Notice not fair: owner

The owner of a vacant residential block of land, who received a Rockingham City Council infringement notice for failure to comply with the council’s firebreak regulations, has called the action unfair.

Michael Thorpe of Thornlie bought the Lewington Street block a year ago, and has been battling with the council for nearly three months to overturn the $250 infringement notice.

He said he received a letter informing him that he had failed to comply with the Bushfires Act and was ordered to pay the fine, plus $133.10 for work completed by the council.

But Mr Thorpe claims he did not receive a warning notice about his failure to comply and was unaware that a firebreak was required on his block.

The block is less than 500sq m and fully fenced.

‘‘It’s really ignorance on my behalf,’’ he said.

‘‘If I got a (warning) letter I would have been straight down and done it.’’ Mr Thorpe said although he believed the work done on his property did not meet council standards, he would be willing to pay for the clearing, but not the fine.

‘‘It’s just revenue raising,’’ he said.

However, the council has refused to revoke the fine, stating that adequate information was provided about firebreaks.

Rockingham Mayor Barry Sammels said 129 firebreak infringement notices had been issued since the beginning of bushfire season last November to early March.

The year before, 300 were issued.

He said a Fire Control Notice was sent to all property owners annually and published in local newspapers and the Government Gazette.

‘‘All vacant residential blocks should have a firebreak or the entire block should be cleared of vegetation to a height of 50mm,’’ he said.

‘‘If firebreaks are not cleared or completed, property owners risk receiving a $250 infringement plus the costs to carry out the required works.’’

MrThorpe said he had not seen any newspaper advertisements because he did not live in the area.

He claimed that other councils provided warning letters and gave property owners the opportunity to take action before fines were issued.

‘‘It’s just not good enough,’’ he said.