General News
23 February, 2026
Long grass, shared responsibility
ACROSS Ararat Rural City, long, dry grass is again standing high along rural roads, sometimes more than two metres tall between fencelines and the road reserve. After the Streatham–Skipton grass fire, and the way overgrown fence lines appeared to carry flames in strong winds, many locals have begun asking the same question: who is meant to deal with it? Ararat Rural City Council says the answer depends on exactly which road is involved.
In a statement provided to this masthead, council said responsibility for managing long grass and roadside vegetation is “shared between multiple authorities, depending on the road and its classification.”
Council chief executive Dr Tim Harrison said maintenance responsibilities can sit with council, VicRoads, the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), the CFA or, in some cases, private landholders.
“Council is committed to maintaining our rural road network and roadside vegetation through a coordinated approach,” Dr Harrison said.
“We are part of a joint vegetation management program approved by the Municipal Fire Management Planning Committee, which guides how we manage issues like long grass and fire risk.”
Council said some roads are treated as strategic fire suppression and control lines and maintained to ensure safe access for firefighting. It also undertakes regular slashing, grading and spraying programs and assists local CFA brigades with planned burns across the municipality’s road network.
What frustrates many residents and farmers is that the system can feel convoluted, particularly when long stretches of roadside grass appear unmanaged. Council acknowledges the complexity stems from the intersection of road safety, bushfire mitigation and environmental law.
DEECA guidance notes that roadside vegetation is often classed as native vegetation, meaning its removal can require permits unless specific exemptions apply. One such exemption allows roadside fuel reduction for fire protection, but only to the minimum extent necessary and, in some cases, with written approval from DEECA.
CFA guidelines support roadside fuel reduction as a way to slow fire spread and improve suppression access, but stress that treatments must be clearly assigned, planned and coordinated within municipal fire management frameworks.
VicRoads material similarly outlines a shared approach, noting that while grass cutting is carried out ahead of peak fire season, roadside vegetation can include high-value native species that limit when and how mowing occurs.
For residents wanting to report urgent hazards on major roads, VicRoads’ Traffic Management Centre can be contacted on 13 11 70. For council-managed roads, reports can be made through Ararat Rural City Council’s customer service team.
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