Maintenance
Who's responsibility is the verge?
The maintenance of lawns and gardens on verges is the responsibility of the adjoining landowner. Residents are encouraged to maintain the verge adjacent to their property.
The City of Albany mows the verges adjacent to City managed land and some corners of busy intersections to maintain safe sightlines. The City is responsible for the maintenance of street trees and undertakes regular kerb side and path spraying.
Requests for mowing verge areas outside of the City's responsibility is not supported unless the City considers it a safety matter, or of greater benefit to the community.
If you would like to improve your verge, please make sure you review the Verge Development Guidelines Here
Rural Road Verge Maintenance
City of Albany has over 1800 kilometres of rural road verges. These are maintained on a schedule with the higher use roads and transport routes taking priority. With the vast area to cover we are unable to get to every road every year. Currently the schedule is on a three to five year cycle.
Download our handy Verge Vegetation guide Here
Parks Maintenance
Mowing
Most parks are on a fortnightly schedule with high priority parks such as Anzac Peace Park being done weekly. Other large parks with little infrastructure are on monthly schedules. There are many parks that cannot be accessed for mowing during winter due to it being too wet.
Gardens
Garden maintenance is undertaken for all gardens around the CBD and within Public Open Spaces. All areas are visited within a fortnightly schedule.
Reticulation
Reticulation maintenance is undertaken annually in preparation for the summer months and regularly for the sporting fields. Reticulation is switched off throughout the winter months, although some may be required for the sports fields dependent on the rainfall.
Sports Fields
Sports fields are maintained regularly to ensure playing surface remain at a high standard. Maintenance undertaken includes mowing, top dressing, fertilising, weed control and coring.
Playgrounds
Playground inspections and maintenance is undertaken at all 44 of our playgrounds each month, which includes raking/sifting sand and ensuring all equipment is safe for use
How often are trails and natural reserves maintained?
Trail and natural reserve maintenance is undertaken on a cyclic program and is largely influenced by the seasons and demand. Our Reserves Teams endeavour to get to all our high use areas in late spring early summer once the vegetation growth slows.
City Prescribed Burns
The City of Albany and its Volunteer Bush Fire Brigades carry out prescribed burns as part of the City's burn plan.
Areas requiring fuel reduction have been identified in the City's ‘Bushfire Risk Mitigation Strategies’ and ‘Fuel Management and Works Program’, prepared for the City in consultation with Senior Local Fire Brigade personnel and key stakeholders.
Prescribed burns are undertaken to maintain biodiversity in the wide range of ecosystems within the City’s reserves and improve the community’s bushfire safety.
Fuel Reduction is vital in reducing fuel loads so that in the event of a bushfire, the impact is not as destructive or extensive, and allows areas of low intensity for brigade personnel to safely fight wildfires.
The burns may cause impact to some residents through smoke and traffic diversions, but we ask for the community’s patience.
Letter box drops advising of the burns will be provided to adjacent landholders, and signage advising of the burn will be erected in most burn locations.
Due to the constraints of weather conditions, limited notice can be provided to the residents prior to the start of a burn. On the morning of the burn, an advice will be broadcast on ABC Great Southern radio.