Schrinner Council ramps up mowing program as Brisbane’s peak grass growing season begins

Brisbane has hit peak grass growing season early this year, prompting the Schrinner Council to ramp up mowing the city’s parks, playgrounds and other public places.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said Brisbane’s most popular parks would be mowed up to 20 times during the peak grass cutting season from now until the end of the year, ensuring residents and visitors could enjoy these much-loved destinations.

Cr Schrinner said Council budgeted about $20 million a year to cut more than 73,000 hectares of land across Brisbane.

“The grassed area that we maintain is equivalent to more than 88,000 NRL footballs fields which gives you some idea of the task required to keep Brisbane’s parks and other public areas up to scratch,” he said.

“As the rain starts and the weather heats up, Brisbane residents know only too well how fast their backyard grass grows.

“The same goes for keeping up with the job of maintaining our city’s 2100 parks and other spaces that require mowing.

“During the typical wetter months, the grass can grow by up to 30cms a week in some places. That might not be fast enough to watch the grass grow but it’s still an incredible growth rate compared to what happens in the cooler southern states.”

During peak grass cutting season (the 6 to 8 weeks before Christmas):

  • Popular parks (such as Whites Hill Reserve, Bulimba Riverside and Rocks Riverside Park) will be mowed up to 20 times
  • Special parks (such as include Cathedral Square, Post Office Square, Captain Burke Park, Ascot Park, Anzac Square, New Farm Park) will be mowed more than 30 times
  • General parks will be mowed up to 18 times
  • Sports fields will be mowed up to 19 times

Cr Schrinner revealed Brisbane was also at the “cutting-edge” of mowing technology with a trial underway into using electric mowers to help reduce emissions.

“The zero emissions mowers which are in use around the CBD are quiet, can cut grass for up to seven hours continuously and produce a tidier clipping trail than conventional mowers,” he said.

“We’re also excited to trial new environmentally-friendly technology for weed killing as well as age-old methods like using near-boiling water to kill weeds at the root before they spread.”

Cr Schrinner encouraged residents to contact Council’s call centre if they were aware of an area that required mowing.

For more information visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au or call Council on 3403 8888.