Prepare ahead of the Fire Danger Season
Clean up your property
Bushfire prevention is a year round responsibility for property owners, and it is especially important in the lead up to Fire Danger Season which is yet to be announced by the SA Country Fire Service, however the season dates are generally:
- Murraylands - 1 November 2026 - 30 April 2027 (Confirmed)
- Mount Lofty - 1 December 2026 - 30 April 2027* TBC
(*dates are subject to change, we encourage residents to visit CFS website for updates and to determine what district you live in.)
Council encourages all property owners and occupiers to be prepared and fire ready heading into this year’s Fire Danger Season.
- A 5 Minute Bushfire Plan is a great resource that can give residents/holiday home users and their families a plan of action on how to survive a bushfire. See other helpful information including ‘Bushfire Safer Place’ and ‘Bushfire Last Resort Refuge’ on the CFS website at cfs.sa.gov.au
- To ensure public safety, Council’s Fire Prevention Officers will commence inspections from Mid October.
- Take the time to read Councils ‘Bushfire Management General Advice’ guide available online at Council’s website
alexandrina.sa.gov.au/fire
Do you know and understand the Fire danger ratings
Knowing the fire danger ratings may save your life.
The Fire Danger Ratings provide a clear and accurate rating to save properties and lives. The Fire Danger Ratings give you an indication of the consequences of a fire, if a fire was to start. The higher the rating is, the more dangerous the conditions will be.
Please read the CFS fact sheet - Australian Fire Danger Rating System
Roadside Slashing
Our Parks and Gardens team maintains more than 268 hectares of open space, an area equivalent to around 500 AFL footy ovals – that’s pretty impressive!
As we approach our busiest time of year for slashing and mowing, our Parks and Gardens Maintenance Management Plan is in full swing. Our teams work through a planned priority schedule across both urban and rural areas, considering factors such as seasonal conditions, growth, location, access, fire risk and community needs.
Rest assured, your township and local area is not forgotten. Our teams are working through the program and prioritising areas where mowing or slashing is most needed.
Council uses a planned ranking and prioritisation system to manage mowing and slashing across our reserves and roadsides. This allows our teams to respond to changing conditions and direct resources to areas requiring the greatest attention.
Council owns a tractor and slasher and undertakes the majority of our annual rural roadside slashing program, alongside the ongoing maintenance of Council-owned parks and reserves. The decision to own this equipment, rather than relying solely on external contractors, was driven by our Field Services team to improve responsiveness to community needs and support local employment.
Further information on Fire prevention in the lead up to Fire Danger Season and how you can help, can be found at www.alexandrina.sa.gov.au/fire
For preparation plans and other helpful resources including links to agencies website, please refer to Extreme weather information on our website
Community Safety during hot weather
Please consider the following:
Heat
You should prepare for heatwaves by reading our tips for staying healthy in the heat. It is particularly important to keep an eye on those who may be at risk more than others, such as babies and young children, the elderly and our animals.
Tips for staying healthy in the heat
The SES website has a range of resources that will support you before, during and after a heatwave.
Some of the things you can do to stay healthy in the heat:
- Drink plenty of water
- Stay cool with a fan or air conditioner
- Avoid going out in the hottest part of the day
- Keep curtains, blinds and windows closed during the day to keep your home cool
- Cool off with a shower or bath
- Check in with family, friends and the elderly
- Regularly check the weather forecast so you know when hot weather is coming
- If you go outside during the day, wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved and light coloured clothing, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
More information: You can also visit to SA Government and SA Health websites for more information about staying safe during heatwaves.
Alexandrina libraries is the perfect escape from hot weather, air conditioned comfort, free internet and at our Strathalbyn Library, the Strathalbyn Community Pool is opposite for a dip and cool down.
Mozzies
Mosquitoes are not only a nuisance, they also carry disease. Mosquitoes are most prevalent during the summer months, the common habitats are along the Murray River, Murray Lakes and coastal mangrove areas. Many Alexandrina townships are situated in these areas so it is important to understand how we can protect ourselves and control mosquitoes around the home.
What is Council doing about mosquito control?
The Council is a part of the River Murray Mosquito Control program conducted by SA Health. The program focuses on surveillance and control of disease carriers, as a result it is important to assess your property and practices to minimise nuisance biting.
Personal protection
- wear loose fitting, light coloured clothing. Mosquitoes can bite through tight fitting clothes
- use an insect repellent that contains DEET (Diethyl toluamide)
- use insect screens on your house, unit, house boat, caravan or tent.
What you can do to control mosquitoes on your property
Mosquitoes breed in calm, still water, there are several simple steps that can be taken to minimise their numbers including:
- Dispose of unwanted containers and rubbish
- Cover rainwater tank overflows, septic tank openings, wells or other large water containers with mosquito proof mesh Maintain roof gutters and remove leaves and debris so that pools of water do not form
- Empty and refill birdbaths, stock troughs and pet drinking bowls at least once a week
- Put sand in the base of outdoor pot plants to prevent water pooling and/or empty drip trays every week
- Keep fish ponds stocked with fish and free of foliage around the edges
- Keep swimming pools full and properly maintained
- Boats, canoes and dinghies should be overturned or have the drain plug removed.
Snakes – Be aware not afraid
It’s that time of year in our region where snakes out and about.
They live happily in our environment, so if you happen to see one please leave it be. However if you need to have it relocated from your property contact the professionals that can help you do so safely.
For further information from the Government of SA, Department of Environment and Water website, head to What to do if you see a snake in the wild