A new Waitaki District Council bylaw, which will prohibit open backyard fires in urban areas, including burning rubbish, has been made available for public scrutiny.
The council has overhauled its fire bylaw and released a draft for public consultation, with submissions closing on November 11.
The new bylaw will bring the district into line with clean-air measures adopted by the Otago and Canterbury Regional Councils, including banning fires in the open, which will affect people in urban areas who burn garden and household rubbish.
The current fire bylaw controls outdoor fires in Oamaru, Palmerston, Weston, Duntroon, Kurow, Otematata and Omarama.
The council is proposing that the new bylaw will also apply in smaller towns throughout the district, such as Maheno, Moeraki and other communities.
Under the existing bylaw, people can burn rubbish in a container in their back yards, providing they have a running hose on hand and 3m cleared around the fire.
The new bylaw will change that, requiring outdoor burning within settlements to be at least 50m from the fire to the closest part of the property boundary for residential properties, and 100m to the closest part of the property boundary for a non-residential property.
Breaching it could result in a fine of up to $20,000.
The council's strategy group manager, Richard Mabon, said the cost of attending rubbish fires in the district was significant.
Fires could pose a danger to people and property and be a nuisance to neighbours.
The council received a large number of complaints each year about backyard fires..
