Whittlesea residents are wanting better maintenance at the intersection of Cordell Court and Whittlesea-Yea Road, where the grass remains knee-high.
Resident Renzo Beltrame, who has lived in Whittlesea for many years, said the high grass was a hazard for residents who needed to be able to see as they pulled out onto the main road.
He also found a dead kangaroo among the grass.
“I’ve got to go right up to it because I’ve got a low-ceiling high car and the grass is so high,” Mr Beltrame said.
“If I had a four-wheel drive, I’d probably be above it but I’m not, so I’ve actually got to stick my nose out onto the road proper to see what’s coming both ways.”
The resident had contacted City of Whittlesea council about the on-going issue but was informed the reserve falls under the responsibility of the Department of Transport and Planning, DTP.
Mr Beltrame claimed that someone had cut the grass on the verge not too long ago, but it was still not enough – especially with the fire-season ahead.
A DTP spokesperson said a crew would carry out mowing on Whittlesea-Yea Road in coming weeks, with all mowing across the metropolitan area on track to be completed by the end of December.
“Each year, our crews mow tens of thousands of kilometres of grass across the state to ensure the safety of all road users, as well as managing potential fuel loads,” they said.
DTP is responsible for maintaining about 23,000 kilometres of freeways and arterial roads throughout Victoria, including more than 19,000 kilometres in regional and rural parts of the state.
The DTP standards are to mow grass to about 70 millimetre in height, dependant on the local environment.
DTP, which work alongside councils and emergency services to plan mowing and vegetation management programs, received one report regarding overgrown grass on Whittlesea-Yea-Road, with no notice of deceased wildlife at the location.
For health and safety concerns, DTP mowing crews do not remove deceased animals – instead they are reported to a more suitable crew for removal.
The DTP encourages the community to report hazards and any concerns about the condition of the arterial road network by calling 133 778.
