City of Whittlesea grounds maintenance contractors have made an extra cut outside a Whittlesea childcare centre after residents called for regular maintenance of the long grass.
The grass outside Sparkways Childcare and Early Learning Centre in Whittlesea, located on 57/61 Laurel Street, has been a community concern for over a year, especially for resident Anthony who has been maintaining the grass for the past six months.
Last year, Anthony became aware of the long grass at the front entrance and around the centre when his daughter picked up her children from the centre.
There was also concern over snake sightings at the centre, with a snake spotted in the childcare’s foyer last year and backyard last month – giving more reason for Anthony to keep an eye on the grass outside of his shift work.
When Anthony first mowed the grass, he said it was nearly ‘knee deep’.
“It took me quite a while to cut at the time because it was wet, so the mower didn’t want to run through it very well – so it took me a while, nearly three hours,” he said.
Anthony said he wanted to see ‘regular maintenance’ from council, including trimming bushes, cutting grass and pruning trees.
The childcare centre is privately operated by Sparkways who is responsible for grass maintenance within property grounds, but the outside area is council’s responsibility, who has contractors that mow every three to four weeks.
City of Whittlesea director of infrastructure and environment Debbie Wood said council had been notified of the long grass and it was advised that a snake catcher was called to the centre.
“Council have been notified recently of long grass between these regular scheduled services and our contractors have attended the site for an extra mow,” she said.
Ms Wood said council had increased its maintenance works to combat recent conditions, with its mowing schedule published weekly at www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/grass.