Liam McNally
A Melton South man has cleaned and mowed his local park after becoming frustrated about council’s effort to maintain parklands within the municipality.
Mouhammad Cheaib who lives near Settlers Creek Park said he sent emails to council on two separate occasions after he was unable to play with his 16-month-old son in the park due to long grass and mess.
“It was just shocking, I’ve never seen anything like it. The grass was overgrown, beer bottles and all sorts of things were in the grass. It was really unsafe,” he said.
“We just packed up and went home, my son was really disappointed.”
After getting no response to his emails, Mr Cheaib eventually took matters into his own hands and spent 12 to 15 hours cleaning, raking, and mowing Settlers Creek Park.
He did the work over three days, beginning on Monday, November 9, in the mornings before he worked his 12 hour shifts as an industrial cleaner.
Mr Cheaib said the grass was up to his knees.
“It was just shocking and upsetting to see how the parks have become because of lack of maintenance and no one caring,” he said.
“What got me really freaked out was that when I was mowing the lawns there were rats and mice jumping out of the grass.
“For the people that do pay rates every year, that 12 to 1300 dollars we pay a year, I would like to know where that money is going.”
In recent months council has been posting a daily schedule of areas that have been recently mowed, or will soon be mowed on ITS website.
Melton Mayor Lara Carli said council is working hard to address the grass growth in the municipality.
“Recent weather has created the ideal conditions for grass to grow quickly which has increased mowing and maintenance requirements,” she said.
“We’re making mowing a priority and appreciate everyone’s patience at this time. The team continues to work extra time, including during wet weather when it is safe to do so.
“Additional workers are also providing temporary support, and more people are being recruited to undertake mowing and other maintenance.”
