THE man charged with allegedly causing the Aberfeldy bushfire has been granted a bail application in the Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court this morning.
Aberfeldy resident Grahame Ernest Code was granted bail by Magistrate Louis Hill under the conditions he surrender his passport, refrain from contacting case witnesses, and a requirement he reside at an alternative address due to safety concerns.
Code is due to re-appear in the Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court for a committal hearing on 2 May, where he is facing five charges, including recklessly causing bushfire and causing a fire to be lit without written authority in a fire protected area during a prohibited period.
To date, the Aberfeldy-Donnelys fire has burnt more than 75,000 hectares of land in Aberfedly, Heyfield and Seaton.
One person has died in the fire and more than 20 homes have been razed.
