Harvest and Vehicle Movement Bans - Christmas, Boxing Day & New Year 2023/24

Published on Sunday, 24 December 2023 at 8:05:00 AM

Harvest and Vehicle Movement Bans will be in place for Christmas and New Year public holidays including:

• Monday 25 December 2023 (Christmas Day)
• Tuesday 26 December 2023 (Boxing Day)
• Monday 1 January 2024 (New Year's Day)

Harvest & Vehicle Movement Bans and Total Fire Bans are also likely on days during the rest of this period.

To keep up to date on when these bans are announced, here are some resources:

• Current incidents and emergencies - www.emergency.wa.gov.au
• Current Total Fire Bans - www.emergency.wa.gov.au/#totalfirebans
• Sign up for SMS Warnings - https://www.chittering.wa.gov.au/services/emergency-services/smswarning.aspx

Avoid activities in hot weather that could cause a spark, be prepared, always have a water source available.

ACTIVITIES NOT PERMITTED DURING THE PERIOD OF THE BAN

1. Harvesting operations are not permitted.
2. All off-road activity is banned, regardless of whether it is for agricultural purposes or work being conducted by business, industry and public authorities.
3. Off-road includes areas such as paddocks, bushland, uncleared land and land with stubble or long grass, refer to regulation 24ZH(2)(b) of the Bush Fire Regulations1954.
4. Off-road activity includes the use of anything activated by an internal combustion engine used off-road e.g. motor bikes, quad bikes, excavators, chain saws, ride on lawn mowers and generators.

ACTIVITIES PERMITTED DURING THE PERIOD OF THE BAN

1. Use or operation of any vehicle on “gazetted roads”, lanes, driveways, yards or other areas that provide access to, or a parking facility at, any residential, farming or business premises, if the area has been sufficiently cleared of inflammable material to prevent the escape of fire (regulation 24A(3) Bush Fires Regulations 1954).
2. Use or operation of a vehicle for the prevention of an immediate and serious risk to the health or safety of a person or livestock, and only if all reasonable precautions have been taken to prevent the activity from creating a bush fire danger. (regulation 24(4) Bush Fires Regulations 1954).
3. Urgent work on infrastructure carried out by an essential service can continue, but only when the prescribed conditions in Division 9 of the Bush Fires Regulations 1954 are complied with. Urgent works, in relation to infrastructure used in the provision of an essential service is defined as repairs or maintenance necessary for the continued provision, or restoration, of the service. Essential services: water supply, sewerage or drainage services; electricity or gas services; telecommunications services; public transport services

Back to All News