LONG grass on a vacant block has become a fire hazard and a home to rodents.
Telford Drive resident Marion Chester, who lives near the block, said it was ridden with long grass was rarely mowed and it was becoming dangerous to surrounding homes.
She said people catch the bus in front the vacant Berwick lot and if anyone flicked a cigarette, the long, dry grass could go up in flames.
Ms Chester said she has made complaints to the council, which in turn send a letter to the owner in a bid to get it mowed.
She said while they have been co-operative, it sometimes took weeks before any action was taken.
Ms Chester said one neighbour, Noel Dann, has mowed the nature strip many times as well as sections of the vacant block.
Mr Dann said that when mowing sections of the block recently, he saw mice run out of the grass and into his yard.
Mr Dann said that asking the council to take care of the problem was like “flogging a dead horse”.
“The council keeps reminding us about what we can and can’t do with their council owned nature strips, but they don’t do anything to make sure other blocks are cleared,” he said.
Mr Dann said the council was happy to mail out rates notices to Casey residents but were slow to mail out fines for unkept blocks.
City of Casey Manager Community Safety Caroline Bell said the council issued a Notice to Comply, to the owner of a property at Telford Drive after council inspected it and found it to be non-compliant with the City of Casey Community Local Law 2/2010.
“A follow up inspection has shown that no action has been undertaken to rectify the long grass.
“As a result council has allocated the job to a contractor who will attend the property and cut the grass,” Ms Telford said.
“Council has the option of issuing infringements to property owners who do not maintain their land.
“If there has been no previous history of non-compliance, a property owner will be issued with a Notice to Comply in the first instance.
“If they do not comply with the notice, they will receive two infringements; for failing to maintain the grass to a maximum height of 30cm ($300) and failing to comply with a Notice ($500).”
Ms Bell said properties which have a history of non-compliance would receive an infringement of $300 upon initial inspection, as it was the property owner’s responsibility to maintain their property.
Ms Bell said property owners were required to comply with the local law throughout the year, and not only through the CFA declared Fire Danger Period.
