Your questions about Harvest and Vehicle Movement Bans answered.
What’s a Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban?
Harvest and Vehicle Movement Bans help prevent fires during dangerous conditions. They apply a temporary ban on using certain machinery, driving vehicles in specific areas, or undertaking other activities that could start a bushfire or cause one to spread.
An HVMB is declared by the Chief Bush Fire Control Officer when there is a high fire danger to reduce the chance of a fire starting or spreading.
What is banned during a HVMB?
All off-road activity for agriculture, business, industry or pleasure. This includes harvesting operations and
using engines, vehicles, or machinery that could spark a fire - including motorbikes, quad bikes, chainsaws, excavators, ride-on mowers, and generators (not just farm vehicles).
What is considered off-road?
Off-road includes areas such as
- paddocks
- bushland
- uncleared land and
- land with stubble or long grass.
Can I drive down a 4WD track during a HVMB?
No. Driving is only allowed on gazetted – or official – public roads. If it’s a normal public road you’d see on a map or road sign, it’s usually a gazetted road.
Heated vehicle exhaust in contact with dry grass or shrub can start a fire, so it is important to stay on gazetted roads only.