Open Burn Policy

Thank you for your input into a proposal that will allow owners of some rural properties to burn dead and dry vegetation on their property, in a controlled and safe manner (in the form of a pile-burn).

Currently, under the NSW Protection of the Environment Operations (Clean Air) Regulation 2010, the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is the Approval Authority for open burning in Lake Macquarie City.

Council has resolved to amend the Policy of Control of Open Burning, and these amendments are currently underway. Council will then begin the process for assessing the potential impact of the revised policy measures. Once this is done, the policy and supporting documentation will be sent to the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) as a package, to request an amendment to the Protection of the Environment Operations (Clean Air) Regulation, which will result in Council becoming the approval authority for open burning, subject to the EPA's decision.