Council Working Hard to Tackle Roadside Grass Across the Region
Livingstone Shire Council is reassuring residents that the issue of overgrown grass along major roads is being actively managed, with all available resources being deployed to address the situation.
Recent periods of heavy rainfall have significantly accelerated grass growth across the region, with the Capricorn Coast experiencing a particularly wet Autumn to date—cumulative rainfall is sitting around 400mm in some areas. This has created increased demand on mowing and maintenance services.
Council understands the community’s concerns and appreciates the public’s patience as crews work diligently to keep roadsides safe and tidy.
Mayor Adam Belot emphasised that to manage the increased workload, Council is utilising a combination of internal teams and a panel of external contractors to carry out roadside mowing.
“It is important for the community to be aware that during peak periods following substantial rainfall, both Council crews and contractors are stretched due to the sheer volume of work and existing commitments—including prior bookings for private property works by contractors,” Mayor Belot said.
“Council is doing everything we can to stay on top of the rapid vegetation growth. We’re using all available staff and contractors to get the job done, but like many regional councils, we face limitations during these peak times.”
Many major roads are state-controlled and fall under the responsibility of the Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR). Infrastructure Committee Co-Chair Councillor Glenda Mather said Council is working closely with DTMR to coordinate maintenance efforts along these roads, ensuring the community's concerns are heard and addressed wherever possible.
“Officers from Council’s Construction and Maintenance Group have regular meetings with DTMR Officers to prioritise and plan maintenance activities, and this issue has been one of the highest priorities recently,” Cr Mather said.
“We know how important it is to maintain clear and safe roadsides, especially in high-traffic areas.
“It’s crucial to keep major thoroughfares clear for safety reasons—not just for visibility, but because we’re seeing a lot of young animals moving across roads, particularly in the early morning and late afternoon.
“Unfortunately, animal collisions and vehicle damage are happening daily. Encountering an animal suddenly jumping out of long grass can easily result in a wrecked vehicle or, worse, personal injury.”
“I also would like to point out that Council can only carry out slashing along sealed major roads—not unsealed or gravel ones.
“Those areas require a grader to restore table drains and help manage overgrown grass more effectively, and we are working hard to deploy crews to manage our rural roads.
“We really do appreciate our community’s patience and we’re asking motorists to remain vigilant while we continue working to address these challenges across the region.”
To help boost capacity, Council will also be refreshing its Trade Services panel and is encouraging local contractors who provide mowing and slashing services to get involved. Interested providers are encouraged to contact the Procurement Team at procurement@livingstone.qld.gov.au.