Council’s sustainability manager Dean Chapman said the policy was developed in response to community demand for a simple approval process for open burning. 

The policy relates to properties greater than 4000 square metres and zoned Environmental, Rural Landscape, Primary Production, Private Recreation or Transition.

“In response to community demand for a simple approval process for open burning across the city, council requested that the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) modify the Protection of the Environment Operations (Clean Air) Regulation (2010), to grant ‘approval authority’ for open burning in the city to council,” Mr Chapman said.

“The EPA amended the Regulation in late 2016 to allow council to provide approval for open burning subject to the provisions of council’s policy on control of open burning.

“The policy provides for a deemed approval for properties zoned E2-4-Environmental, RE2-Private Recreation,RU2-Rural Landscape, RU4-Primary Production Small Lots, or RU6-Transition under the Lake Macquarie Local Environmental Plan 2014; that are greater than 4000 square metres in size. 

“Owners and occupiers of these properties will be permitted to burn dead and dry vegetative waste from their properties, only in accordance with the policy prescriptions.”

During the bushfire danger period (October 1 to March 31), a fire permit is still required from the local fire authority, and no-burn notices and total fire bans still apply.