Overgrown and Unsightly Allotments

Community Standards – Overgrown & Unsightly Allotments

As a resident, it is your responsibility to ensure your property is kept neat and tidy.

A property that has a build-up of objects, materials and rubbish is often an eye-sore to other members of the community and can become a home for reptiles and vermin.  In addition to being a nuisance for neighbours and the community, it is also a fire hazard. 

Overgrown & Unsightly Allotments fact sheet

    • Grass and weeds are over 30cm (300mm)
    • Vegetation from the land interferes with people using a footpath or road

  • An unsightly allotment has objects or materials that are brought onto or allowed to accumulate on a property, causing its visual appeal to be seriously affected.

    Example of unsightly objects can include disused, second-hand material and similar objects, as well as derelict vehicles, old white goods, building materials and household waste.

    • Store goods out of sight in your garage or shed
    • Put your rubbish out weekly (use Council's kerbside collection service)
    • When storing objects or materials, place them out of view and neatly stacked off the ground (so as not to attract vermin)
    • Dispose of old vehicles and machinery
    • Mow or slash your overgrown grass, trim overhanging plants and remove weeds.
    • Regularly dispose of waste vegetation by mulching or taking it to green waste section of your local tip

  • The tables below provide guidelines on the standards for allotments.  The standards differ dependent on block size for both overgrown and unsightly allotments.

    Community Standards – Overgrown Allotments

      LOT SIZE LOT SIZE LOT SIZE
      Less than 2000sqm 2000-5000 sqm Greater than 5000 sqm
    Standard Grass and weeds trimmed to a maximum height of 300 mm (approximately 1 foot), including around buildings, fences and other structures. Edges of allotments larger than 2,000 square metres are to be trimmed to 300 mm or less for a width of 5 metres where the larger allotments have boundaries with smaller urban allotments or with parks, reserves and roads. Edges of allotments larger than 2,000 square metres are to be trimmed to 300 mm or less for a width of 5 metres where the larger allotments have boundaries with smaller urban allotments or with parks, reserves and roads.
    Type of notice  Overgrown Overgrown Fire hazard

     

    Community Standards – Unsightly Allotments

      LOT SIZE LOT SIZE LOT SIZE LOT SIZE
    ITEMS Less than 400sqm 400-1000 sqm 1000-2000 sqm Greater than 2000 sqm
    Unregistered motor vehicles or caravans or large items of equipment 1 caravan Any 1 item Any 2 items Any 6 items
    Cubic metres or items (whichever is the greater) of furniture

    1 cubic metre or 4 items

    2 cubic metres or 8 items

    		 2 cubic metres or 8 items

    4 cubic metres or 16 items
    Cubic metres of household goods 1 cubic metre 2 cubic metres 3 cubic metres 6 cubic metres
    Area of 5 metres long x 2 metres wide x 1.5 metres high of building and construction materials 1 area 1 area 1 area 4 areas

     

  • In most cases, the best way to resolve an overgrown or unsightly property issue is through a polite, direct request to the property owner.

    If you are concerned about approaching the property owner, or this action has proven ineffective, you can report the problem to Council, stating the address or location of the property and the concerns that you have in relation to that property.

    If you have difficulty walking along footpaths or driving along streets as a result of hedges or trees growing out into your path or line of sight please report the problem to council.

  • Using Local Law No 3 (Community and Environmental Management) 2011, council regulates a range of potential nuisances relating to overgrown and unsightly conditions on allotments.  An authorised officer of council will inspect the property and gain agreement with the owner to bring the property to a compliant state.

    • Step 1 -   Inspection conducted, owner contacted and warning issued.
    • Step 2 -   If no action taken, owner contacted and compliance notice issued.
    • Step 3  -  If no action taken an infringement or other legal action may be commenced.

    If necessary Council may make arrangements for the property to be cleared of rubbish and for grass and vegetation to be trimmed.  The cost of such work will be responsibility of the owner.

    Achieving the right result can often take time, on average the time taken to bring a property to a compliant state with the cooperation of the owner is approximately 6 – 8 weeks.

    For more information about overgrown or unsightly allotments please contact the Community Safety Team on 1300 007 662.

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