The rules of a Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban are the same for everyone, but farmers have unique concerns during a Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban.
I need to drive into a paddock to feed my livestock. I'm exempt from this ban, right?
Wrong.
Any ‘off road activity’ is banned during a Movement Ban. The definition of ‘off road’ includes paddocks and the definition of ‘activity’ is the ‘use of anything activated by an internal combustion engine’, so that would cover your ute, tractor, bobcat, telehandler or any other implement you might use to feed your livestock.
It's important to note: Movement Bans are usually declared for a specific time period during a day, for example, from 7am until 5pm. You can drive into your paddocks to feed your livestock before or after the Movement Ban, just not during.
What about checking my livestock? Summer is calving time!
You can drive on your laneways on your property if they are sufficiently cleared of flammable material (think a proper gravel road, not a grassed laneway or firebreak) but you cannot drive into your paddocks unless there is an immediate and serious risk to the health and safety of a person or livestock.
While the ban is in place, you must walk your paddocks to check your livestock and water points. If this is not possible, you should perform your checks early in the morning before a Movement Ban is declared. If you have concern for an animal, it’s a good idea to move it to an accessible location before the ban comes into effect.
If, during the day while the ban is on, you identify a seriously and immediately threatened animal or a critical water outage to a stocked paddock, you can drive on to address the issue. If you do this, you must be extra vigilant, on the lookout for fire and take all reasonable precautions to prevent the creation of a bushfire danger (i.e. access the paddock in a ute or truck with your firefighting unit mounted and filled).
How do I register to get an SMS to notify me of a Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban?
Please complete our SMS Alerts System registration form.
I run an earthworks/slashing/roadworks/construction/tree-lopping or similar business. Can I continue operating as normal under a movement ban?
No.
When a Movement Ban is declared, it means the district is facing exceptionally dangerous fire weather conditions. Exceptional circumstances call for exceptional measures, so a Movement Ban day is a good day to spend some time in your shed catching up on equipment maintenance, bookwork or, perhaps consider taking the day off.
When a Total Fire Ban is declared, businesses can register with DFES to receive a permit to continue work, but these permits are void if a Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban is declared.
How do I register to get an SMS to notify me of a Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban?
Please complete our SMS Alerts System registration form.
