[Story originally published on Tuesday December 13. Council response to resident’s comments added to this version.]
STRATFORD’S grass has grown greener and longer as lawns overseen by the Department of Transport (DoT) have not been maintained in a year, raising locals’ concerns.
Photos taken on Tuesday, December 6 show land near Stratford train station and Stratford fire station – on the corner of McFarlane and Hobson Street – with very high grass.
A Stratford resident, Harry Nowak, has been living in the area for more than 70 years, and he’s never seen the grass this long.
V/Line is part of the DoT, who are the responsible party, but until the Gippsland Times made enquiries, it wasn’t entirely clear to the residents who was in charge of the maintenance.
Mr Nowak had said he didn’t care who was responsible, he just wanted something done. He had previously spoken to Wellington Shire Council and V/Line, but discussions didn’t go anywhere.
“Council says that it’s not our responsibility, but why can’t council… apply pressure to VicTrack to come and do something about it?” he said.
“The grass is as high as the fence. By the end of the month, it will be dry. It’s a fire hazard. There’s a potential disaster here (for these homes).”
VicTrack is a state government enterprise that owns Victoria’s rail transport land, assets and infrastructure.
As Mr Nowak watched a V/Line train go through the station, he wondered what the passengers might think if they saw the unmaintained vegetation.
“Stratford consists of proud families that are community-minded and they want to maintain the pretty-little town. People who are passing through for the first time see this grass and must think that Stratford is a hole of a place. It’s just disgusting really,” he said.
“The growth has gone mad … grass up to the bloody windows of the train. It’s an embarrassment.”
Mr Nowak said some residents had taken things into their own hands.
“You don’t want grass like this in front of your house. People, through their own good will, their pride in their community and their own homes (cut it), because it needs to be done,” he said.
“People see Wellington Shire Council as an insipid organisation. They don’t claim responsibility and won’t do anything because they say it’s not their responsibility.
“If it’s not their responsibility, they should be proud enough to say ‘we don’t want the town to look like this’ and get onto the responsible body. But they don’t seem to be.”
Council response to these comments, sent after print, on December 22:
“Wellington Shire Council regularly advocates to state government agencies regarding various matters on behalf of the community. The Department of Transport has previously indicated that slashing works were programmed in Stratford, subject to conditions on the ground improving as a result of the prolonged wet weather. Council can confirm that this work has recently been completed by the Department of Transport. Council will continue to advocate to state agencies and local members for improvements in their service levels across Wellington Shire. We also encourage residents who have concerns to contact the Department of Transport customer service team on 1800 800 007.
One resident, whose house is next to the lawn on the corner of McFarlane and Hobson Street, said the last time the grass was cut was in December last year.
The resident, who asked not to be named, said they “had a gutful” dealing with the parties to have it maintained.
The resident had someone cut a section of the grass right next to the fence to create a path to safely walk through, and also to reduce the risk of snakes appearing in their house or yard, or their neighbours’ properties.
“VicTrack and V/Line fob (the complaint) off, but we’re not allowed to build on (the land),” they said.
“I’ve said to them that I’ve had snakes in my yard… my neighbours have little kids. I’m worried that someone will throw a cigarette in there and it will (burn)”.
The resident said they’ve had issues with the high lawn for more than 20 years, and brought the issue up with the Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, and his office.
“We’ve spoken to one of their representatives, but we’ve never actually spoken to Tim Bull,” the resident said.
“With the warmer days, (the grass) is drying out a lot faster. If my house burns down, one of (the responsible parties) will be paying.”
When asked about the issue by the Gippsland Times, Mr Bull said his office had received complaints about long grass “from Mallacoota to Heyfield, and up to Omeo”.
“One of the great problems that the various agencies have… is that up until recently it’s been too wet to even get a (lawn) mower in some of these places,” Mr Bull said.
“So, there’s a huge backlog…in relation to the maintenance of grass (and) native vegetation. I would hope over the warmer months when the works are able to resume after the grounds have dried out … that we see improvements in a whole range of areas.
“Because, getting towards the end of the summer where things dry off, we’re going to have a significant risk of grass fires in our areas.
“We have from now to late February, March to catch up. It’s been a challenging time just because it’s so wet.”
Mr Bull said his office had had a “truckload” of enquiries about grass and vegetation in Stratford.
“I haven’t had that particular enquiry (corner of McFarlane and Hobson Street) come to me, my staff have probably handled that one,” he said.
He added that in some of the cases, his office had investigated; multiple agencies or bodies were responsible for maintenance of that land.
“Two agencies have said ‘we’re not sure it’s us’ and (then later) agreed it’s both,” he said.
The Gippsland Times sent questions to Wellington Shire Council, VicTrack and the Department of Transport to find out who was responsible for the land near Stratford Station.
VicTrack said “the majority of the land in the area is managed by V/Line under their infrastructure lease”.
Council confirmed that the areas in question were all owned by V/Line, and said the DoT would be able to answer any queries.
A DoT spokesperson said fire prevention slashing was scheduled to be carried out in the Stratford area in coming weeks, including the vegetation surrounding Stratford station.
“Our annual maintenance program is underway and we’re on the ground where conditions allow. This year we have additional funding for our maintenance program and crews will mow more grass than ever before,” the spokesperson said.
DoT said the first round of this slashing was usually carried out from October to December, with populated areas prioritised, but the high rainfalls throughout spring had caused a slight delay in the 2022 program. A second round of slashing will take place at the end of summer.
According to the DoT, slashing is only effective in areas where the ground underneath the vegetation is dry, meaning crews need to wait until certain areas dry out before they proceed.
DoT said residents with queries, concerns or who’d like to flag an area for inspection were encouraged to call their dedicated customer service team on 1800 800 007.
Mr Nowak said it was good to know that the DoT would be dealing with the issue soon.
The same day the Gippsland Times took photos of the grass at the corner near the station on Tuesday, December 6, Stratford resident Thelma Keeley spoke at the Wellington Shire Council meeting to complain about letters that Council sent to residents regarding unkempt grass in the town.
“You sent out photographs to people around the area about not cutting the property – the grass. I am very disappointed in the Shire for doing this because yourselves, you are not keeping up to date with your own grass,” Ms Keeley said.
“You had sent these letters out to areas that are absolutely water-bound, unable to even walk across, never mind put a lawn mower on.”
Ms Keeley informed Council of her and her husband’s prolonged efforts in keeping Stratford tidy, cutting grass in several areas.
“We bought a ride-on (mower) ourselves, and we (cut the grass) with our own money,” she said.
“I’m disappointed because the grass is a mess all over Stratford; there are areas that have not been cut.”
The Gippsland Times understands that Ms Keeley mowed the lawn on McFarlane and Hobson Street the next day, on Wednesday, December 7. Photos taken on December 9 show its been mowed. Despite this, much of the grass on McFarlane Street and throughout Stratford remains very long and untidy as they await action by the DoT.
Photo: Tom Parry
Additional reporting by Tom Parry and Zoe Askew.
