I recall two stories that sum it up. Following 10 years of drought, one guy pleaded with council for a permit to clear trees on his own property. They refused at every hearing. He cut them down anyway and received a $20k fine. His house was the only one standing following the bush fires. Another guy from my old cricket club was in a similar situation couldn't get permission to fell trees so he burnt them one by one during the winter. He created an arrow head and come the black Saturday fires, managed to divert the fire around his property.
