download from the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation’s website.
Need more information?
Click here for the Native Vegetation Council’s contact details.
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The SA Country Fire Service (CFS) has developed a fact sheet which discusses burning as an option to clear vegetation during and outside of the fire danger season. The fact sheet also includes safe
practice procedures and requirements around native vegetation when carrying out a burn off. Click here to download the fact sheet.
Your local council will also be able to provide advice on fire protection works on your property. Click here to visit the Local Government
Association of South Australia's website to find the contact details of your local council and ask to speak with your local Fire Prevention Officer.
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A fire-break (or fuel-break) is a zone of cleared land designed to protect your property from surrounding bushland and grassland.
The SA Country Fire Service (CFS) has developed a fact sheet which discusses types of fire–breaks (or fuel-breaks). Click here
to download the fact sheet.
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Information about clearing vegetation to create a fire-break around your property is listed in Regulations 5(1)(v) and 5(1)(w), and can be found on the
Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation's website by clicking here.
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If you want to undertake more extensive fuel reduction works on your property and those works involve the clearance of native vegetation, information about the requirements are listed in
Regulation 5(1)(m) and explained on the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation's website by clicking here.
Need more information?
Click here for the Native Vegetation Council’s contact details.
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Information about fire protection works and native vegetation can be found on the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation's website by clicking here.
There is also information about the Bushfire Code of Practice which has been jointly developed by the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation, Department of Heritage and Environment, South
Australian Country Fire Service and the Native Vegetation Council. The Code is available on the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation's website by clicking
here.
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You can get advice on fire protection works on your property from the SA Country Fire Service or, where this involves the clearance of native vegetation, the Native Vegetation Council.
To access the relevant CFS contact information for your property click here and select your Region.
Need more information?
Click here for the Native Vegetation Council’s contact details.
More contact information can be found on the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation’s website by clicking here.
Your local council will also be able to provide advice on fire protection works on your property.
Click here to visit the Local Government Association of South Australia's website to find the contact details of your local council and ask to
speak with your local Fire Prevention Officer.
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If you are planning fuel reduction works on your property and need help identifying plants which are native please contact the Native Vegetation Council here.
More contact information can be found on the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation’s website by clicking here.
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The SA Country Fire Service (CFS) has developed a fact sheet which details things you need to consider when landscaping for fire protection. Click
here to download the fact sheet.
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The SA Country Fire Service (CFS) has developed a fact sheet which provides helpful advice on appropriate plants. Click here
to download the fact sheet.
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There are a number of things you can do to make your property safer during a bushfire. These include:
Click here to download a copy of the ‘Preparing your home for a bushfire’ brochure.
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The SA Country Fire Service (CFS) has developed a fact sheet which provides helpful advice on identifying hazards around your home. Click here
to download the fact sheet.
This information sheet should be read in conjunction with information sheets prepared by the Native Vegetation Council for clearance of native vegetation around houses.
Click here to view the Native Vegetation information sheet.
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A Bushfire Action Plan will help you decide what to do in the event of a bushfire. Will you leave your home and go early or prepare to stay and defend your property?
Your Plan will outline the work required to help safeguard your property and, most importantly, what actions each member of your family will take on high fire risk days and if a fire threatens.
Every Bushfire Action Plan will be different. Start your Bushfire Action Plan today. Download a template from the SA Country Fire Service (CFS) website to help you develop your Plan. Contact the CFS to obtain the
“Bushfire Ready” educational DVD.
To access the relevant CFS contact information for your property click here and select your Region.
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The Native Vegetations Council’s (NVC) Property Bushfire Prevention Plan can be developed for individual properties. However, to ensure that safety measures are consistent and extend across the landscape
and across property boundaries, the NVC encourages the development of Plans for a district or at least a group of properties.
Plans may be prepared by an individual landholder, groups of landholders, or your local council.
By developing a Property Bushfire Prevention Plan, you can seek further clearance of native vegetation for fire prevention purposes. An approved Plan is only required when clearance is sought beyond what is
allowed by the regulations (refer to page 2 under ‘Clear native vegetation‘).
Your Plan may include:
establishing larger fuel breaks reducing and managing fuel loads on roadsides identifying and then managing fuel reduction zones identifying and maintaining access tracks that may be necessary should a bushfire occur.
Talk with your local council before developing a Property Bushfire Prevention Plan. Click here to visit the Local Government Association of
South Australia's website to find the contact details of your local council and ask to speak with your local Fire Prevention Officer.
Submit your Plan to the NVC for consideration and approval – all for no cost. For further information contact the NVC. Click here for the Native Vegetation Council’s contact details.
You can download the Property Bushfire Prevention Plan form and template below:
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SA Country Fire Service (CFS) has a number of fact sheets that have more detailed information on bushfire prevention available on their website. Click here
to view the list of brochures.
Native Vegetation Council has a number of fact sheets that have more detailed information about the management of native vegetation available on their website. Click here to visit
their website.
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