Long grass lines Toolamba Rd, prompting renewed concerns from locals about roadside maintenance and fire risk as the dry conditions continue.
Let’s be honest, we’re edging closer to the end of summer, and this hot weather is far from over. But it got me wondering — who’s responsible for edging or cutting the grass along the main roads throughout the region?
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I started thinking about this a lot after the Longwood fire, which investigators believe started in long grass on the side of the Hume Fwy. A few readers also sent in pictures asking the same question, so it felt like it was time to find out.
So, who is meant to be managing this long grass? Especially on roads such as Murchison-Tatura Rd, Toolamba Rd and the Wahring-Murchison Rd, where it’s twice the height of the white roadside guide posts.
According to Greater Shepparton City Council acting director of infrastructure Janelle Bunfield, those roadsides fall under the responsibility of the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning.
“Council is responsible for local roads, and the Department of Transport and Planning manages major and arterial roads,” Ms Bunfield said.
“Issues and hazards identified on these roads should be reported directly to the department.”
However, this then posed the question: as a council, what does its procedures entail? Had it informed the department, or was it up to residents to report issues independently?
“Greater Shepparton City Council works closely with the Department of Transport and Planning to monitor road conditions and address identified hazards and risks,” she said.
“While these roads fall under the responsibility of DTP, council monitors road conditions across the municipality and actively engages and encourages the timely resolution of issues on DTP-managed roads.”
According to Ms Bunfield, council staff conduct daily risk assessments. However, due to extreme heat, council had paused roadside slashing operations to reduce the potential for fire.
Its slashing program maintains a 2m clearance from the road edge to improve vehicle safety and ensure adequate sight distance at intersections — although it seems these main roads completely fall under the department’s management.
A spokesperson for the department said it worked in close consultation with CFA vegetation officers, Victoria Police and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action to determine the timing of its fire risk reduction program.
The spokesperson said that crews mowed, slashed and sprayed around 45,000km of roadside grass and weeds annually — keeping motorists safe and reducing the risk of fires.
“Safety is our top priority, and we continue to work with emergency services and other departments to manage roadside vegetation in the region,” the spokesperson said.
“We carry out regular roadside slashing, weed sprays and other maintenance along our arterial network to reduce potential fire risks.”
The department stated that grass cutting was most recently completed along Murchison-Tatura Rd, Mooroopna-Murchison Rd (Toolamba Rd) and Wahring-Murchison East Rd in November 2025.
The spokesperson also said the department prepared for the fire danger period all year round through roadside maintenance, clean-ups and assessments.
So, the question remained: when is the next scheduled vegetation or maintenance work due? I didn’t get a direct response from the department, other than being told that timing differed each year based on rainfall, temperature, spring growth and emergency services.
So, what about the residents who live on these roads? If it’s not the responsibility of landowners, and council monitors but doesn’t manage, and the department can’t confirm the next planned maintenance — where does that leave them and these communities close to these roads?
Will long grass along one of these roads spark the next fire?
A roadside and channel reserve burnt out in the Yarroweyah fires.
State Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland has welcomed a parliamentary inquiry into the 2026 bushfires.
