Townsville City Council has ramped up mowing efforts across the city to combat rapidly growing grass amid weeks of heavy rainfall across the city.
Altogether Council crews and contractors are spending more than 3,500 hours mowing across Townsville each week to maintain more than 3600 hectares of grass, or the equivalent of about 4,400 rugby fields. There are four times more crew members working on whipper snipping, bringing the total grass keeping manpower across the city to more than 14,000 hours per week.
During summer, torrential rain accelerates grass growth and triggers increased maintenance demands.
Townsville Mayor Nick Dametto said Council's mowing teams had been putting in the hard yards to stay on top of the city's fast‑growing grass.
"After the rain we've had, the grass is absolutely taking off. It's great to see everything looking so green, but it also means there's a mountain of mowing to get through," Cr Dametto said.
"Our crews are out there doing extended hours, working to a rotating schedule so we can keep the whole city under control as best as possible. They're doing everything they can to stay in front of it.
"You'll probably notice our mowing teams around town more than usual. I just ask everyone to take it easy when driving past them. These workers are doing an important job and they all deserve to get home safe. Please slow down, pay attention to road signs and give them a bit of space to get the job done.
"There are parts of the city that are still too wet for heavy machinery. If we go in too early, we'll tear up the ground and make it worse, so we're tackling the dry areas first. We appreciate everyone's patience while we work through it."
Cr Dametto said Council would continue its back‑to‑basics focus throughout 2026.
"At the end of the day, Council's core job is to look after this city. That means keeping on top of maintenance and delivering the services our community expects. It's all part of making Townsville the best place to live and work, and we're committed to getting that right."
To report any maintenance issues across the city, use Snap Send Solve or call 13 48 10.
To learn more about grass maintenance in Townsville, check out Council's Grass Cutting schedule.
