YARRA Ranges landowners have been fined tens of thousands of dollars for not keeping their grass under 10 centiemtres long this fire season. Under fire prevention rules, the council can order residents to maintain their lawns to reduce the chance of causing a fire.
This season the council issued 1400 notices to landowners, 100 of whom did not cut their grass in the specified time frame.
The council sent out invoices to these landowners to cover the cost of maintaining the lawns for them, as well as contractor costs.
Owner of Lilydale and Outer Eastern Slashing Service Tony Lander said contractor costs were typically $100-$200. Yarra Ranges executive officer of emergency management Kate Siebert said the council was relatively pleased with the result.
"Given the council assesses more than 60,000 properties, it's good to see the majority of landowners doing the right thing," she said.