Roadside vegetation management
Roadside vegetation management is a key part of Transport Victoria’s maintenance program.
A key part of our annual road maintenance program, roadside vegetation management includes roadside mowing and slashing, removing weeds and trimming trees.
We’re working to remove hazards, reduce fuel on roadsides and make sure roadside vegetation doesn’t block drivers view.
Transport Victoria is responsible for maintaining approximately 23,000 kilometres of freeways and arterial roads throughout Victoria, including more than 19,000 kilometres in regional and rural parts of the state.
We work closely with emergency services, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) and local councils to coordinate and prioritise vegetation management efforts in the highest risk areas.
Roadside mowing
An important part of roadside vegetation management is roadside mowing.
The timing of grass cutting differs each year, based on rainfall, temperature, spring growth and emergency services.
Most grass species possess a life cycle where they annually dry out and die or become dormant. This process is referred to as curing and is an important factor in fire behaviour prediction as the amount of dead material in a grassland can have a dramatic effect on the fire danger.
In regional areas, we start mowing and slashing in the warmer areas of the state as grass in these areas cures quicker. The first cut is usually completed between October and December, depending on the grass in the area.
Cutting grass once it’s cured helps to reduce fire risk and slow growth over the warmer months. Mowing before the grass becomes dormant can accelerate the growth of the grass and means that our crews would have to return to complete additional mowing at the height of the fire danger period.
Across regional Victoria, we use the Country Fire Authority’s (CFA) curing map to help identify where grass is cured, ready for mowing.
Weed management
Transport Victoria is responsible for the control of weeds on roadsides.
To manage weeds, we prioritise based on Agriculture Victoria’s classifications, ensuring we are adapting our program to the needs of each region.
We utilise a range of strategies, including spraying, slashing and manual removal, to treat and remove invasive species.
We work closely with Agriculture Victoria and local government authorities to ensure effective management of weeds across the road network.