FORESTS ACT 1958 - SECT 65 Enforcement of burning off etc. near State forest or national park

FORESTS ACT 1958 - SECT 65

S. 65(1) amended by No. 6870 s. 2(a), S.R. No. 258/1974 reg. 10(a), Nos 8587 s. 8, 41/1987 s. 103(Sch. 4 item 24.71).

    (1)     Any authorised officer if he deems it necessary so to do for the prevention of fire may in writing direct any owner or occupier or person or body of persons having the control or management of any land within 1·5 kilometres of the boundary of any State forest protected public land or national park—

S. 65(1)(a) substituted by No. 8035 s. 7(a).

        (a)     to remove, destroy by burning or abate in any manner directed, a fire hazard on such land;

S. 65(1)(b) amended by S.R. No. 258/1974 reg. 10(b), Nos 41/1987 s. 103(Sch. 4 item 24.70), 96/1994 s. 56(f), 76/1998

s. 10(1)(q).

        (b)     where the Secretary within the State forest or protected public land or national park and adjoining any such land has carried out or is carrying out any work for fire prevention or control—to carry out on such land adjoining and within 50 metres of the boundary of the State forest protected public land or national park similar work for fire prevention or control as directed by the authorised officer.

S. 65(2) amended by Nos 8035 s. 7(b), 41/1987 s. 103(Sch. 4 item 24.70), 76/1998

s. 10(1)(q).

    (2)     The Secretary may aid and co-operate with any such owner occupier person or body in carrying out any such removal destruction abatement or work where the Secretary deems it necessary and desirable so to do.

    (3)     If any such owner occupier person or body fails or neglects to comply with any direction under this section—

        (a)     such owner occupier or person or the members of such body shall be guilty of an offence against this Act; and

S. 65(3)(b) amended by Nos 8035 s. 7(b), 41/1987 s. 103(Sch. 4 item 24.70), 76/1998

s. 10(1)(q).

        (b)     the Secretary may cause to be carried out the removal destruction abatement or work directed to be carried out.

S. 65(4) amended by Nos 8035 s. 7(b), 41/1987 s. 103(Sch. 4 item 24.70), 76/1998

s. 10(1)(q).

    (4)     Where any such land is unoccupied and the owner thereof is unknown or cannot be promptly found the Secretary may cause to be carried out the removal destruction abatement or work directed to be carried out.

S. 65(5) amended by Nos 8035 s. 7(b), 41/1987 s. 103(Sch. 4 item 24.70), 76/1998

s. 10(1)(q).

    (5)     Where the Secretary causes any removal destruction abatement or work to be carried out pursuant to this section—

S. 65(5)(a) amended by Nos 41/1987 s. 103(Sch. 4 item 24.70), 76/1998

s. 10(1)(q).

        (a)     the Secretary may recover the costs thereof in any court of competent jurisdiction from any owner or occupier of such land;

        (b)     in the case of land other than Crown land, until paid or recovered such costs shall be and remain a charge on the land and if not paid within six months after demand such costs shall bear interest at the rate of Six per centum per annum from the date of demand;

S. 65(5)(c) amended by Nos 41/1987 s. 103(Sch. 4 items 24.70, 24.72), 76/1998 s. 10(1)(q), substituted by No. 85/1998 s. 24(Sch. item 25.1) (as amended by No. 76/1998 s. 15).

        (c)     the Secretary must furnish to the Registrar of Titles a certificate of charge under the seal of the Secretary describing the land charged and setting out particulars of the title to the land and stating that there are costs payable under this section in respect of the land; and

S. 65(5)(ca) inserted by No. 85/1998 s. 24(Sch. item 25.1).

        (ca)     the Registrar of Titles must make a recording of the certificate in the Register; and

        (d)     until any such costs together with any interest are paid no sale or transfer of the land on which the same are charged shall be made or registered.

S. 65(5A) inserted by No. 85/1998 s. 24(Sch. item 25.2) (as amended by No. 76/1998 s. 15).

    (5A)     When the amount set out in a certificate under subsection (5) together with any interest is paid, the Registrar of Titles, on lodgment of a certificate of discharge under the seal of the Secretary, must delete the recording of the charge from the Register or make a recording in the Register of the discharge.

    (6)     Nothing in this section shall apply with respect to any land vested in or under the control of the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works.

S. 65(7) inserted by No. 6870 s. 2(b).

    (7)     In any legal proceedings under the provisions of this section and in addition to any other method of proof available evidence that the person proceeded against is rated in respect of any land to any general rate for the municipality within which the land is situated shall unless the contrary is proved be evidence that that person is the owner or occupier (as the case may be) of that land.

No. 6073 s. 66.

S. 66 amended by Nos 9576 s. 11(1), 48/2004 s. 114.