SMCT Visitor Safety

As a site with natural surrounds, tripping hazards may be present. Please remain on footpaths, watch your surroundings and wear suitable footwear for the conditions.

Please abide by all road rules when driving through our sites, including indicated speed limits and stop and give way signs. Take your time and look out for narrow roads, service and maintenance traffic, and please give way to funeral processions. Some of our visitors come into our grounds during a difficult time - if you are feeling emotionally unsettled while driving, please pull over and wait until you feel calm, focussed and able to proceed.

Please be aware that heavy equipment may be in operation at all our sites. Stay clear of work sites and ensure you ask staff before going near any works in progress.

Our grounds contain several water features such as ornamental ponds and fountains, along with storage dams for our irrigation supply. Be aware of your surroundings and mind your footing near water. If you have children in your care, please ensure you monitor their movement and consider their safety.

We have approximately 327 tree species within our grounds. Our highly trained arborist team does an amazing job to maintain these incredible assets across all of our sites. However, please be mindful before walking under trees, especially after storm activity.

On days of total fire ban, lighting of any fires including candles, offerings of joss paper, etc is prohibited.

For the safety of yourself, the community and our sites we encourage you to reference information regarding fire safety including restrictions specific to the site you are visiting.

If you are proposing to light candles and/or burn offerings on our sites, you are required to do the following:

• Check with and act in accordance with all local conditions as directed by the CFA. Refer to: https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/
• Whenever it is legally permissible to light a flame and/or fire for the purpose of burning offerings and lighting of candles, this must be supervised once fire or candle and until the flame or fire is extinguished;
• Have a reliable and effective means of extinguishing the flame or fire, with you, at all times; and
• Effectively and safely extinguish and dispose of the flame or fire.