Roadside Slashing Program

Council’s Fire Prevention Slashing Program is aimed at improving safety for road users and protecting property and public infrastructure. The program includes Council-managed reserves and roads.

The Fire Prevention Slashing program is carried out in the lead up to summer by contractors. The program usually commences in Spring, depending on weather conditions, and is completed by Christmas, typically starting in the drier north of the municipality and proceeding to the southern parts of the Shire.

The program aims to balance the need for cutting with grass curing so that the area is only cut once, rather than multiple times – this process significantly reduces the cost to Council and the community. We try to hold off as late as possible in the season before slashing, without compromising community safety.

Residents might see long grass that concerns them over Spring – please be reminded that we have set out to slash all Council-managed roadsides and reserves before Christmas and before the dryer parts of summer commence.    

Within township areas, roadsides and reserves are generally cut fence to fence in all places a tractor and slasher can reasonably and safely access.

Outside township areas, roadsides are cut as per the strategic fire breaks shown in the Municipal Fire Management Plan(PDF, 3MB). Some roads with ‘higher strategic fire control value’ are cut fence to fence, however the bulk of roadsides on sealed roads are cut two metres from the road edge. Gravel roadsides are generally not cut unless they have a particular role in fire prevention around townships. 

Our 2023/24 Fire Prevention Slashing Program has commenced. Our contractors have started slashing in the north of the Shire and will make their way to southern parts of the Shire towards the end of December.

Click here to view our slashing schedule(PDF, 104KB). The schedule provides a rough estimate about when slashing will occur in different parts of the Shire.

Council carries out around 500 km of roadside slashing before the fire season.

Within township areas, roadsides and reserves are generally cut fence to fence in all places a tractor and slasher can reasonably and safely access.

Outside township areas, roadsides are cut as per the strategic fire breaks shown in the Municipal Fire Management Plan 2020-2023(PDF, 3MB). Some roads with higher strategic fire control value are cut fence to fence, while the bulk of sealed roads get cut for 2 metres from the road edge.

Gravel roads are generally not cut. However, some specific gravel roads are cut as they have a particular role in fire prevention around townships. 

Click here to view a list of roads(PDF, 97KB) included in the 2023/24 Roadside Slashing Program. Often the entire road is not slashed as part of the Program, however certain sections are prioritised. Where major roads and highways are listed, Council is responsible for slashing within 60 km per hour or less zones. Outside of these areas, the responsibility for slashing sits with the Department of Transport and Planning (formerly known as VicRoads).

Council carries out around 500 km of roadside slashing before the fire season. Your roadside may not have been cut because it is not one of the roadsides due to be cut or the contractor simply has not reached your area yet.

Click here to view our slashing schedule.(PDF, 104KB)

VicRoads undertakes slashing works on all highways across the Shire.

The contractor is required to address long grass in all places a tractor and slasher can reasonably and safely access. The patches missed may simply be too rough or difficult to access safely. Small patches of uncut grass look untidy but they do not usually present a major fire hazard.

Council’s Roadside Slashing Program covers around 500 km of roads. With a limited budget and extensive distance and area to cover, our fire prevention slashing program aims to balance the need for cutting with grass curing – the aim is to cut once, thereby reducing the cost to Council and the community. This means that we try to hold off as late as possible in the season before getting started, without compromising road and fire safety. 

Residents are reminded we aim to complete the slashing program before Christmas. In Spring, the fire hazard of long green grass is not such a concern.

Council’s Community Safety team carry out inspections across the Shire, regardless of whether a complaint is submitted. However, if you are concerned about long grass in a neighbouring property or Council-managed reserve, please contact our Community Safety team on 5772 0333 and bring it to our attention.