OVERGROWN roadside vegetation was believed to be a major factor in one recent road collision and has caused alarm for months.

Local road users are continuously demanding long grass be cut back in order to safely cross median strips and see around bends.

“It’s terrible,” Bass Coast Shire Councillor Brett Tessari said.

“The condition of the roads, the condition of the sides of the roads, the grass is so high in some spots that you can hardly see over it. I’m not surprised it nearly caused a (severe) accident and possibly will if it keeps going the way it is.”

As Nationals Candidate for Bass in last year’s State Election, Mr Tessari worked tirelessly demanding safer roads alongside Eastern Victoria MP Melina Bath and Member for Gippsland South Danny O’Brien.

"Roadside vegetation whether it is long grass or overhanging branches is a bugbear of many motorists, and a significant safety hazard," Shadow Minister for Roads, Mr O'Brien stated.

"While much of our concern is about the surface of the roads, VicRoads could be doing more to clear vegetation from our roadside, but have no doubt been hamstrung by the last two years of road budget cuts under the Labor government."

And whilst unseasonable rainfall has been blamed for the delay in mowing and acceleration in vegetation growth, drivers are convinced more could be done, especially on major arterial roads if flexible barriers were not installed directly on the curb side.

“We currently have crews mowing along arterial roads in the South Gippsland and Bass Coast regions to reduce fire risk, maintain visibility at intersections, and ensure roadside signage and guideposts are visible in order to maintain the safe operation of the road,” Beth Liley, Regional director (Gippsland), Department of Transport and Planning stated.

“South Gippsland and Bass Coast have recently experienced above-average, unseasonable rainfall which accelerated vegetation growth, and directly impacted our mowing program towards the end of last year - as the ground was too wet for our mowing crews to gain access.

“The duplicated section of the Bass Highway was mowed last week, and we will continue to progress further along other arterial roads in the coming weeks.”

An additional $5.6 million has been allocated to cleaning up the state’s road network on top of Regional Roads Victoria’s (RRV) routine maintenance budget, with $2.5 million of this funding allocated to roadside mowing, slashing and spraying in regional Victoria.

On average RRV mow, slash and spray 45,000km of roadside vegetation every year when the conditions are right - in regional areas across Victoria, the grass must be cured and dormant.

“We’re already working closely with CFA, DEECA and local councils to prepare for fire season so we can respond quickly to any areas identified as high fire risk by increasing our grass cutting maintenance.

“In addition, RRV responds to any identified hazards, including vegetation, as required at all times throughout the year.”
The community can report roadside hazards at any time by phoning RRV’s dedicated maintenance hotline on 133 778

Bass Coast Shire also issued a statement on the situation.

“Council and Regional Roads Victoria manage the vegetation adjacent to the public road network on an ongoing basis,” a council spokesperson said.

“This is done through the roadside grass slashing, tree inspection and triaged pruning program, to achieve the service standards of Council’s Road Management Plan 2022 and Regional Roads Service Levels. 

“Due to an abnormally wet growing season , grass growth has been greater than previous years. For the road network Council manages, we continue to address this high workload in accordance with road hierarchy and appropriate risk management assessments.”