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This article was published on Monday, 25 November, 2024. The information contained within may be out of date or inaccurate. News articles and media releases older than 60 days are archived for future reference.

Behind the Blades: Greater Shepparton's Slashing Services Keeping Us Safe

Posted on Monday 25th of November, 2024,

Greater Shepparton’s fire safety, road visibility and aesthetic appeal depend heavily on the work of the Council’s slashing team. As part of the Native Open Spaces Department within the Parks, Sport, and Recreation team, this small but dedicated group plays a vital role in maintaining our community’s roadsides and reserves.

In our latest video feature below, Louis Worm, Council’s Native Open Space Service Officer, shares an inside look at the essential services this team delivers to keep our community safe and beautiful.

What does the slashing team do?

Made up of two full time staff and additional casual support during the six month growing season, the team is responsible for a range of critical tasks, including:

  • Road safety through improved visibility at intersections and along roadsides
  • Aesthetic enhancements by keeping public spaces and town entrances neat and inviting
  • Fire prevention by reducing dry vegetation that could fuel fires
  • Biodiversity conservation by promoting the growth of native vegetation, encouraging plant diversity and maintaining open habitats 

How is slashing organised?

Slashing services follow a well structured schedule to address the varying needs of different areas:

  • Native Open Reserves are maintained every eight (8) weeks, including retention basins and native bush reserves.
  • Roadside Slashing happens every 16 weeks, with three to four cuts per year on Council managed roadsides, plus additional slashing near fence lines and high-visibility areas like town entrances.
  • Intersection Mowing is carried out to improve visibility and ensure safer driving conditions. 

It’s important to note that VicRoads owned roundabouts, roads and intersections are not maintained by Council.

The scale of the work

The Slashing Team manages 764 km of sealed roadside, a task that’s equivalent to mowing from Shepparton to Sydney —at a steady speed of just 7 to 8 km per hour!

The equipment behind the work

To handle this immense workload, the team relies on specialised equipment:

  • 2 Massey Ferguson Tractors paired with Piranha Twin Rotor Single Wing 3600 Slashers for roadside slashing.
  • 1 Massey Ferguson Tractor equipped with a 6 foot Land Pride Reserve Slasher for reserve maintenance.

Why it matters

The work of the slashing team goes far beyond keeping things tidy. Their efforts contribute to fire prevention, safer driving conditions and preserving the beauty of Greater Shepparton’s open spaces.

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