After record breaking rainfall smashed records across the Mid West earlier this year road verges across the region have began exploding with new growth.
However, as fire season approaches these verges are being chopped back to reduce fire risk, with the City of Geraldton saying it expects to spend $1.3 million mowing down shrubs.
The City of Greater Geraldton smashed its 20-year standing rainfall record between June and August when 386.8mm of fell on the region.
The City’s CEO Ross McKim said while the rainfall has led to a wonderful windflower season, it has proved a challenge for the local Parks Team with close to 1640km of overgrown verges needing to be cleared.
“Unlike many other local governments around Australia, the city prides itself on being able to provide an annual verge mowing service for residents which keeps Greater Geraldton looking neat and tidy as well as mitigating fire risk over the summer months,” he said.
“Having started back in July we anticipate this round of mowing works to be completed by the end of December and we commend our Parks Team and contractors for all their hard work.”
Mr McKim said he would also like to thank the community for their patience while the work is carried out.
Along with the $1.3 million the city expects to spend on verge mowing, additional funds have been allocated for grass maintenance around the city’s buildings, parks and nature reserves as well as major transport corridors like the Brand Highway, North West Coastal Highway and Chapman Road.
Residents with vacant blocks are also required to clear their land, slashing all shrubs to a maximum height of 7.5cm in preparation for the bushfire season before October 4.
Source Agencies
