Faith Macale
As the weather gets warmer, snakes become one of most residents’ concerns along with fire.
Aintree resident Laura, who did not want her surname published, lives in front of a reserve and a rain garden on Lyle Lane and is concerned that the grass has grown to a dangerous height.
She said the areas around this specific grass area are being mowed, but stop at a certain point.
“They’re not mowing the lawns on a pathway, which has long grass, probably up to at least hip height,” she said. “It’s guaranteed that there are snakes that live there.”
Laura and her partner, Oazan, have been trying to contact the Melton council since October, notifying it of the growing issue.
“They first told us that it’s not their land, it’s development land, so then we contacted Woodlea Development, and they said, ‘No, it’s not their land, it’s actually council responsibility’.”
“Apparently, they had a mutual agreement with Melton council about mowing the grass, but at present, the grass is not being mowed.”
Melton council operations manager Debbie Blandford said the section of reserve adjacent to Lyle Lane is currently under responsibility of the land developer.
“We have raised this issue with them to undertake the maintenance works as a priority,” she said.
“Council works closely with land developers with the aim of providing a consistent level of maintenance for our community,” she said.
Laura said she tried mowing the area herself, but it is such a big area to mow on her own.
“This is a large area and my lawn mower is not powerful and my whipper snippers are not powerful enough to do it,” she said.
“We shouldn’t be having to do it, because it’s not our land.
“If something happens or if I’m doing something, maybe I will get a fine, but I literally cannot physically mow that amount of land.”
Woodlea Development has refused to comment.
