GRASS WARFARE
UNSIGHTLY parks, pathways and nature strips overgrown with grass after recent rain will be cut back down to size as the Townsville City Council goes on a public green space “backyard blitz”.
The council has hired two new tractors and crews are working extended hours to spruce up the city and suburbs following many complaints from residents about overgrown grass areas.
Townsville resident Nancy Pitt said there had been a noticeable increase in extremely long grass around the city since December.
“Lately just driving around I have seen the area around Lavarack and places like near the roundabout at Good Shepherd – there has been grass up to waist height,” she said.
“I just think the council and Department of Main Roads need to get in and mow the areas that are looking really untidy and unloved.”
Ms Pitt wants to see the council lead by example and instil local pride in the city. “If the council isn’t looking after the grass then other people think, ‘well why bother looking after my own backyard’,” she said.
Mayor Jenny Hill said the council was dedicating extra resources to cut grass that had grown rapidly with the recent wet weather.
“The rain we have had over the past few weeks has been great but it has provided the perfect conditions for the grass to grow,” she said.
“Our crews are working extended hours and council has hired an extra two new tractors that will be available next week to manage overgrown grass around the city.”
Cr Hill said the council already had 13 tractors and 30 ride-on mowers working throughout the city’s parks and open spaces.
“Council maintains over 36sq km of grass throughout the city and we will continue to undergo mowing rotations to keep the grass short during the growth period,” she said.
Cr Hill said the extra resources were being directed into completing the council’s mowing schedule quicker.
“The schedule is planned out across the community to make sure our crews are maintaining the city’s parks and open spaces in the most efficient way possible,” she said.
“I’d like to thank everyone for their understanding because I know how much pride residents have in their suburbs.”
Earlier this year Ernie Gimm, 76, slammed the state of the Belgian Gardens Cemetery, claiming it was only maintained “once in a blue moon”.
Mr Gimm, who regularly attends the cemetery to visit his wife Jennifer’s grave, said there was often 30cm-high grass.
“You go to cemeteries north and south of here and they are always manicured, no matter what time you drive through those towns,” he said.
“Townsville never looks that way.”