A fire on an overgrown Hoddle Street median strip has reignited Council's calls to the Victorian Government to do its job maintaining state roads.
Overgrown grass on state road median strips is not only an eyesore, it's dangerous. During one of the harshest summers on record these median strips have dried out, creating the perfect conditions for a fire to start. And one did recently on the Hoddle Street median strip, ignited by a stray cigarette butt.
Management and maintenance of major arterial roads in Yarra is the responsibility of the Victorian Government. Bridge Road, Hoddle Street, Alexandra Parade, Victoria Parade and Burnley Street have been left unattended to overgrow.
"The State Government has fallen asleep at the wheel. They're not cleaning them. They're not re-sheeting them. And they're not mowing the lawn," Mayor Jolly said.
It's time for the Victorian Government to give these overgrown roads the attention they need, to ensure community safety. Alternatively, they could give Council the money we need to maintain these sites ourselves.
But one thing is for sure, we cannot allow the State Government to continue leaving them unmaintained. The 24 January fire proves that the risk to our community is too great.
"We could step in and say 'we'll do it', but that would cost Council $1 million that we would have to take away from other services like childcare."
"The much easier decision is that the State does their job and looks after the streets here in the City of Yarra. Please mow the grass," Mayor Jolly said.
