Large property landowners, within prescribed zones across the Central Coast are allowed to carry out open pile burning of dry and dead vegetation on their property subject to a number of conditions.

This follows Council’s adoption of the Central Coast Open Pile Burning Policy on 27 May 2019 and Council’s recent notification to the NSW Environment Protection Authority that Council would allow residents to undertake open pile burning due to the possibility of an earlier bushfire season.  Central Coast Council is awaiting the formal amendment of the Protection of the Environment (Clean Air) Regulation 2010 in line with Council’s Open Pile Burning Policy.

Landowners do not require a permit to undertake open pile burning from Council, but they must provide 24 hours notice of their intention to undertake open pile burning to either NSW Rural Fire Service Central Coast District Office, Fire and Rescue NSW Central Coast Office or their local fire station.

Vegetation burning must be undertaken in a safe manner and follow the conditions of consent set out in Central Coast Council’s Open Pile Burning Policy.  These conditions include land parcels greater than 4000m2 within prescribed zones, the size of vegetation piles, safety precautions, minimising smoke hazard, notification to adjacent property occupiers and adherence to total fire ban periods. 

Search open pile burning at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au for more information.