The Yarra Ranges Council’s annual program to reduce potential fuel for fires is now underway, with grass in reserves and roadsides to be mowed until January next year.
Yarra Ranges Mayor Tony Stevenson said residents would see an increase in mowing on roadsides and in reserves in the lead-up to and throughout the fire season.
“With the fire season getting closer, we’ve been reminding residents to manage fuel loads around their properties, by mowing, managing vegetation and making use of their green bins and the upcoming Bundled Branches collection,” he said.
“The Fire Slash Program is one of our ways of getting ready, where we’ll be working to remove vegetation and grass that could become fuel in a grass or bushfire in our reserves and roadsides.
“Our teams undertake roadside slashing through the year for visual amenity and to maintain our well-visited spots, but this is our major program to reduce grass and fuel loads, so you can expect to see a lot of work being done in the next few months.
“I encourage our residents to use this time of year as an opportunity to clear their properties and review their emergency plans ahead of and during the fire risk season.
During roadside slashing, variable speed limits may be enforced and motorists may experience small delays as works are completed.
For more information, visit www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Environment/Trees-and-vegetation/Nature-Strips-Roadsides/Roadside-Slashing-Program.
