What constitutes an overgrown land?
Vacant land or domestic surrounds which in the opinion of an authorised council officer contains grass, weeds, plants or other vegetable growth in such quantity and in such condition to cause reasonable apprehension of danger by fire or be likely to form a breeding place or harbourage for verminous creatures, which term includes reptiles.
What do I do if I have a concern about a neighbours property?
Contact council to lodge a complaint. Your name and address will be required together with the location of the offending property. Personal details are of a confidential nature.
What action does council take?
An inspection is carried out to determine the extent of the breach under local law. If the complaint is justified a notice is served on the owner requiring such person to attend to clearance to council satisfaction within a period of fourteen (14) days.
What happens is a person does not comply?
Should the owner not undertake clearance of the land within the specified period, council's contractor will be commissioned to enter upon the property and carry out the required works within a further fourteen days from the date of notification. Council costs incurred in this eventuality will become a first charge upon the land.
What happens if I receive a notice to clear my land?
You will be required to cut or otherwise deal with all grass, weeds, plants or other vegetable growth so as to no longer be cause for apprehension of danger by fire or be likely to constitute a breeding place or harbourage for verminous creatures which term includes reptiles within the specified time period.
The property must remain free from excess vegetation for a period of 12 months from the date the notice was issued. Failure to comply with this condition will result in council's contractor entering and clearing your land without further notice within this 12 month period. Council costs in this eventuality will become a first charge upon the land.
Cost recovery
If council contractors are required to enter and clear land after the expiration of notices, an administration cost and the cost of carrying out the clearing of the land will be placed as a charge against the land.
For more information, please phone 1300 878 001 or contact Environmental Health Services.