Mowing one of Victoria’s biggest backyards

It’s Spring, and that means the onset of warmer weather, birds singing, bees buzzing and lawn mower engines grunting.  

For Melbourne Water, grass cutting is a major operation.  

Melbourne Water Manager Waterways and Land Delivery Works Rob Considine said each year the organisation maintains 4155 hectares of grass around waterways – that's the equivalent of more than 2000 MCGs.  

“We have a lot of ground to cover!” Rob said.  

“The work includes maintaining recreational space for the community, keeping pipetracks and retarding basins clear and reducing the risk of grass fires.” 

Melbourne Water’s grass program involves seven large tractors, six smaller mowers and three spray rigs. However, roughly half of the program is outsourced, so on any given day, at least twice this amount of machinery is likely to be working specifically on grass maintenance. 

Melbourne Water is constantly tending to all the rivers, creeks and surrounding land of our greatest backyard. The health of our waterways and land is essential to our native wildlife, and to our way of life today, tomorrow and for generations to come.  

If you have any questions, contact 131 722.  

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