\u2018A legacy\u2019: Famed outback station sells at auction<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"\/](\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg)
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The post was accompanied by the following photo. Picture: Facebook<\/p>\n
The resident, however, was adamant they were doing just that.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was burning some wood to create some coals to cook over. I have a fire bowl that had a grill above to cook on,\u201d they explained. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe letter states that further complaints may result in a visit from an EPA officer. What do I do? I am now reluctant to ever use my fire pit again.\u201d<\/p>\n
The resident clarified their culinary intentions, noting, \u201cI usually just cook on my gas barbecue Weber but I had my family over and wanted to cook a big snapper over some wood coals.\u201d <\/p>\n
They also pointed out the ubiquity of fire bowls in other Canberra backyards, seeking advice and shared experiences from the online community.<\/p>\n
The post quickly went viral, drawing over 600 comments and igniting a passionate discussion. Many were quick to label the complaint as utterly absurd, pointing the finger at an overly sensitive neighbour. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The post has ignited a fiery debate across social media with over 600 people leaving comments in support.<\/p>\n
\u201cKeep doing what you\u2019re doing. Nothing better than cooking over a fire. Whinging neighbours !!!!\u201d one person declared. <\/p>\n
Another chimed in, \u201cSounds like someone is just jealous that they don\u2019t have a fire pit,\u201d while a third simply stated, \u201csome people need to get a life!! \u2018Karen.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
However, the debate wasn\u2019t entirely one-sided. A significant number of commenters highlighted the genuine concerns associated with backyard smoke. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m down for a fire pit, but my neighbours do it nearly every night and everything on the clothesline stinks of smoke, that\u2019s the only problem I\u2019d have with it,\u201d one person argued, offering a different perspective.<\/p>\n
Another commenter, speaking from a health standpoint, shared, \u201cMixed feelings as someone with respiratory issues and loved ones with asthma \u2013 on a bad day in some parts of Canberra where there are lots of wood heaters people have to stay inside and seal their houses. On the other hand I love a fire when my lungs allow and also want a fire pit. Burning higher quality material or coal should help with the smoke.\u201d<\/p>\n
Navigating Australia\u2019s confusing fire pit rules<\/p>\n
The Canberra incident underscores the complex and often varied nature of backyard fire pit regulations across Australia, where rules differ significantly by state, territory, and even local council, making it a minefield for homeowners.<\/p>\n
Generally, regulations distinguish between recreational fire pits used for warmth or cooking and general backyard burning, which is typically more restricted. <\/p>\n
Key commonalities across the nation include strict prohibitions during Total Fire Bans and Fire Danger Periods. <\/p>\n
Most regions also mandate that fire pits must be contained, maintained at a safe distance from flammable materials (typically 2.5m to 4m), and attended at all times. <\/p>\n
Permitted fuels are usually limited to clean, dry, seasoned wood or charcoal, with burning rubbish or treated timber generally forbidden due to the potential for excessive smoke and nuisance.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Backyard fires are a stable for many households in winter \u2013 but there are strict rules on what you can and can\u2019t do. Picture Dean Martin<\/p>\n
While some states, such as New South Wales, are more lenient for contained fire pits, others like South Australia have stricter rules, often restricting fuel types in metropolitan areas to charcoal only. <\/p>\n
Outside these areas, dry timber or plant matter may also be allowed. <\/p>\n
Western Australia\u2019s regulations are highly localised, and Tasmania prohibits general backyard burning on smaller blocks. <\/p>\n
The Northern Territory and the ACT, where this incident occurred, generally permit small cooking or comfort fires, provided safety clearances are maintained.<\/p>\n
Crucially, causing excessive smoke that creates a nuisance for neighbours is universally prohibited and can lead to penalties, regardless of other regulations. <\/p>\n
Having extinguishing equipment readily available is also a common safety requirement.<\/p>\n
The advice for any homeowner considering a backyard fire pit is clear: always check with your specific local council for precise bylaws, as these can impose additional restrictions beyond state guidelines. <\/p>\n
A little research and neighbourly consideration can prevent a backyard barbecue from turning into a bureaucratic headache.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A Canberra resident\u2019s backyard fire pit has sparked a national inferno of debate, after they received bizarre notice…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":751808,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[64,63,99],"class_list":["post-751807","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-business","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-business"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/751807","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=751807"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/751807\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/751808"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=751807"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=751807"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=751807"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}