Environmental Activities, including vegetation control

Environmental activities include those that provide for the routine care and attention of the road corridor to maintain safety, amenity and environmental standards. It includes response to minor events, not considered Emergency Works.

Important activities include:

Cyclic patrols; removing minor defects such as litter and detritus in conjunction with the road patrol.
Routine maintenance; periodic activities carried out on a periodic basis, such as roadside verge mowing, heavy vegetation cutting, vegetation spraying and street cleaning to ensure a safe and appropriate level of service is being provided.

The methodology and frequency of various vegetation control activities is dependent on the road type and classification.

For rural roads;

Surface Type	Classification	Heavy Cut	Roadside Mow	Roadside Spray
Sealed	Arterial	Every year	3 x per year	2 x per year
	Primary Collector	Every year	3 x per year	2 x per year
	Secondary Collector	Every 2 years	2 x per year	2 x per year
	Access	Every 3 years	1 x per year	2 x per year
	Low Volume	Every 3 years	1 x per year	2 x per year
Unsealed	Secondary Collector	Every 2 years		2 x per year
	Access	Every 3 years		2 x per year
	Low Volume	Every 3 years		2 x per year

Important things to note:

Roadside Verge Maintenance; Property owners are responsible for maintaining the grassed area in front of their property to ensure that the area does not become a fire or vermin hazard. However, during the course of the year, the council may maintain the berm immediately alongside the edge of rural roads, either by spraying, mowing or pruning.
Unsealed Road Spraying; roadside spraying of unsealed roads also includes the first 1.5 metres adjacent the road. This method has been determined as the most cost effective way to mitigate sight distance issues and the establishment of plant pests.
No Spray Register; Council maintain a “No Spray” Register to record those property owners or residents who have specifically requested us not to spray the area surrounding their property. To be added to this register, you must agree to meet certain conditions regarding the alternative maintenance of your property frontage.
- Download the Application Form (68KB) for inclusion on the No Spray Register. (PDF file, 262.2 KB)
Overhanging Vegetation; trees and hedges planted by the council on road reserves are pruned to maintain healthy plants, pedestrian thoroughfare, and motorist visibility. The foliage of trees and hedges planted on private property may, on occasion, overgrow onto footpaths or berms. Overgrowth can cause pedestrians to detour around offending foliage and/or restrict visibility for motorists. The property owner is responsible for pruning such overgrowth. Where the overgrowth is considered to be a safety hazard for pedestrians or motorists, Council can use provisions within the Local Government Act to remedy the problem.

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